We’ve mentioned in our book, and here in several past blogs, how important we think it is that you keep at least one of your ovaries when you have a hysterectomy, if possible. That of course does not apply if there is a medical reason for removing both ovaries, such as cancer.

The thinking on this is that the ovaries continue to contribute some as yet undiscovered substances that protect our health well into our oldest years. It is already felt that such a substance promotes heart health. And a recent analysis from the Nurses’ Health Study, published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology in May, found that women who had had hysterectomies but kept their ovaries lived longer than women who had had the procedure but whose ovaries were removed. Other studies have shown that removing both ovaries at the time of a hysterectomy is associated with a substantially higher risk for lung cancer than when the ovaries were left in place. A recent study gives further evidence of this association.

Montreal researchers recently conducted a study* in which they compared menstrual characteristics in 422 women diagnosed with lung cancer and 577 women who did not have lung cancer. In all participants, prior removal of BOTH ovaries was associated with a higher risk of lung cancer. Further, in those women who were postmenopausal, the risk for lung cancer was much higher in those who had had their ovaries surgically removed than in those who went through a normal menopause. These findings remained statistically significant even when smoking status was taken into consideration. Not surprisingly, 92% of the women with lung cancer (and 48% of the control subjects) were current or former smokers.

Although cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor for lung cancer that can be modified, this association between lung cancer risk and ovarian function cannot be ignored, and merits further study. At the very least, it is something to think about when you are discussing with your surgeon the type of surgery you will have when a hysterectomy is recommended.

*[Int J Cancer 2009 May 11; [e-pub ahead of print]. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijc.24560)]