Keeping ovaries...

I am thinking about having a TVH and want to keep my ovaries for the hormone reasons. I am 28, very happily married with an amazing sex life. We have 3 wonderful boys and plan on having no more children. So this is a decision based on my comfort. I have spoke to many women who have kept there ovaries and had no hormone problems is this pretty much the same with everyone who keeps their ovaries? My husband is very fearful of my sexdrive hitting rock bottom if we chose to go thru with this is that possible? If any one can provide some answers I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks,
Jamie

Jamie,
I am also 28 years old. Like you I was very concerned about the hormone thing. I was only able to keep 1 ovary and I am doing GREAT!
There is the chance that your ovaries will shut down for a few weeks following your surgery due to the fact that when they are manipulated during the hysterectomy they get ANGRY and shut down. But, that only last for a few weeks and then you are completely back to normal.
If you are able to keep your ovaries it will be a great benefit to you. And as far as your sex drive, I've heard that it actually improves for some women becuase there are no more periods or pain anymore to interfere with the whole process!
Good Luck!
Gala

Thank you for your information!! It is a scary and very permanate thing and you always fear of chosing the wrong option. I appreciate your input!
Jamie

If you go to http://www.hormonejungle.com and the pulldown menu, I wrote up a detailed analysis of what the biggest survey of sexual satisfaction after a hysterectomy had to say. The odds are good but 25% of women have problems. So, as we always say around here, a hysterectomy is the last option not the first. About 50% of women who keep their ovaries find they are less functional after about 5 years. So, there are risks. But then don't take teh posts here as representative. Most women have good to better sex lives after surgery. Maybe a bit different, but you know, just living does that too.

Jamie,

You are so young --if you are contemplating hysterectomy please have a very good reason to do so because once you do it you can never go back. It is forever - you can never get your uterus or cervix back once they are gone.

There is a high right of PERMANENT ovarian failure after hysterectomy - 40%. These side effects are not rare if they happen to you and you have to live and cope with them every day.

Sex is different after hyst - you don't have the feeling from your cervix and you will no longer have uterine contractions during orgasm.

You didn't say why you were contemplating having the hyst but if I were you I would RESEARCH...RESEARCH..RESEARCH. Your husband is right to be worried.

I have had nothing but problems since this surgery and I had many women and doctors tell me ..."You are going to feel so much better".... well I don't. Please be careful because you may not be getting the whole story.

Theresa
TAH/BSO 5-12-2000

[Edited by Savh on 09-01-2000]

Someone please contact me at wendy1al@aol.com. Having trouble typing more than a few lines. In AGONY. SEVERE cramps,feel like my period is coming on(3 weeks post-op),MIGRAINS,hot flashes,moodiness,ovulation with extrutiating pain on my side,etc. Where should I look for your response? Thank you so much.
Freedom1(Wendy Blanchard)

Personally, the whole cervix/uterus/orgasm thing unsettles me. There have been absolutely NO studies linking uterine contractions or cervical stimulation with pleasure during orgasm. NONE. And yet, some would lead us to believe that sex will never be as good again--with no data to back it up. I'm here to tell you--a year after my surgery, not only is sex the same as it was before, it's more frequent because I'm not having 6 month periods anymore. Of course, that's just my experience.

Ovarian shut down intrigues me as well. How many women who have hysterectomies are periomenopausal? It seems that many of us are in out Mid 40's to early 50's--the time that periomenopause occurs. Of course, most of these women will experience menopause within 5 years of their hysterectomies. Those of us who are younger have had many gynecological problems--we're at a higher risk for premature menopause as well.

Of course, hysterectomy should be the last choice. I don't think there's a soul here who would tell anyone to move ahead with the surgery without weighing all the options first. Yes, there are risks, but how in the world is terrifying women who really only have the choice between hysterectomy and misery going to serve any helpful purpose?

I'm truly sorry you're having problems. It's one of those situations where I say to myself that I could just as easily been in your shoes. I'm not "pro-hysterectomy". I'm proactive in my health care. I visited HERS when my Dr. first mentioned the hyst to me. It scared me silly! I nearly didn't go through with the surgery until my Dr. sat me down and explained that the anemia I'd been dealing with for nearly a year was a serious risk to my heart.

Of course there are no guarentees with this surgery. Someone wanting to just not have periods anymore shouldn't have the surgery. A woman who knows her options is powerful. Jamie, I encourage you to get smart about your options and make the decision that is best for YOU. We'll be here to help you along the way if you choose the hyst, or to wish you well if you find an alternative that suits your needs.

Much Love and Many Blessings,

Susan,

In a case where your health is at risk obviosly hysterectomy may be the only way.

I noticed you kept your ovaries -- good for you - you probably didn't go through surgical menopause.

A Dr. told me on the once that women that do not have problems after hyst have very little sympathy for women who do.
Theresa
[Edited by tgentnet on 09-01-2000]

I do want to clarify that all of the hostesses, except maybe two out of the 20 or so who have volunteered, have in fact had post-op complications, some of them very serious. It's one reason we are here and think the boards here are necessary. We believe that it isn't a lack of sympathy (or we wouldn't volunteer the huge volume of time spent here in the midst of jobs and family and friends), but a sense of proportion. I agree that this is a last resort and should only be arrived at with at least a second or third or fourth opinion (opinions rendered in person with a physical exam) and other options tried. This website is dedicated to finding the road forward from wherever you are.

For some statistics from the medical journals about the rate of post-op complications, there is an earlier post that people can check.

This forum in particular focuses on hormone issues. Since it is archived and space is limited, it can't wander too far afield into the focus of the other forums.
[Edited by trish on 09-01-2000]

tgentnet says:

	Quote:
A doctor once told me that women who don't have many problems post hyst have very little sympathy for women who do.

I have to disagree with that. There are numerous women on this site that have had no problems post op, yet they are still here supporting those that are experiencing problems. I am one of the hostesses that has endured post op bladder complications, and I have received so much support from numerous ladies here. We don't support just those that slide right through this surgery, we support ALL.