During hysterectomies for non-cancerous conditions, removing both fallopian tubes while keeping the ovaries may help protect against ovarian cancer while preserving hormonal levels, but few women receive this surgical option, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than inside the uterus. The biggest pros of fallopian tube removal have to do with health, particularly where disease prevention and pain reduction are concerned, while cons include reduced fertility and potentially serious side effects of surgery.
In a tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are cut or blocked to disrupt the path normally taken by eggs from the ovaries. Tubal ligation — also known as having your tubes tied or tubal sterilization — is a type of permanent birth control. During tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are cut, tied or blocked to permanently prevent pregnancy. Surgery removing both tubes renders a woman completely infertile. Taking one diminishes her chances to become pregnant naturally, but still leaves the possibility open.
As long as a woman still has a healthy uterus she may be able to conceive through in vitro fertilization, but this can be costly and invasive. In some cases, though, partial tube removal can actually help natural conception. This is usually the case when cysts, scar tissue , or other growths are blocking a portion of the tube, making it difficult or impossible for eggs to get past.
In these procedures surgeons remove the damaged or defective portions, but then reconnect the tissues; the result is a shorter, but functional, tube. Total tube removal often includes the ovaries, since the two are connected. When a woman loses her ovaries she also loses a major hormone regulator, and as a result she is likely to experience mood swings and wild fluctuations in her hormone levels, at least at first.
A sudden loss of estrogen has been connected to a heightened risk for heart disease, which is something women who are thinking about elective tube removal should consider. Post-menopausal women are also usually at a higher risk for osteoporosis, or bone weakening.
Both of these risks can be lessened with certain medications, supplements, and exercises, but they can mean lifestyle changes for patients. Though the fallopian tubes are small, surgery to remove them is often quite invasive and can require a lot of time for healing and recovery, usually about 6 weeks. Patients must usually remain relatively inactive during this time to reduce the possibility of infection. In rare cases the procedure may cause scarring or small bowel obstruction.
Women who have not gone through menopause but have both of their ovaries removed will experience a premature menopause and may have symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive, heart disease, depression or anxiety. Women of childbearing age who undergo a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy will not be able to conceive.
Variations of the surgery can involve removal of just one ovary or just one fallopian tube, one ovary and one tube, or both ovaries and both fallopian tubes. An oophorectomy removes one or both of the ovaries and a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy removes both the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Women with the BRCA genetic mutation may preemptively have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to prevent possibly developing ovarian cancer.
0コメント