PURPOSE: to assess ovarian function in patients with cervical cancer following radical hysterectomy with ovarian preservation. METHODS: we retrospectively analyzed patients with cervical carcinoma, submitted to radical hysterectomy with ovarian preservation at the Gynecologic Clinic of the São Marcos Hospital-SPCC, from April 1998 to October 2001, with evaluation of symptoms of estrogenic deprivation (flushing, dry vagina) and the measurement of FSH levels after surgery. All data were analyzed using the Pearson test. RESULTS: FSH levels were measured in 42 patients; of these, 33 (78.5%) patients had normal FSH levels (below 30 mU/mL). The median level was 21.05 mU/mL (range 1.2-132.44 mU/mL). Five (55.6%) of the nine patients with high FSH levels had received postoperative radiotherapy (p<0.0001). There was no correlation between postoperative FSH levels and age over 40 years (p=0.33). Benign ovarian cysts occurred in four patients (7.7%). One patient presented recurrence of the lesion in the vaginal dome and metastasis to the scalp, and died. CONCLUSION: in 78.5% of the patients, ovarian function was preserved. Ovarian transposition was inadequate to preserve ovarian function in patients who underwent postoperative radiotherapy. There was no correlation between age and postoperative FSH levels.
Cervical cancer; FSH; Ovarian failure
