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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
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03-14-2005, 06:53 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 88
Hysterectomy: April 26th, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
Well, I have a decision to make. I'm scheduled for a TAH Apr 26. They will definitely remove one ovary and if the other is healthy then it's my decision. I'm 47 and my mother went tyhrough menopause at 50. So I have a dilema. My gut reaction is to keep the ovary and hope it keeps working for a while after the surgery. I'd rather not have to deal with hot flashes, etc while recovering from the hysto. The doctor recommended that she remove the ovary as then any reactions could be dealt with right away. She'd put an estrogen patch on me right away.
So I'd like to hear from some of you that have been through either scenario. What happened when you left the ovary in but then went into surgical menopause?
Looking forward to any ideas, suggestions????
Thanks
Kay
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03-14-2005, 07:07 PM
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Posts: 4,793
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2004
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
Hi Kay,
First off...I am not quite clear ~why~ are you are having one ovary removed?? Is there a problem with it medically?? Or did your Dr. possibly suggest it as a hedge against ovarian cancer or menopause?? Just wondering if you could respond so it can help me with a reply.
Best wishes,
Mary
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03-14-2005, 07:11 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 961
Hysterectomy: August 5th, 2004
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
Did your doctor say why she wanted to remove your healthy ovary?
Is there a history of ovarian/breast cancer in your family? It's important to examine your health history.
Menopause is not just hot flashes. It's the downshifting of your ovaries, the loss of fertility and cessation of menstruation. But your ovaries continue producing hormones well into our seventies. Many women who have gone through menopause and then have oophorectomy will experience menopause all over again as their bodies try to adjust to NO hormones, instead of just less.
The ovaries are part of your overall endocrine system and work in conjunction with your thyroid, pancreas and adrenal glands. There is no one pill or regimine that can replace what your ovaries do for you. They protect your bones, bladder, vagina, libido, heart, thyroid, circulatory system and even cognition.
I even just read a study that says that ERT is actually worse for urinary incontinence than nothing at all. UI is a common side effect to natural and surgical menopause.
It's true that some women do encounter reduced or compromised ovarian function after hysterectomy, which is not usually referred to as surgical menopause, but just early menopause. It's possible that even damaged ovaries are still producing hormones, just not as much as you'd like.
The other thing is, if it ain't broke, why fix it? Why spend hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars on hormone therapies? Are you sure you'll have the insurance to cover them in two years, in five?
Ovarian cancer is rare, and hysterectomy actually reduces the chances from 1 in 70 to 1 in 300. If you have no genetic links, the risk is even lower.
I hope that you'll talk to your doctor about this and consider getting a second opinion. The ACOGS has not recommended prophylactic oophorectomy for well over 12 years for pre-menopausal women.
Take care.
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03-14-2005, 07:18 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 163
Hysterectomy: October 25th, 2004
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
Hi Kay,
I had TAH almost 5 months ago and also had to have one ovary removed due to an abcess. Fortunately I was able to keep the other one. So far so good, it seems to be working properly. I preferred keeping the single one since I think it's probably easier to just ease into menopause than having a brutal surgical one.
Lots of women don't have that choice but if there is no medical reason to remove them, why not keep them... Still it is your decision to make no matter what everyone else says.
Good luck and take care!
Annie
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03-14-2005, 08:12 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 88
Hysterectomy: April 26th, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
Thanks ladies. The one ovary is being removed due to a cyst on it. The other she suggested removing it to reduce chances of ovarian cancer, etc. There is no history of it in my family.
As I said my gut reaction is to keep the ovary but I do want to explore my options and hear what other princesses have gone through. The more I hear about it certainly seems to keep leading me in that direction as well.
I'm going to try and call my family doctor to see if I can speak to her about it as well as I value her opions and thoughts.
Thanks for the reponses and I look forward to more.
Kay
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03-14-2005, 08:23 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 80
Hysterectomy: May 23rd, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
hi kay
im having a TAH on may 23 and the dr is takign everything BUT the left ovary.......the left one is perfectly healthy and i said to him why take it when it is healthy and im only 34 years old and i do not want to go through surgical menopause ....but he has to take the rt ovary and fallopian tube since it is wrapped aroound my colon and is compressed .....
if i were you i would defnatley talk to him or her and plead to keep the good .......
best of luck to you and i will say a prayer for you ........dana
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03-15-2005, 09:34 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 866
Hysterectomy: September 17th, 2004
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
I would not invite menopause into my life any sooner than nature intends for it. A natural menopause is gentle in comparison to a surgical menopause. The majority of MD's only consider replacing estrogen, this is not the only hormone that will be lost. This article sums up the major issues to consider.
