Bilateral Oophorectomy Prevalence Among U.S. Women

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Epidemiology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Bilateral oophorectomy is associated with various health outcomes, some with long latency periods.
• Data on the prevalence of bilateral oophorectomy in the U.S. are limited.
• Understanding prevalence is crucial for interpreting long-term health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of bilateral oophorectomy among U.S. women.
• To examine prevalence by demographic factors (age, race, ethnicity, region) and hysterectomy status.
• To inform potential impacts on chronic disease incidence, such as ovarian cancer.

Main Methods:

• Utilized pooled data from the 2010 and 2015 National Health Interview Surveys.
• Analyzed bilateral oophorectomy prevalence across different age groups, racial/ethnic categories, and geographic regions.
• Assessed the relationship between hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy status.

Main Results:

• Bilateral oophorectomy was prevalent in older women (29% in ages 70-79 vs. <1% in ages 20-29).
• Prevalence varied by region (12.3% South, 10.8% Midwest, 9.4% West, 8.0% Northeast).
• Nearly half of procedures occurred >20 years prior; 57% of women with hysterectomy also had oophorectomy.

Conclusions:

• Ovarian cancer incidence rates may be underestimated due to unadjusted oophorectomy status.
• Continued monitoring of bilateral oophorectomy prevalence is essential.
• Findings highlight the need to consider oophorectomy in chronic disease surveillance, particularly for older women.