Prophylactic oophorectomy in Northern Ireland

Area of Science:

• Gynaecology
• Surgical Oncology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Ovarian cancer remains a significant health concern.
• Prophylactic oophorectomy is a surgical intervention to reduce ovarian cancer risk.
• The prevalence and practice patterns of this procedure vary globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of prophylactic oophorectomy among gynaecological specialists in Northern Ireland.
• To assess current practices regarding unilateral versus bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy.
• To contextualize findings within existing literature on ovarian cancer prevention.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire survey was distributed to all gynaecological consultants and senior registrars in Northern Ireland.
• Response rate was calculated.
• Data on the performance of prophylactic oophorectomy (unilateral and bilateral) were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• A response rate of 84% (43 out of 50) was achieved.
• 72% of respondents reported performing prophylactic oophorectomy.
• Of those performing the procedure, 28% performed unilateral oophorectomy, while the remainder performed bilateral procedures. 28% did not perform the procedure.

Conclusions:

• A high proportion of gynaecological specialists in Northern Ireland perform prophylactic oophorectomy.
• Evidence suggests no benefit from unilateral prophylactic oophorectomy.
• Bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy is considered a viable option for individuals at high risk of ovarian cancer.