Abstract
Objective: To investigate longevity in women after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSOE),
not given hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) post-operatively, as compared to the
national mean. Study design: Long-term follow-up study of a historical cohort of young women undergoing BSOE
in the early 20th century at the General Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. Comparison was made
with mean life expectancy in corresponding birth cohorts. Results: No difference in life expectancy was recorded in 152 women with an early menopause
caused by BSOE and not substituted with HRT, as compared to national statistics of
contemporary women. Half of the operated women died of cardiovascular disease and
a minority of cancer, none of which was a breast cancer. Conclusion: Permanent loss of female sex hormones and reproductive function in early life does
not seem to influence longevity but may change patterns of morbidity and mortality.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 11,
2002
Received in revised form:
November 13,
2002
Received:
May 8,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.