Go off or stay on pill until hyst?

I have been on b/c pills on and off for the last 20 years. On them for the last 7 with husband. I am scheduled for LAVH in 3 weeks and toying with the idea of going off the pill now so I will better know if my hormone fluctuations after hyst have more to do with the surgery than my b/c pills, which I obviously won't need anymore. (Keeping ovaries, hopefully, unless they see something bad.)

Pregnancy is not an issue between now and then since I won't be cleared for that before next surgery due to last surgery.

Doctor said that the only reason to stay until surgery is that b/c reduces chances of ovarian cancer, but does 3 weeks really make a difference? (I am having surgery due to CIN 3 on my cervix that they have not been able to surgically isolate.)

I started the pills up again this past Sunday mostly due to indecision and fear that I would have a "big" period the week of my surgery instead of my usual miniscule flow on the pill.

Anyone have any ideas or experience with this?

Hi Janet,

With my surgeon's agreement, I took continuous BC pills for the month before my hyst (for endo) in the hope of not having a painful period before the surgery. My body actually ignored them, and I had a 12 day period anyway!! Oh well, it helped me to be certain that I really wanted the surgery!!!

I didn't notice any drastic hormonal fluctuations after stopping them, but I didn't take them for as long as you. If you feel your hormones are out of balance post op (ie menopausal symptoms), you can always ask your doc to check them for you.

Hope this helps.
s

Janet -- My dr. had me stop taking the pill (I'd been on it for 12 years since my dd was born) on Tuesday before my surgery on Friday. Of course, my period started Friday morning, but it wasn't enough to be a big deal. I think you should do whatever you are comfortable with as long as your dr says its up to you.

Prayers for a successful surgery and an uneventful recovery!

Helen

I was taking bc pills for a couple of months before my surgery, and my dr. said I had to be off them for 1 month prior to the surgery......

I think you should follow your doctor's advice, or if you want to question what has been suggested, then speak to the dr again.
The dr should know what you want to do and HAS TO KNOW what you really do.

I kept taking pills (actually patch) until right before surgery. I had my period 2 weeks before surgery so I did not add another patch after that one. My doctor said it was up to me but to make sure I did not accidently become pregnant during those 2 weeks. I think your doctor could give you the best advice on this one.
Good luck to you with your upcoming surgery.

Thanks .. not cleared for any of that type of activity before next surgery anyway. Doc didn't care one way or the other if I continued to take them.

I just wondered from a hormonal standpoint if anyone noticed a difference (I feel very different off the pill, so I guess I won't know if post-surgery I feel different because of pill or because of hyst). Those post-pill/hyst ovaries are going to be so confused.