New Study Warns Routine Ovarian Cyst Surgery May Harm Fertility and Accelerate Menopause

A recent study published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health reveals that routine gynecological surgeries to remove ovarian cysts, particularly endometriomas, can cause irreversible damage to ovarian reserve in some women, potentially leading to earlier menopause. The research, conducted by a team from Poriya Medical Center in Israel and Yale University, highlights that this risk is often overlooked and underreported in healthcare systems, leaving affected women unidentified for years.

The study explains that ovarian reserve damage may result from unintended removal of healthy ovarian tissue, impaired blood supply, or thermal injury during surgery. While these procedures are typically medically justified to alleviate severe pain, infertility, or cancer suspicion, the researchers emphasize the need to consider long-term impacts on women's reproductive health.

Unlike oncology treatments where fertility risks are closely monitored, routine gynecological surgeries lack systematic follow-up on ovarian function. Consequently, women undergoing repeated surgeries or operations on both ovaries may be statistically obscured and not recognized as a high-risk group. The authors warn that earlier menopause can increase risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and other health issues.

The study does not recommend avoiding these surgeries but calls for a shift in clinical decision-making. It urges healthcare providers to balance symptom relief with potential long-term ovarian damage and to implement more rigorous monitoring protocols for women undergoing ovarian cyst removal.