Ovary Removal May Increase Risk of Heart Failure

Women who have both ovaries removed before menopause may be more likely to develop heart failure later in life than those who don’t have this procedure, according to a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session.

Doctors recommend ovary removal to treat and reduce the risk of several health issues, including endometriosis, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. If you’re considering having your ovaries removed (called bilateral oophorectomy) and have yet to go through menopause, you may want to ask your doctor about how best to protect your heart health.  

The study included 3,972 women who were about 44 years old when they had their ovaries removed. Thirty-six women (just under 1%) developed heart failure, at an average age of 57. When the researchers compared the women who had bilateral oophorectomy with those who didn’t have this surgery, they found those who had ovaries removed were 50% more likely to develop heart failure. The risk was higher for white women who had the procedure done, as they were twice as likely as women who didn’t have the surgery to develop heart failure. In spite of this increased risk, the overall risk of heart failure was low for both groups.

Because having the procedure at an earlier age appears to increase heart failure risk, it may benefit some people to push back the surgery, the researchers say. Of course, there can be risks to delaying the procedure, so talk to your doctor about what’s best for your overall health. Alternatively, there is also the option of using medicine to temporarily stop the ovaries from functioning, but the risk of heart failure with this approach is unknown. 

The reason heart failure is more common in women who have bilateral oophorectomy may be due to the sudden drop in estrogen and other sex hormones — hormones that help keep the heart functioning normally, according to the study. If you have this surgery and do not have hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the researchers suggest talking to your doctor about whether hormone replacement therapy could be right for you.