Sleeping ovaries?

Having already made enquiries about 'sleeping ovaries' I was wondering...................

I was sterilised in 1997 during my last c-section. My tubes were cut and tied, this means that they are in effect, disconnected from my uterus..........

I was told that because the blood supply to the ovaries is disturbed, they sometimes stop working properly for a little while after surgery.

So.............will this make any difference to me?


Vicki x

Hi Vicki

I'm really not sure if that's the reason they sometimes take a little while to wake up. I assumed it was due to the anesthesia - like the bowels, the systems are shut down and takes a little while to get going again.

Hopefully someone else will be along who will have a better answer!

Hi, Vicki! Some drs don't agree that the ovaries may take awhile to function up to normal speed after being disconnected from the uterus, but it does make sense that they are at least a little affected by that change. In fact, a certain percentage of women will go into menopause within five years of a hyst even if their ovaries remain. Here is a thread discussing "sleeping ovaries." https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...eeping+ovaries

Hopefully, since yours are already "disconnected" you won't notice any big changes in hormone levels. s and best wishes!
Ruthie

Hi!

I had my hysterectomy 1 year ago - I kept both ovaries. I am 42 years old. I have had 2 C-sections and also had a tubal ligation with the second C-section. The decision to keep your ovaries is a decision that you and your doctor make. It does depend on the reason for your hysterectomy, age, and family history. I kept mine because I feel that "if it isn't broke, leave it alone". I have no family history of ovarian cancer and I have several more years until menopause and do not want to take HRT until I have to. If my doctor had gotten in and found my ovaries in horrible condition I authorized him to remove them but fortunately they were very healthy. My ovaries have continued to function just fine since my surgery. For me, keeping them was the right decision.

I was told that sometimes the ovaries suffer a bit of shock from the trauma of surgery and needs some time to recover. I have not had this problem.

Take care.

s

You are lucky in many ways Mary Lynn....that your ovaries are still working and they didn't go to sleep with your other surgery. My mother had a hysterectomy many many years ago and opted to keep part of it so that she didnt go through the "change." Well her ovaries stayed asleep for about six months after her surgery and she had to go on hrt. Well then they started up for about 6 months and then they died again and back on hrt she went. She eventually took herself off the treatment but then about 15 years later that small piece of ovary that they left to keep her from going through the change became cancerous and I lost my mother. When the doctor asked me if I wanted to keep my ovaries I told him "NO NO". I do not want to go through what my mother did. But I am glad that things are going well for you.

My tubes were also cut prior to the hyst - although I only have one ovary now. My surgeon said it is the disturbance to the blood supply that causes the problem. If my sore boobs are anything to go by I'd say mine is working just fine

Hi ((Vicki)),
I had a TAH over 3 yrs ago & then an RSO 12 weeks later. I still have my left Ovary but it was left nonfunctioning due to an altered blood supply that occured during one of my surgeries, Many ((Ladies)) who have retained their Ovaries have had them continue to function Here is some info on Post-Op Ovarian failure that will hopefully be of some more help:

The role of ovarian hormones upon brain:
http://www.bbsonline.org/Preprints/O...bbs.fitch.html

Old Ovaries-still of value?
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...threadid=10987

Talking To Your Doctor About HRT:
http://www.aeron.com/new_page_21.htm

Should I Keep My Ovaries?
http://drn4u.com/keepovaries.htm

	Quote:
The rationale for keeping the ovaries is that they may to continue to produce estradiol, the naturally occurring female hormone until the age a natural menopause would have occurred. This is usually thought of as being between the ages of 48-52. In addition, following a natural menopause even if the ovaries no longer produce significant amounts of estrogen, they are capable of producing significant amounts of testosterone, the hormone most closely associated with sex drive, energy levels and maintenance of lean body tissue. When present, some of the testosterone may also be converted to estrogen in tissues of the body, by a process called aromatization. While the levels that result are small, they are nonetheless significant, and at least in a hypothetical sense provide some benefit. Accordingly, it makes sense to keep your ovaries if possible as it may preclude the need for HRT at least until the time of your expected menopause. "I had a hysterectomy and kept my ovaries. I have menopausal symptoms, hot flashes, fatigue and no sex drive. I went to my Dr and he says I don’t need HRT, because I still have my ovaries. Can this be true?" Hypothetically, if you’re premenopausal and still have your ovaries following a hysterectomy, one would expect continued production of ovarian sex hormones. Unfortunately, it has been well documented that this is often not the case. A number of medical studies have documented that ovarian failure occurs frequently in retained ovaries following a hysterectomy. This frequently presents a dilemma for the woman who is of premenopausal age, has had a hysterectomy, still has her ovaries and has menopausal symptoms. First, as she still has her ovaries and expects them to produce adequate amounts of hormone; are the symptoms related to declining hormone levels or do they represent another health-related problem? Second, if she realizes that the symptoms are menopausal and she goes to her physician for help, she may be told that since she still has ovaries that this is not possible. I receive frequent e-mail from symptomatic women whose physicians fail to recognize that ovarian dysfunction is the problem and refuse to provide HRT. Third, even if the cause of the symptoms is recognized as being related to declining hormone levels, the possibility exists that the more routinely prescribed regimens of HRT will not relieve the symptoms. "So, what do I do about this?" The first strategy is to make reasonably certain that the symptoms are related to ovarian failure. Symptoms such as hot flashes, sweats and vaginal dryness are usually related to lowered estrogen levels. Hyperthyroidism, a condition of an excess of thyroid hormone will cause feelings of warmth and sweats can be tested for and excluded as a cause of the symptoms. A diminished libido is associated with ovarian failure, but can be related to other health problems, relationship issues or situational factors. Symptoms of irritability, or fatigue can be of menopausal origin, or related to other factors as well. "What if I’m sure that the symptoms are menopausal? " It may be possible to document that ovarian failure has occurred by having your Dr perform blood tests. If the levels of estradiol and testosterone are low and the FSH, (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), are elevated there is little question that ovarian failure has occurred. FSH, is the hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that signals the ovary to make more estrogen. If the ovary is failing in its ability to do this, the pituitary produces higher levels of FSH in an effort to "whip" the ovary into producing adequate levels of estrogen. Unfortunately, this strategy although useful is not perfect. If the ovaries are "struggling" to produce adequate hormones levels, the test results may be in the normal range and symptoms may still be present. http://drn4u.com/ovarian2.htm

