The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an advisory that strongly cautions doctors about using a surgical device called a laparoscopic power morcellator because it can potentially spread a dangerous hidden cancer. The device is used in the surgeries of many women.

The power morcellator is a bladed tool used in minimally invasive surgeries to slice up and remove uterine growths called fibroids.

The advisory has reportedly divided hospitals and gynecologists, and many are still using the laparoscopic power morcellator. Figures show that the device was being used in an estimated 50,000 U.S. uterine surgeries each year.

Some doctors reportedly believe that the FDA overreached. For some, it’s business as usual. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, with more than 50 obstetrics and gynecoloy practitioners, is still using the device. However, the medical center changed its informed-consent forms to include the morcellation cancer risk and told the doctors to inform patients.

Duke University Health System is also sticking with the laparoscopic power morcellator as long as there’s a patient’s informed consent.

HCA Holdings Inc. recommended its affiliated doctors in hospitals and surgery centers in 20 states to follow the FDA’s advisory. Meanwhile, Unity Health System in New York has declared a moratorium on laparoscopic power morcellation and would revisit the issue next month.

According to the advisory, women undergoing surgery for what seems like benign uterine fibroids have a one in 350 risk of hosting an undetected cancer called uterine sarcoma. Using laparoscopic power morcellation on these tumors can spread cancerous tissue and significantly worsen the odds of long-term survival.

This FDA advisory is leaving women confused about whether they should consider other choices: open abdominal surgery or vaginal procedures.