Keep Ovaries? (Can't do HRT)

My surgery is scheduled for October 14 -- TAH. My cervix needs to go since my largest fibroid is smack dab on top of it. My quandry is whether to keep my ovaries.

My sister is a breast cancer survivor. Her kind of cancer was "fed" by estrogen, so she's actually taking anti-estrogen meds to keep her ovaries shut down.

I'm debating getting my ovaries out really for breast cancer prevention more than fears of ovarian cancer. But because of my sister's cancer, I know I can't take HRT.

So, any thoughts of the pros and cons of having my ovaries out without the option of using HRT?

Thanks so much! This support group is a godsend!

You might want to consult a genetic counselor to find out if you carry the genetic marker for ovarian cancer/breast cancer.

Even if you do, having a hysterectomy greatly reduces your chances of getting ovarian cancer when you leave your ovaries. But your concern is more about breast cancer.

You should do some deeper investigation into your family's history and check out how they fare not only with cancers but also heart disease. Hypertension and artery disease (heart attacks, strokes, congestive heart failure) kill far more women than cancer and hormones do quite a bit to protect women from this. Also, bone loss is a serious problem as you get older without protective hormones.

Much of this has to do with how far you are from natural menopause, though ovaries still provide lower levels of some hormones well after menopause.

I would seriously suggest you talking with both your gyno and your PCP before removing healthy ovaries.

Take care.