	Quote:
The rationale for keeping the ovaries, would be to maintain a source of your own sex hormone production. It is possible that your ovaries may continue to produce adequate amounts of estrogen and testosterone until the time you would have had experienced a natural menopause. The normally functioning postmenopausal ovary also may be capable of producing significant amounts of testosterone for several years following menopause. Testosterone is the hormone is closely associated with energy levels, lean body mass, libido and sexual function. In addition, if testosterone levels are present, some of it may be converted to estrogen by a process called, "aromatization". This may be the reason that naturally menopausal women are known to have less severe menopausal symptoms and fewer negative health consequences. as contrasted to women who have had their a surgical removal of benefit in reducing the severity of menopausal symptoms. http://drn4u.com/keepovaries.htm

	Quote:
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IF THE OVARIES ARE REMOVED? Although, we usually refer to premenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy as having experienced a "surgical menopause" they are not menopausal in a "hormonal" sense unless their ovaries have been removed. HYSTERECTOMY WITH OVARIAN PRESERVATION Women, in whom the ovaries are retained, although they no longer have monthly periods, will not experience menopausal symptoms or the effects of hormonal deprivation. That is, as long as the ovaries continue to function normally, or until the age an expected natural menopause would have occurred, or sooner if the ovaries have been compromised by the surgery. Unfortunately, even if the ovaries are preserved, they become dysfunctional up to 50% of the time within 3 years following the surgery. Nevertheless, in women under the age of 45 preservation of the ovaries is an important consideration when reasonable. HYSTERECTOMY WITH OVARIAN REMOVAL If both of the ovaries are removed the source of estrogen and testosterone production is lost. The fall in hormone levels is sudden and severe. It is a very different circumstance, than a natural menopause where the decline in estrogen levels may be gradual in onset and ovarian testosterone production may continue for several years. Women in this category, who are without the benefit of HRT, often have the most severe menopausal symptoms and long-term consequences of sex hormone deficiency. Health, quality of life and longevity are affected. There is a statistically shorter life expectancy, associated with a higher rate of death, mostly from heart attacks, strokes, and osteoporosis. Libido and sexual function deteriorate. A hallmark study published 1983 in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed a significantly increased death rate among women 40-50 years of age who had had a hysterectomy and who were without the benefit of estrogen replacement, as compared to those who were estrogen users. For those who had their uterus removed, the rate was 3 times higher. For those who also had both ovaries removed, the rate was 8 times higher. It is apparent that careful consideration should be given to HRT after a surgical menopause. http://drn4u.com/hysterectomy.htm

	Quote:
Ovarian Damage Due to Other Surgical Procedures Usually, as long as you have at least one ovary, you can continue producing hormones and shouldn't go into premature menopause. But in some cases after a hysterectomy in which one or both ovaries are left intact, one or both of them fail --- either immediately after surgery or up to a few years later. This may happen when the ovary or ovaries are damaged or otherwise affected by such procedures as cyst removal or when the surgery damages blood vessels and so interferes with blood flow to the ovaries. In this case, the follicles on the remaining ovary/ovaries slowly die out, resulting in menopause. Similarly, some women experience premature menopause after tubal ligation (getting your "tubes tied" as it's commonly called). Again, this is a result of the surgery interfering with blood flow to the ovaries -- which ends up causing eventual ovarian failure. http://www.earlymenopause.com/causes.htm

	Quote:
SURGICAL MENOPAUSE SURGICAL MENOPAUSE Menopause happens most dramatically as the result of surgical intervention, namely a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy where both ovaries are removed. Sometimes this is called TAH/BSO, or total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Salpingo refers to the fallopian tubes which connect the ovaries to the uterus. In the case of a hysterectomy, where only the uterus is removed and the ovaries maintained, there will be some confusion about when menopause occurs because of the absence of a period. When the uterus is removed (hysterectomy) and the ovaries remain, menstrual periods stop but other menopausal symptoms (if any) usually occur at the same age that they would naturally. However, some women who have a hysterectomy may experience menopausal symptoms at a younger age. There are many decisions to make when faced with surgical menopause. You can never have enough information about the process. You can't just take your doctor's word! Become proactive…this is your body. Listed below are a few points of information that should help your transition into this process: The younger the woman going through surgical menopause, the more problems she will likely encounter. It is crucial that every young woman scheduled for a hysterectomy have a complete hormonal blood work-up. That way there is a baseline to go by when determining hormonal needs. You can look back at those tests and see what the levels were when you felt normal and try to achieve those levels again with the right hormones. Plan on your care after the hysterectomy. As a young woman it is important to find a "specialist " in hormonal therapy; someone who is up to date and keeps up to date with the newest medicine and side effects from surgical menopause. This doctor has to be someone you can trust, who provides good information and is open minded and will see you as a partner in your healthcare. Research, research, and more research! The long-term affects of surgical menopause at a younger age has not really been determined. We are just now finding out how it relates to heart disease, osteoporosis and general health. http://www.project-aware.org/Experience/premature.shtml

Good Luck Pls keep us posted...(((hugs)))