HysterSisters.com is a massive online community with over 475,000 members and over 5 million posts.
Our community is filled with women who have been through the
Hysterectomy experience providing both advice and support from our active members and moderators.
HysterSisters.com is located at 111 Peter St, Toronto, Canada, M5V2H1 and is part of the VerticalScope network of websites.
With free registration, you can ask and answer questions in our HYSTERECTOMY forum community, get our FREE BOOKLET, access Hysterectomy Checkpoints and more.
You are not alone. The HysterSisters are here for you. Join us today!
|
|
Ovaries? Keep or not? Why or why not?
|
04-02-2005, 10:49 PM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 961
Hysterectomy: August 5th, 2004
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Ovaries? Keep or not? Why or why not?
HollyK,
There is strong anectodal evidence available if you ask post menopausal women who later have oophorectomy if they went through a "second" menopause - many do experience the same symptoms all over again - hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and acceleration of bone loss.
But you asked for verified information, so here goes:
Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and heart disease risk factors in older women - this study showed that postmenopausal hyster/BSO patients had "had increased lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, and insulin; blood pressures were increased among current estrogen users."
Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy, and Endogenous Sex Hormone Levels in Older Women: The Rancho Bernardo Study - this study showed that testosterone levels were reduced by 40% in women who had oophorectomy compared to post menopausal women of the same age range. Testosterone is poorly understood in women and this study promted a call for further study of its role.
Menopause and the risk of coronary heart disease in women - This is an older study (1987) which I believe sparked some of this re-evaluation of oophorectomy, "These data suggest that, in contrast to a natural menopause, bilateral oophorectomy increases the risk of coronary heart disease." However, this study went on to point out that HRT could combat this change in risk. That recommendation has now been found to be flawed - as shown by the 1997 study above.
Women awaiting hysterectomy: a qualitative study of issues involved in decisions about oophorectomy - A little off topic, but this was a rather exhaustive study done that shows that women faced with this decision are not fully informed by their doctors about all of the factors involved with oophorectomy.
Do these studies say specifically that the ovaries release hormones after menopause? I'm not sure, I'm only able to read the abstracts, and some of the full study texts are beyond my ability to comprehend fully. But the studies are clear that the ovaries are functioning in some capacity and that hormone levels for women who have had oophorectomy are reduced when compared to women who have gone through natural menopause and retain their ovaries.
You also might want to check this site - www.surgimenopause.com. Also, if you're looking for info, I've found that google has a good search engine specifically for journals - http://scholar.google.com.
I hope that helps, take care.
|
Sponsored Links
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
04-21-2005, 08:27 AM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 3
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2005
|
|
Ovaries to keep or not to keep
Fellow Hystersisters:
I am new to this website today and I thank God for running in to it as I am experiencing this same dilema. I see I am not alone in this very controversial subject. I have my surgery tomorrow morning 4-22-05 and I struugle with this decision. My right ovary was removed 7 years ago from infection and I still have my left one. My uterus is the problem. My Dr suggests I go ahead and have it removed as I am 46 years old and it won't do me justice for alot longer. And he suggests it will help me from having potential surgery later should it need to be removed down the road. After reviewing so much helpfull info from the most important resource which is my fellow hystersisters I have come
to the conclusion to keep the ovary. I was going to go ahead and have it removed but I just did not feel comfortable instinctually and I know you ladies know what I mean. I am so
gratefull that I happened on to this wonderfull website where
you get such tremendous usefull information from the best resources which is women going thru the same thing.
Many Thanks!
Jan
Mansfield, Texas
|
|
04-21-2005, 09:04 AM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 866
Hysterectomy: September 17th, 2004
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Ovaries? Keep or not? Why or why not?
HollyK, This is a very poorly understood area and needs more research. To date the best study that I know of is The Rancho Bernardo Study. This study looked at 2,000 women. 1000 intact, 500 hysterectomy-saved ovaries, 500 hysterectomy with ovaries removed. If our ovaries didn't do anything we should all look the same. The ladies in the study did not look the same. These women were looked at not in the immediate period following surgery but greater than 5+ years out.
There were many differences found in this group of women.
Oophorectomy resulted in a significant lowering of testosterone. It also resulted in increases in all known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, this was not ameliorated by taking estrogen replacement. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. The risk of ovarian cancer pales in comparison to the risk of heart disease.
It is amazing to me that there should be any controversy about what our ovaries do or don't do, yet there is. While we were busy sending men to the moon, we were not spending research dollars on what happens to menopausal ovaries or the like. Women have often been left out of the research loop, especially older women. To wit, auto airbags not tested on women and children, pharmaceuticals tested on white males only, the list could go on and on. This is slowly changing. We have to make decisions based on the information at hand. Were I to make my decision over again I would not hesistate to save my ovaries.