The Rational for Ovarian Conservation
I recommend doing a search for threads on ovaries in hystersisters. This is a frequent topic, with a lot of information.
You might consider a second opinion on how to handle the cyst. The ultrasound made it appear that it was attached to my ovary. Turns out it wasn't. I regret my surgery and wish I had had the cyst looked at laprascopically before making any decision on what to do about it.
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03-15-2005, 10:20 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 383
Hysterectomy: April 26th, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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one opinion
For me I can't imagine my ovaries working too well post op if I left them, which may prevent me from thinking I should take HRT that really may help. I'm not saying it's right for you, but my line of thinking in choosing to let them take mine is as follows: I doubt they're going to function too well post op. I've had grinding PMS/DD for a decade. I want to reduce the risk for gyn surgery down the road. Those are the reasons I'm letting go of mine. I believe when left, gals may resist HRT, which may really help. I'm hoping for the best with an estrogen patch, but planning on using my mind to take action toward happiness in life, and not relying too much on hormone actions. I understand it is common for European woman to take hormone extention therapy for anti-aging purposes. I find myself kind of liking that idea. All of life has risk. HRT has some risk, but I hope the rewards will outweigh the risk, if not I'll give up and work on mentally creating happiness during whatever curve balls I'm sure life will throw at me. Love Noom Age 44 one child, hormonally challenged now: raging, sweating, crying, laughing too hard, freezing, buzzing, yawning, all at the same time! Have you seen my keys?
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03-15-2005, 10:21 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 121
Hysterectomy: December 7th, 2004
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
I had TAH/BSO 3 months ago. Ididnt' really a=have a choice about my ovaries since they were filled with fibroids. However, I have been on HRT since the first day after my surgery, and I feel great!!! I have a neice (27) that had a hyst and kept her ovaries, and they had to go back in and take them out later. Just the thought of another surgery was reason enough to just let them take everything and be done with it. I think that you and your dR should discuss this indepth, and if you are still not satisfied, then get a 2nd opinion.
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03-16-2005, 06:50 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 48
Hysterectomy: April 6th, 2005
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Ovary - To Keep or Not To Keep
Last year I had my left ovary removed due to a 8cm dermoid cyst. At that time my OB/GYN and I talked at great length about a complete hyst. Her take on it was that since I had fibroids in my uterus and since many times dermoid cysts reoccur that everything should go. She also told me at that time that there was a chance that my healthy ovary might shut down for a time due to the surgery anyway. My take on it was the fibroids hadn't caused me too much trouble and they normally shrink after menopause, and why get rid of a healthy ovary. I was willing to take the chance that I wouldn't get another cyst. I did not opt for the complete hyst. Well here is what has happened over the past year. Had LSO in January and all was well. Started having many menopausal symptoms, but they were not so bad. Nothing that I would say stopped me from enjoying life, just a bother. The months came and went and no periods. I called OB/GYN in April to let her know what was going on and she said that she felt my ovary shut down due to the surgery and that we would watch it over the next couple of months. In August, still no periods. Called OB/GYN back and she had me come in. She did some blood work, a pelvic exam and an Ultrasound. At that time she told me that my ovary had indeed shut down and that my hormone levels were so low they were not measureable. Surgical Menopause! The ultrasound showed no cysts but fibroids had increased in number and size. I scheduled a follow up appt. for January of this year. I felt ok, no HRT. In November I started to experience the same symtoms I had with my first dermoid cyst but tried to ignore them. By the time my January appt. arrived I was really feeling sick. The ultrasound showed another 5cm dermoid cyst on my right ovary and there were more fibroids and an enlarged uterus. I am having irregular bleeding and a nonstop ugly black discharge that started in February. I am waiting for the results of a biopsy taken last week as my OB/GYN now suspects endometrial cancer. I am scheduled for a LAVH/RSO on April 6. I wish now I would have had the complete hyst. last January. I would not be going through what I am right now. Everything that my OB/GYN cautioned me about did happen. This does not happen in many cases, but I am here to tell you that it does happen. I am living proof. Too bad we can't look into a crystal ball and see the future sometimes. Good Luck in making the decision that you feel comfortable with, it is not an easy one.
Take Care
WisSis
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