The ovary question

To keep or not to keep --- this is the question that I keep flip-flopping constantly on. I'm 41 - and as far as we know my ovaries are healthy. Up until last night, I had decided to have them taken out. Now after reading a few books, I'm thinking that the benefits of keeping them outweigh the slight risk of ovarian cancer. I just don't know. I do have a few weeks to make a decision. Can anybody tell me their experiences with their decision.

Thanks.

Diane

Hi...
I am 40 and thought I had to make the decision too, but then I visited the Hormone Jungle and realized my ovaries weren't working at all -- I had classic signs: night sweats, low libido, low energy, irregular periods, etc.
My theory was, if they weren't working, why keep them?
My doctor agreed, thankfully.
When he took them out, he said they were so diseased with endo that they were in the condition of a 70 year old woman's and I was in full menopause. I had ultrasounds, MRIs, even laparoscopies and no one noticed this before.
Now, I'm on natural replacement therapy and feeling better than I have in years.
If you don't have signs of pre-menopause, you could keep the ovaries. But, you'll have to go through menopause eventually. If you have endo -- it could spread to the ovaries and get to the stage I was in.
A lot depends on your hormonal symptoms now and if ovarian cancer runs in your family. I really found a lot of help on the Hormone Jungle site.
It is a very individual decision --
so do your research and good luck!

Oh yea, I'm in the same boat with you, girlfriend! I have a TVH/possible BSO scheduled for 12/26. I am 40, and last December I had a laparoscopy that I got on film, and revealed my right ovary looked very healthy, but the left one was covered in adhesions. She cut them away, and I never knew if the adhesions made the ovary non-functioning.

So when my gyn told me it was time for the hyst. due to rapidly multiplying fibroids, she said--like yours did--that I'm "on the fence" with the ovary issue. I posted a question just like yours! People I talk to tell you both things, "tell 'em to take it all!" or "you can never reproduce the hormones exactly the way the ovaries do, keep them". I hear so much about the ovaries shutting down after the surgery anyways. It's all very confusing. If I were very young I'd keep them, if I were older I'd take them out--it's hard being "middle aged", isn't it?

The way I've left it now is if there is any problem of course they will go. If they look fine, they will stay. She feels I can do fine even with one ovary. I'm tending to lean in that direction, because the ladies here have told me that if the ovaries shut down soon after surgery or even later, I'll start with the classic signs (hot flashes, moods, etc.) and I can begin to supplement with estrogen at that time. My gyn also said if I keep them, worst case scenario is they have to be removed later, which can be done laparoscopically and it's a easy procedure.

I'd like to keep in touch with you on this issue, since we're in the same boat. you can email me if you want, dck696@aol.com

Hi Diane,

At the ripe old age of 43, my doc offered to take the ovaries during TVH *as long as he was in there*.

I did some research (this was all pre-HysterSisters message boards), and dumb luck prevailed in my decision to keep em if they're healthy (they were!).

Get smart about your symptoms and your options & make the best decision for YOU.

Everyone here really has some very good points. And it really is your own choice. For me, I'm having the TAH/BSO this coming Friday. And I opted for them to take out my ovaries. I just don't feel like I want to go through the wait of a surgery again if they shut down on me after everything is said and done. I figured if I'm going to be asleep anyway, I'd just as well do it once and for all. Somewhere I read, said after a hysterectomy the ovaries shut down in approx. 5 years. I don't know how true this is. But I believe everyone is different. With my luck if I left them in they would probably shut down as soon as I got home from the hospital! Then I would have to find a way to kick my own behind!! As Donna stated above, it really is hard being middle-aged. All these decisions! I'll just have to deal with whatever comes, but I know I won't need my plumbing anymore!!
But really... weigh everything out and DO WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU. Hang in there!
sonyiachappelle@hotmail.com
TAH/BSO November 3,2000

My doc quoted that there is a 50% chance of ovaries shutting down within 5 years of hysterectomy. I value his opinion highly, since he is a uro-gynecologist specializing is pelvic reconstruction & does about 25 hysts per week.

To ME, that meant I had a 50% chance that my ovaries would continue to function normally. And even if they did shut down, non-functioning ovaries can stay put if they are not causing any other problems.

I was only 43, no history of ovarian cancer, & ovaries were healthy, so I am glad I let the doc decide based on his findings during surgery.

Thanks for all of your input. I just don't know what to do. My thinking (at least at this moment) is even if they only work for 5 more years, that's five years of the estrogen benefit. I never knew before reading about it all the good that estrogen does for our bodies. What scares me is having menopause hit all at once, instead of gradually. My pre-op is on the 16th so I have some time to keep changing my mind.

Diane