A new surgical method for delaying menopause causes controversy.
Prof. dr. Garalejic: "It is certainly not harmless to remove a part of an organ from a woman who is not sick."
Prof. dr. Fazlagić: "The method has not yet been fully proven and one has to be careful."
A NEW surgical method that delays menopause for up to 20 years and has been applied in Britain has caused controversy among doctors. While some claim that surgery treats the health problems of menopausal women, others say that just a good marketing ploy and a way to make money is behind it.
The surgical method, available in the UK and costing betwee €7,600 to €12,000 euros, takes a portion of the ovary, freezes it and returns it to the body when a woman reaches the age of menopause. Professor Dr Mima Fazlagic says that this method has not yet been fully proven and that caution should be exercised.
Undergoing surgery certainly does not mean that menopause will certainly be stopped - says prof. Dr. Fazlagić - It depends on the work of the pituitary gland in every woman. This is not a magic wand and it will take years to discover lasting effects.
Professor Dr. Elijana Garalejic from the People's Front gynecological-obstetric clinic says that every surgery carries a certain risk of complications, which is why it is not good for healthy women to undergo such interventions.
- It is certainly not harmless to remove a part of an organ from a woman who is not sick - says prof. Dr. Garalejić. - Any surgery is an aggressive method and should not be used unless there is another solution.
The aim of the method is to reduce menopausal problems such as osteoporosis, heart problems, decreased libido, changes in mood and temperature. However, such problems are treated with non-invasive methods and therapies, which are much cheaper.
- There are good medicines that have been proven to reduce problems and help women in menopause - says Prof. Dr. Garalejić. - This problem is easier to solve in this way, while new methods are fabulous and have not yet been tested. It should be noted that transplanted tissue may simply not work.
Doctors who support this method claim that the goal is to ease the symptoms of menopause, not to allow a woman of 60 to become pregnant. However, the fact is that this surgery, if successful, prolongs fertility and allows a woman to give birth to a child in the sixth or seventh decade.
- We cannot be young forever and biology is such that one day the ovaries will definitely lose their function - says Prof. Dr. Garalejić. - The question arises whether it is ethically okay for a woman to give birth at 65 unless her lifespan is doubled.
REVOLUTION OR BUSINESS
According to prof. Dr. Elijane Garalejic, such methods are one of the options for young patients who are exposed to radiation because of illness, but have not given birth and do not want to lose their eggs.
- It may be a business, since it promotes a "revolutionary" procedure for delaying menopause, rather than treating cancer patients, more precisely enabling birth after a serious illness - says Prof. Dr. Garalejić.
NINE WOMEN OPERATED
Already nine women, aged 22 to 36, have undergone this surgery, which is currently only performed in Britain, with women under 40. The procedure lasts for 30 minutes and after just one day, as explained by the doctors there, the woman can resume her daily activities.
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Prof. dr. Garalejic: "It is certainly not harmless to remove a part of an organ from a woman who is not sick."
Prof. dr. Fazlagić: "The method has not yet been fully proven and one has to be careful."
A NEW surgical method that delays menopause for up to 20 years and has been applied in Britain has caused controversy among doctors. While some claim that surgery treats the health problems of menopausal women, others say that just a good marketing ploy and a way to make money is behind it.
The surgical method, available in the UK and costing betwee €7,600 to €12,000 euros, takes a portion of the ovary, freezes it and returns it to the body when a woman reaches the age of menopause. Professor Dr Mima Fazlagic says that this method has not yet been fully proven and that caution should be exercised.
Undergoing surgery certainly does not mean that menopause will certainly be stopped - says prof. Dr. Fazlagić - It depends on the work of the pituitary gland in every woman. This is not a magic wand and it will take years to discover lasting effects.
Professor Dr. Elijana Garalejic from the People's Front gynecological-obstetric clinic says that every surgery carries a certain risk of complications, which is why it is not good for healthy women to undergo such interventions.
- It is certainly not harmless to remove a part of an organ from a woman who is not sick - says prof. Dr. Garalejić. - Any surgery is an aggressive method and should not be used unless there is another solution.
The aim of the method is to reduce menopausal problems such as osteoporosis, heart problems, decreased libido, changes in mood and temperature. However, such problems are treated with non-invasive methods and therapies, which are much cheaper.
- There are good medicines that have been proven to reduce problems and help women in menopause - says Prof. Dr. Garalejić. - This problem is easier to solve in this way, while new methods are fabulous and have not yet been tested. It should be noted that transplanted tissue may simply not work.
Doctors who support this method claim that the goal is to ease the symptoms of menopause, not to allow a woman of 60 to become pregnant. However, the fact is that this surgery, if successful, prolongs fertility and allows a woman to give birth to a child in the sixth or seventh decade.
- We cannot be young forever and biology is such that one day the ovaries will definitely lose their function - says Prof. Dr. Garalejić. - The question arises whether it is ethically okay for a woman to give birth at 65 unless her lifespan is doubled.
REVOLUTION OR BUSINESS
According to prof. Dr. Elijane Garalejic, such methods are one of the options for young patients who are exposed to radiation because of illness, but have not given birth and do not want to lose their eggs.
- It may be a business, since it promotes a "revolutionary" procedure for delaying menopause, rather than treating cancer patients, more precisely enabling birth after a serious illness - says Prof. Dr. Garalejić.
NINE WOMEN OPERATED
Already nine women, aged 22 to 36, have undergone this surgery, which is currently only performed in Britain, with women under 40. The procedure lasts for 30 minutes and after just one day, as explained by the doctors there, the woman can resume her daily activities.
