ABSTRACT
Background: Opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy (OBS) has been proposed as an ovarian cancer risk-reducing strategy. Methods: A survey was emailed to 300 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Results: 125 (42%) surveys were returned: 60% female, 88% generalists, 67% private practice. Only 36% correctly identified the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer, only 23% understood the risk-reducing benefit of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. 75% perform salpingectomy during hysterectomy, 26–53% use for sterilization depending on approach. Concerns were increased operative time and complications. For BRCA mutations, 64% recommend BSO, 12% recommend a two-step risk-reducing strategy, and 14% refer to gynecologic oncology. Conclusions: We identified broad support and factors limiting willingness to perform OBS.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
Funding
This work was supported through grants to Jason Wright (National Cancer Institute; R01CA169121-01A1) and Jay Schulkin (Health Resources and Services Administration; UA6MC19010).