OB-GYNs Still Removing Health Ovaries

A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF MINE died from ovarian cancer this year, so I certainly understand the risks of this disease. With no diagnostic tests in existence, she had no idea she was ill until the cancer had spread throughout her abdomen. I miss her constantly.

But those risks, as I've written before, do not justify the practice of removing healthy ovaries from women who are having hysterectomies. The National Women's Health Network reported recently that a survey of 443 randomly selected obstetrician/gynecologists found that 63% still support removing healthy ovaries (OK, let's call it what it is: castration) from women aged 51-65, with average risk for ovarian cancer, while operating to remove their uterus. 32% favored castration for women under age 51.

They continue to damage women this way even though their trade group, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended against the practice in 2008.

As I've written here before, the plain facts are that removal of ovaries can lead to early death and a host of other health problems, including damage to a woman's sex life. Of course, there are hundreds of thousands of unnecessary hysterectomies every year, which enrich the doctors and the hospitals.

This latest survey shows once again that women must protect themselves. Question everything, get second opinions!