Should the ovaries be removed or retained at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease?

Abstract

Background: Bilateral oophorectomy is commonly performed at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease. Indications for oophorectomy vary, but in most cases relatively little high-quality information is available to inform the surgeon or patient regarding the relative risks and benefits of ovarian conservation or removal. This review will address the common clinical situations when oophorectomy may be performed and will evaluate the evidence for risk and benefit in each of these circumstances. The aim of this review is to bring together the evidence regarding oophorectomy in pre-and post-menopausal women and to highlight the areas needing further study. Methods: We searched the published li..