This is based on what I personally experienced after my surgery and what I have read since.
If a women has a life threatening disease than it is absolutely wonderful that she can get on and reclaim her life without her ovaries. Diabetics can get on without a pancreas, etc....
That being said, women should really pause and consider the risks when it comes to pulling out healthy ovaries.
This study is refered to in Donna Shoupe's article, referenced in a posting earlier.
|
|
04-21-2005, 09:10 AM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 866
Hysterectomy: September 17th, 2004
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Ovaries? Keep or not? Why or why not?
hshsupp, You don't mention the reason for your hysterectomy. I do hope that it is not prophylactic. The risks of this type of surgery do not outweigh the benefits. My doctor recommended this type of preemptive strike on my uterus. I was dumb enough to fall for it. I did suffer a complication. My doctor made the same statement about preventing the need for further surgery down the road---as if surgery were inevitable. This is a very psychologically cohersive remark. I hope it is not the reason you are having surgery.
|
|
06-07-2005, 06:18 PM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 110
Hysterectomy: June 23rd, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Ovaries? Keep or not? Why or why not?
Thank you sisters for these postings. I found your posts by accident this evening. They serve as confirmation of my decision earlier last week. My doctor advised that because I am over 45 he wanted a BSO because "I might have to go back in later due to cysts, cancer." I made the decision to keep my ovaries and informed my doctor today. He re did my surgery consent form to reflect my decision. Like some of you, it was just a gut feeling that this was right for me. I am not a candidate for HRT and there is a high rate of heart disease in my family. No one has had ovarian cancer. I prefer a natural menopause.
These postings have made me glad I advocated for myself! Thanks!
Aiken
47 and still kicking!
soon will be minus several large fibroids
|
|
06-08-2005, 08:49 AM
|
Guest
|
|
Posts: 820
Hysterectomy: January 16th, 2001
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Ovaries? Keep or not? Why or why not?
Hi Aiken,
I'm glad you decided to keep your ovaries as I believe they are so much more important to our health than previously thought. Everyday I'm finding more science to confirm this belief.
Their is something else I wanted to make certain you understand and because your doctor gave you the old "cancer" scare, I suspect he isn't as concerned about preserving the ovaries and he might be. Whenever you have a hysterectomy, you put your ovaries in jeopardy because removal of the uterus requires cutting the uterine artery, which is the main source of nourishment for the ovaries. This is why such a high rate of hysterectomized experience ovarian failure in the 2-5 years following surgery.
I didn't go back and read your entire history, but I see you are having the surgery for fibroids and I'm wondering if you have researched myomectomy? ANY size, type or number of fibroids can be removed this way and thereby protect your uterine artery and ovaries.
Also, it has been recently discovered (last few years) that the uterus actually produces a few hormones of it's own. Some belief these contribute to our emotions and feelings of well-being. Scientist are still studying these and trying to figure out exactly what they do.
Of course, whatever you decide is best for you, is up to you. I'm just putting this out here in case it's something you haven't come across yet.
Best wishes,
|
Similar Threads
|
From This Forum |
From Other Forums |
11 Replies, Last Reply 12-07-2010, Started By flamnredhead 11 Replies, Last Reply 05-01-2010, Started By South 10 Replies, Last Reply 11-17-2009, Started By geezersgal 7 Replies, Last Reply 04-28-2009, Started By snippet78 4 Replies, Last Reply 03-31-2009, Started By lovetheLord 1 Reply, Last Reply 07-17-2008, Started By Crystal Cavies 11 Replies, Last Reply 12-02-2007, Started By S Angua 9 Replies, Last Reply 04-24-2005, Started By AnnieJustjump 15 Replies, Last Reply 02-25-2005, Started By blondies 7 Replies, Last Reply 11-04-2003, Started By 1bracha 10 Replies, Last Reply 11-07-2002, Started By Capricorn 6 Replies, Last Reply 03-28-2001, Started By txdaisy |
2 Replies, Separate Surgeries 2 Replies, Cancer Concerns - GYN 1 Reply, No Uterus - No Ovaries - Yes HRT - Surgical Menopause |
|
Advertisement
Hysterectomy News
TODAY'S EVENTS
Calendar -
Hysterectomies -
Birthdays
Request Information
I am a HysterSister
Your Hysterectomy Date
$vbulletin->featuredvideos is not an array!
Advertisement
Advertisement
|