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Women with PCOS often suffer from something known in the natural health field as oestrogen – or estrogen for our lovely American community – dominance.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, endometriosis, and fibroids are each considered to be ‘oestrogen dominant’ conditions. And with excessive bleeding and fibroids, the removal of the entire uterus or uterine fibroids is not uncommonly recommended. There are certainly some powerful natural approaches to help address these issues, ones that I wholeheartedly recommend implementing for a trial period. For some women, however, the right approach for them may be this surgical one.

I was contacted recently by the American Recall Center about the power morcellation device, sometimes used in this procedure, and some significant concerns the FDA has with it and a serious potential health risk.  Because this may be a procedure recommended for women with PCOS, I thought it pertinent to share this information with you. Here is their post:

Power Morcellation: What You Should Know

Did you know September is National Gynecological Cancer Awareness month?

In recent months, a common gynecological procedure has come under scrutiny from the FDA. This minimally invasive procedure uses a device called a ‘power morcellator’, which may unknowingly accelerate hidden cancers that may be present in the uterus.

In April 2014, the FDA released a safety warning, labeling power morcellators to be dangerous. The FDA’s safety alert was distributed across the U.S. medical community including cancer advocacy groups, medical facilities, hospitals and medical device manufacturers.

In response, Johnson & Johnson has voluntarily asked customers to discontinue the use of power morcellators and to return the devices to the company.

The Device

A power morcellator is a medical device used in numerous types of laparoscopic surgeries. Among the most common are hysterectomies (removal of the uterus) and myomectomies (removal of uterine fibroids). The rotating blades of the tubular-shaped surgical device are designed to cut or divide tissue into fragments. These tiny fragments can then be suctioned away through a small abdominal incision.

The Problem

This procedure creates a substantial and hidden risk to the patient. Women with undetected cancers, especially leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a rare, predominately fatal disease, are at the greatest risk. The rotating blades on the device can spread the sarcoma cells throughout the abdomen and pelvis region, exacerbating the risk of upstaging cancer. As a result of this dangerous reoccurrence, the FDA held a hearing in July to discuss the dangers, potential risks and future use of power morcellation. For now, the FDA is recommending that doctors carefully consider every option available when determining the appropriate procedure.

FDA Recommendations

The FDA recommends that patients considering a hysterectomy or myomectomy, discuss their options with their doctor. If a laparoscopic is the only available choice, it is important to ask your doctor if a power morcellator will be used in the procedure. For women who have already had a procedure where a power morcellator was used, it is crucial to follow up with your doctor, especially if there are persistent or recurring symptoms.

From PCOS to perfect health, with love,

Dr. Rebecca Harwin
The PCOS Expert
Chiropractor & Bestselling Author of
Conquer Your PCOS Naturally
www.ConquerYourPCOSNaturally.com

 

 

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Sources:
http://recallcenter.com/power-morcellator/lawsuit/
http://online.wsj.com/articles/johnson-johnson-to-call-for-voluntary-return-of-morcellators-1406754350