Anyone with endo who kept their ovaries?

I have endo and it's led me down a long, frustrating road. I'm sure everyone understands what I mean by that! Until recently, I was on birth control pills and they worked well at keeping the endo under control. Then I developed severe migraines that the doctor determined are caused by the pills. I'm scheduled to have a hysterectomy on 4/3/07. I'm not worried about the surgery itself (I had 2 laps for the endo), but I'm concerned about surgical menopause (I'm 38). I still have one ovary (the other one had to be removed because of endo) and I'd like to keep it if possible. Of course, it might be in bad shape, too, but I won't know that until the surgery. I've always heard that it's preferable to remove the ovaries if endo is involved because the hormones feed the endo. For those of you who kept their ovaries, were you concerned about this? Have your endo symptoms returned since your hysterectomy? Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks

I had my hyst hyst for endo when I was 25 so my age played a major role in my decision to keep my ovaries. We felt that my overall health would benefit from keeping my ovaries, and that pro outweighed the con of my ovaries feeding the remaining endo. Granted, I was told I could need a BSO in the future, but it has been over 6 years and I still have my ovaries. Each of us have to make the best decision for us with regard to our ovaries and having a hyst.

A hyst is not a cure for endo so that complicates matters. You will need as much endo as safely possible removed from your body at the time of your surgery. If you do not have an endometriosis specialist, you may want to consider consulting with one prior to surgery. An endo specialist typically knows the best and lastest endo treatment options and usually is highly skilled at removing endo from the body.

If you have not had an opportunity to do so yet, you also may want to read through as many of our Endometriosis Resources as possible so you can learn as much as possible about endo prior to your surgery.

Many best wishes to you for whatever you decide is best for you!

I had a TVH on Feb 27th for endometriosis, adnemoysis, and a chronic inflammation. My doctor had seen endo. on my ovaries from a previous laprascopy, but said he'd rather do it in stages if it became necessary to remove my ovaries. I really didn't want to go on hormone if I could help it, so he said we'd start with the TVH, and then if the pain returned it was an easier surgery to remove the ovaries later on. He said that for 75% of women just removing the uterus was enough. He said he checked out my ovaries during the TVH and they looked good, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep them. Good luck!!!

I too have endo and my dr. and I decided it was best to keep the ovaries as long as they looked good during the surgery. My age also played a big part in keeping the ovaries as I am only 28. Everything I researched just made me question it more because some say yes take them and others say no do not take them. I am only 3 weeks post-op so have no idea if the endo will cause problems since I kept the ovaries, but I am praying that everything will be good. Like with anything make sure you discuss the options in great detail with your doctor and if you feel uncormfortable with his/her decision you can alwasy get a second opinion. Best of luck and we are all here for you!

I am about 3 mos. post op, I have my left ovary, and thats all I have, and so far I have not had any problems. I have had endo since age 19, now 44. My dr also believed I should keep one for now, and if in the future I start having problems I can have that removed also. Good luck to you.
Teresa

I'm having a hysterectomy in April. I, too, have endometriosis and have been *battling* the same question. It's hard to research and find so many differing opinions/views. I just want it to be black and white...and it's not.

I have talked to 2 different doctors and they both said they would prefer to leave at least one ovary if possible (I'm 39). Of course, they may get in there and leaving an ovary might not be an option (depending on the extent/placement of the endo).

As I consider the pros and cons, I would like to keep my ovaries if possible. I know there is a higher incidence of recurrence if I keep my ovaries, but I've pretty much decided I'd rather take that *risk*, than some of the *risks* associated with early menopause. I had miserable side effects from Lupron and I'm not eager to go back to the hot flashes, etc.

If my endometriosis caused pain daily and had to be treated constantly, I would probably make a different decision. However, for me, 98- 99% of my pain is during my period. My periods are awful and I think I will just feel so much better if I don't have to deal with them. My bigger question right now is whether to keep my cervix and risk mini-periods. The thought of even a mini period scares me....I want to be done with it.

Only you can make this decision for yourself.....talk more about it with your doctor. I have a long list of questions I'm bringing to my pre-op! (:

I forgot to answer the whole question! I do still have issues with endo. So far the pain has been bearable, and it is not constant. It may last for months on end, but then it goes away and could be gone for months on end. We are guessing it is affected by my hormone levels which seem to flucuate wildly, evidenced by PMS and hormonal migraines.

Since endo was left on my bowel walls, I seem to have the most problems when my IBS is flared and I just had PMS (when I might have a higher amount of estrogen floating around feeding the endo and flaring it up). If I can keep the IBS under control, the endo pain is much more tolerable.

Some women do well after a hyst, even with an ovary or both ovaries. Some do not. There is really no way to know how things will be for you. If I could see into the future and tell you the perfect answer, I would!

It is my opinion, from my own life, research, and what I have read and seen here on the site, that keeping your ovaries might be wise for the benefit of your overall health and to prevent surgical menopause which is horrible for some women. Then, if in the future you find that the endo pain is not tolerable, you could consider the BSO. But that is my opinion.

If you have had relief after your laps, you could have relief after your hyst as well, provided as much endo as possible is removed at the time of your hyst by a skilled surgeon.

I am happy with my decision, but I know women who had their ovaries removed who are happy with their decision as well, my SIL being one of them.

Besides talking to your GYN about this, and seeking a second opinion with possibly an endo specialist, you might want to sit down and talk to your primary care doctor. My GP helped me a lot prior to my hyst as she treats ALL of me. I made a consultation appointment with her after my lap where the endo was diagnosed. We talked about my situation and the pathology reports. In her opinion, the hyst and keeping my ovaries was the wisest choice for me even though my GYN did not want to consider that I have a hyst. I should note that at that point, my GYN did not have the surgery photos as they had inadvertently been given to me. My GP was ready to call my GYN for a conference but once my GYN had the photos in his hands he plainly said "you need a hyst" (although to this day, over six years later, he still tells me he wishes there had been an alternative available for me).

It is hard to know what to do and we all have a different experience. Endo acts different in each of us. I had no pain, even with stage IV endo, prior to my hyst. I had never had cramps during my periods. But I had always had long, heavy ones. My endo pain came after my hyst.

I wish you the very best and hope you are able to make the right decision for you! s