hysterectomy and ovaries

I'm getting an laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy soon and i'm
wandering if I should keep my ovaries. I have atypical hyperplasia of the uterus and I'm 62. I wanted a simple vaginal
hysterectomy but my doctor said my uterus was too high up and would'nt come down. Thank you for any information.

Dear Lady In Waiting,

It is good to keep the ovaries if they are disease free. Mine had endometriosus on them and had to come out, plus one was enlarged and had a fibroid attached to it down to my cervix (which is gone,too.). Discuss these options with your doctor, your family, your husband or significant other, do some research, and even get a second opinion, if you're not sure. If you can keep the ovaries, it makes the hormone issues much easier on you. Sometimes the ovaries will (sleep) for a time, then wake up and function. The doctors can give you supplements if that happens and keep doing blood tests and watch your symptoms to see if they "wake up." God bless, praying for you. Good luck and best wishes for your surgery. Keep us all posted. Check out some of the searches on this site, and see if you find any helpful information.
DebraDeeH

this is my opinion;always get medical advice from a doctor

Hi there

I see you're 62 and assume you're postmenopausal. I was 53 when I had my hyst and 18 months postmenopausal. I decided to keep my ovaries if they were okay on the off chance they were still doing some good in there, even though they were well past their 'use by date'. My DR was quite happy about this.

My DR found my left ovary attached to my colon but managed to separate it off quite easily. Both ovaries were perfectly normal so he left them. Obviously at our age our ovaries are not nearly as important to our wellbeing as our younger sisters, but who knows maybe they're still pumping out some good stuff. Good luck with your surgery.

I don't think any doctor around here would be talked into leaving ovaries in a woman of our ages. Mind you, mine had tumours and had to be removed and that is why I had a hysterectomy. I do believe there is some value in keeping them, but there is also the risk of something going wrong later and having to have surgery at an advanced age. Just something to think about. By the way, I was about three years past menopause when I had my hysterectomy. I was not and am not on HRT and although I had very severe symptoms while I was going through menopause and had a few mild hot flashes after surgery, I am really quite OK in that department now.

Joselle

I am 58 and I also have the choice of whether or not I want to keep my ovaries. I told the doctor if you can get them out - why not. ( I am having a vaginal hysterectomy) What I forgot to ask and maybe someone here can answer is - Will it take longer to heal after surgery to take out the ovaries too? The doctor said her main concern is removing the uterus as I have hyperplasia with atypia (pre-cancer cells) I am already past menopause so I'm told I won't need HRT.

Any thoughts on this?

pat82

TVH was scheduled for 1-28. Got the flu. Surgery postponed.

My doctor wanted me to have ERT even though I was past menopause. I tried it twice (had tried once before as well) and it just didn't agree with me. I have noticed a definite change in my skin (everywhere) since my surgery. Those old ovaries were doing something!! My doctor said she really wouldn't want to leave anything when there was a suspicion of cancer and I considered everything and decided that I would just worry about cancer in any remaining female organ if I left anything behind. So it all came out and I'm not sorry about it.

It is my understanding that with a vaginal hysterectomy it's possible that the ovaries might not be able to be reached, depending on where they're hangin' out.

Joselle