I had a total abdominal hysterectomy back in August of 09'. On a surgery pre tah, I had my left ovary and tube removed. So they left my right ovary so I would not need hormones. Now I have to have surgery again to have my last ovary removed. GRRRR!!!! I now have a cyst on my right ovary the size of an orange. This will be the 5th surgery I have had to have in the past 2 years. All of these surgery's but one was on my ovaries and the tah. The unrelated was removal of my gallbladder. I had a very hard time with the tah. I got a blood clot because my doc failed to put one little stich in where my cervix was. Then they gave me too much pain meds and I stopped breathing. They couldn't narcan me because I was about to go back into surgery for the blood clot. So I was on a resperator for the next 9 hours. My recovery took about 3 months before I was back to my old self and I am still not 100%. My advice for someone having a hysterectomy and is wanting to know wether they should keep or get rid of there ovary's. GET RID OF THEM! You may have to take a pill for your hormones for the rest of your life but it beats being in this kind of pain and having to go through surgery again and have to recover again. Because it is so big, they are going to have to cut me back open again. It's not worth keeping them!