Effect of hysterectomy on conserved ovarian function

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of premenopausal Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) on the function of the remaining ovaries by reviewing the menopausal age in TAH treated patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 510 women who had previously undergone TAH, either with or without unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, due to benign disease at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, between Jan 1989 and Dec 1992. Out of the 510 women, the 94 who were throughly followed up were included in the study, and their menopausal age based on patient symptoms was compared to that of the control group. The mean menopausal age in TAH treated patients was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between age at operation and menopausal age. From this study, we could conclude that TAH accelerated ovarian dysfunction, and that the younger the patient was at the time of operation, the earlier the onset of menopause. It is hence apparent that women treated with TAH are at risk of early menopause and should receive adequate hormone replacement therapy.