The Cancer Prevention Surgery Most Women Have Never Heard Of

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Fempower Health Podcast, we unpack one of the most important shifts happening in gynecology that few patients know about: salpingectomy—the removal of the fallopian tubes—is replacing tubal ligation in many cases as a way to reduce ovarian cancer risk.

Research has shown that most ovarian cancers actually begin in the fallopian tubes, not the ovaries. But outdated coding, confusing consent processes, and insurance issues have made this simple, evidence-based cancer prevention tool harder for women to access—or even understand.

This 10-minute episode breaks it all down in plain English.

🩺 What You’ll Learn:

• Why most ovarian cancers don’t start in the ovaries
• What salpingectomy is—and how it differs from tubal ligation
• Why more doctors are removing fallopian tubes during surgery
• How new diagnostic codes launching in Fall 2025 may improve access and insurance coverage
• What questions to ask your OB-GYN to make informed decisions

🔎 Why This Matters:

With no effective screening for ovarian cancer, prevention matters more than ever. Salpingectomy offers a promising path—but most women don’t know about it, and many have undergone surgery without fully understanding what was done.

Informed consent isn’t just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of agency in healthcare. If you or someone you love is facing a hysterectomy or sterilization procedure, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources & Links:

• Read the blog post Ovarian Cancer Might Not Start in the Ovary
• Listen to my interview with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance as we discuss why ovarian cancer is so hard to diagnose and why women are typically diagnosed in its later stages.
• Listen to my interview with Oriana Papin-Zoghbi about her company’s efforts to create an ovarian cancer diagnostic.

Share This Episode:

Know someone planning surgery or looking to reduce their cancer risk? Send them this episode or post it on social media. Because when women are informed, they’re empowered.

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