There is mounting evidence that removing the ovaries early, prior to menopause, increases a woman’s risk of heart disease, fracture, and now, potentially, neurologic deficits. For these women, using estrogen replacement therapy may be beneficial to block these effects as well as treating symptoms. This story reports on the results of a large cohort study showing that women who had their ovaries removed prior to menopause had an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease.
This short piece adequately represents the novelty and availability of oophorectomy, sufficiently describes the harms of the procedure and does not engage in disease mongering. However, the story fails to describe the strength of the available evidence, does not quote multiple independent sources and does not describe any alternatives to the surgery.
Most importantly, however, the story does not adequately quantify the harms of oophorectomy. Specifically, the story provides quantification in relative terms only by stating that "surgical removal of the ovaries before menopause raises by half a woman’s risk of neurological problems." What that statement does not show is how rare those neurological problems are. By stating the increased risk in purely relative terms, the story appears to inflate the actual risk. See our primer on absolute versus relative risks.
Because the story discusses the potential harms of oophorectomy, the cost criterion is not necessarily applicable in this case.
The story does not adequately quantify the harms of oophorectomy. Specifically, the story provides quantification in relative terms only by stating that "surgical removal of the ovaries before menopause raises by half a woman’s risk of neurological problems." What that statement does not show is how rare those neurological problems are. By stating the increased risk in purely relative terms, the story appears to inflate the actual risk. See our primer on absolute versus relative risks.
The story adequately describes the potential harms of oophorectomy, including heart disease, hip fractures and now, potentially, neurological deficits.
The story does not comment at all on the strength of the available evidence.
The story does not appear to engage in diseae mongering.
The story only quotes one expert who is the lead author on the study.
The story does not discuss alternatives to oophorectomy.
Clearly, oophorectomy, surgical removal of the ovaries, is available.
Clearly oophorectomy is not a new idea.
There is no way to know if the story relied on a press release as the sole source of information.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Monday at #ADA2021, an infectious disease epidemiologist, a journalist, and a researcher shared perspectives on communication of risk in the era of COVID-19: http://ow.ly/ROfR30rMeE7 @AstleyCM @garyschwitzer @berthahidalgo @ADA_DiabetesPro
Shoutouts to @susan_bewley @drkevinknopf @MichaelBaum11 in this call for more than fawning coverage from press releases for these kinds of stories.
Also, linked history inside goes back 5 years just on Grail apparently trying to become Holy Grail. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1408849696416841731
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