2 yrs post MP, ovaries still working?

I had a vaginal hysterectomy but kept my ovaries. Doctor said I wasn't 'high risk.' How long do our ovaries keep producing hormones after menopause? I've not had any symptoms other than no period, could mine still be producing hormones?

I read on another thread somewhere that once the blood supply is cut off to the ovaries (when the uterus is removed) that the ovaries will be in 'shock' (or something like that) and that's what causes the odd cravings and feelings that some of us are having now.

Does anyone know if this is true? Is the blood supply cut off to them once the uterus is removed, and if so... do they return to normal eventually? Otherwise, wouldn't they just shrivel up and die inside of us?

Here is an article from our Hormone Jungle articles in Resources.

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/article_97219.htm


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Thanks for the reply Suzy. I read the article; it really didn't give any answers, only "possibles." But I'll keep searching....... and I'll ask my doctor.

Well... I had my surgery in 2000, retaining ovaries. At the time, I was 44.

My ovaries did go on strike for the first 3 months after my hyst. Afterwards, it took about another 6 months for them to adjust to the surgery and the removal of the uterus.

I was about 47 when I started having peri-menopausal symptoms. I'm now 51, 7 years post-op, and I still have some months where my ovaries are working.

From what I've read, it is a possibility that the ovaries will go on a temporary shut down after the hyst... as mine did. It's a much smaller possibility that the shut down will be permanent.

While I agree that the information is somewhat contradictory, it seems that those of us who had a hyst, retaining ovaries, can expect to go in "natural" menopause about 5 earlier than we would have without the hyst. Of course, it's hard to know what our normal age of menopause would have been

Hi Dany, thanks for the reply. I was wondering because I thought mine had already stopped working since I was (I thought) through menopause since I hadn't had a period for over two years. How do I really know? I guess a blood test again. I had that done about a year-and-a-half ago and it said I was in peri-menopause. Another question for the doctor!

That is a good question because before my hyster I was so in tune with my body, I knew what was going on and when. Now I have now ideal.