Washington, Aug 11 - Young women with early-stage ovarian cancer can preserve fertility by keeping at least one ovary or the uterus, without the risk of dying from the disease, according to the latest research.

Most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed at later stages and in older women. However, up to 17 percent of ovarian tumours occur in women 40 years or younger, many of whom have early stage disease.

Surgery for ovarian cancer usually involves complete removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) and ovaries and loss of fertility, but also subjects young women to the long-term consequences of oestrogen deprivation.

Researchers led by Jason Wright, of Columbia University College of Physicians (CUCPS) and Surgeons conducted a study to examine the safety of fertility-conserving surgery in pre-menopausal women with ovarian cancer.

This type of surgery conserves at least one ovary or the uterus.

The investigators analysed data from women 50 years or younger who were diagnosed with early stage (stage I) ovarian cancer between 1988 and 2004 and who were registered in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database.