Forty percent of U.S. women have had a hysterectomy between ages 45 and 54. There are about ~700,000 hysterectomies per year in the U.S. From 55% – 70% of women have healthy ovaries removed at the time of hysterectomy. Another 300,000 ovaries are removed for benign ovarian cysts. The removal of the ovaries or oophorectomy causes serious and chronic health issues. Read the many personal stories on our blog and/or comments in our hysterectomy articles; the consequences of oophorectomy are devastating. For example, this story illustrates some of the many problems caused by oophorectomy.
Side Effects and Health Risks of Oophorectomy
The serious effects of oophorectomy have been documented in medical literature for over a century. The low rate of ovarian cancer – 1.3% lifetime risk – does not justify the high rate of ovary removal. Some of the side effects and increased health risks of oophorectomy (and post-hysterectomy ovarian failure) include:
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s
- Alzheimer’s and other dementia
- Memory impairment
- Mood disorders (depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings)
- Metabolic Syndrome / Type 2 Diabetes
- Lung cancer
- Loss of epidermal thickness / skin collagen
- Ocular / vision changes
- Sleep disturbances
- More severe hot flushes
- Vaginal atrophy
- Sexual dysfunction
Naturally menopausal ovaries produce hormones a woman’s whole life. Hormone “replacement” cannot compensate for the loss of the ovaries.
Tell Your Story in a Documentary
Ovaries for Life is collaborating with Eidolon Films to bring awareness to the gross overuse and lifelong harm caused by ovary removal – oophorectomy. They are seeking women to tell their stories in a new documentary. The experiences of women who have had both ovaries removed will be a powerful testament to the medically documented adverse effects.
If you had both ovaries removed without being told the long-term health risks and would be willing to be interviewed, please send an email to info@overy.org. Due to a limited travel budget, we may include only women in the general Washington D.C. area but may need to consider those outside that area.
The interview process will take place from mid-March to mid-April. You may choose to remain anonymous in the film. Questions and inquiries may be directed to info@overy.org.
Thank you.
