Abdominal or vaginal / keep ovaries?

I am trying to decide whether or not to have a hysterectomy. I am 33 years old, and have had pain due to endometriosis for at least 10 years. I have tried the conservative measures with little or no relief. I believe the doctor is right about the surgery, but it is a hard decision. I am trying to decide whether or not to keep my ovaries. My thought is to have everything removed. I don't want to have to worry about having a second surgery later to remove the ovaries. I do not mind taking the HRT. I also have to decide how I want the surgery done. If I have it vaginally, I may have to be put to sleep instead of having the spinal (I hate being put to sleep, and it scares me a lot). The doctor would use the laparoscopy to go in and look first if we decide on a vaginal surgery, and the gas he would use to get my other organ out of the way could make it hard for me to breathe on my own. If I have the abdominal surgery, I can have the spinal, and I can also have my appendix removed. Any advice would be helpful. I have been praying, thinking, and talking about this for a while, and I want a final decision.

Hi Runt,
I'm 40 years old and had a LAVH (lap assisted vaginal hyst) with no complications. I also did not like the thought of being put to sleep but all went well. The one big advantage of the LAVH is the recovery time....I have had 2 c-sections and the hyst was so much easier to recover from. They also have the advantage over a vaginal hyst because they are able to see around inside. I had severe adhesions and they were able to remove them laproscopically
instead of doing the TAH. I also had adenomyosis and 2 fibroids. My dd also told me he could remove any other abnormal tissue he found, including the ovaries and appendix. Both were healthy so no need for further removal. For me, I wanted to keep my ovaries because
of the medical benifits they provide since I could have 10 years or so until menopause. It is a very personal decision and is different for every woman. I do not regret any of my choices and am now feeling better than I have in 10 years. My advice is to do as much research on the subject and discuss all the pros and cons with your doctor.
You will be able to make the right decision for you! Good luck.

85% of hysterectomies are elective surgery, done to improve the quality of life, not to save a life. You should get 2 or 3 medical opinions, and investigate all your options before choosing this surgery.

Keep investigating & asking questions. Don't give up on your ovaries if they are still doing some good stuff for you.

Get smart about your symptoms and your options, and make the best choice for YOU.

Thanks for the advice. I have had laparoscopies, and I tend to bleed a lot through the incisions. I have to have pressure bandages put on them to stop the bleeding. I have had different doctors give me this same opinion about the hysterectomy for years. I am just now to the point that I am tired of the pain, and I want my life back. I have a beautiful little girl, and my husband and I do not plan to have more children, so that isn't a concern. I am pretty sure the surgery is the best bet (the more I think about it), but I am not sure which way to have it. Thanks again for the replies. I am still confused, but it did help to read what others think.