Keep Fallopian tubes or not to keep them...that is the question

I am having a DvH (total) on March 24. I am hearing that it is standard procedure to remove the fallopian tubes during the surgery because of the probability of ovarian cancer starting in the tubes rather than the ovaries. My current doctor is recommending that I have my fallopian tubes removed because of this research, but the choice is mine. I have read that this research is based on the population of women with the BRCA 1 or 2 gene, not the general population (I do not have this gene). Also, I have heard the flip-side of the argument that the ovaries may have a decreased blood flow and may not function as well as with the tubes present. Also, I question why I should remove my tubes if they are functioning properly. So, I was wondering if any of you decided to keep/remove fallopian tubes based on your research/opinion and not just because your doctor said so. I want to make an informed decision and just not do this because "everyone else is". Does that make sense? Thanks, Sisters!

there is a risk of cancer. I have no clue if I have that gene but the tubes will no longer be of use to me so therefore i don't care if they stay. They will be removed as well during surgery.

Any risk regardless of who it might be for, is a risk I dont want to take.

I kept my ovaries, and had my Fallopian tubes removed; my surgeon cited the cancer risk you mentioned, and my research confirmed that. Another reason, cited by my family doctor, is that the tubes are firmly attached to the uterus, so if the uterus goes, then so do the tubes. Also, as the previous poster mentioned, they're redundant without the uterus. The decreased blood flow occurs because the ovaries' main blood supply is from the uterine artery, which of course is severed during a hysterectomy, so I don't think it matters whether or not the tubes are removed. Hope this helps to clear things up for you. Best wishes for your upcoming surgery!

It's not quite standard protocol everywhere to remove the tubes during hysterectomy but it is trending that way as evidence mounts that ovarian cancer can often originate in the tubes.

I am in a location where the gyn/oncs have been at the forefront of removing tubes and compiling statistics - both on the appearance of tubes removed and on the incidence of ovarian cancer in populations with tubes vs no tubes. They never mentioned the BRCA genes being an influencing factor, but of course ovarian cancer in general can be much higher in women who carry these genes. Regardless, I was told the evidence - not just opinion - points to a compelling reason to remove tubes.

When the uterus is no longer present, the tubes do not serve an anatomical/biological purpose. It seems overwhelmingly safe to remove them and worth doing for most women wanting to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. That said, it's nice that your Dr is respectfully allowing you to make your own decision. We are all individual beings with different considerations.

Wishing you the best outcome with your surgery (and decision!).

Thank you for replying. I appreciate the wisdom you have given me.

I am a big supporter of keeping any body part that is healthy and functioning properly. However, without the uterus the fallopian tubes really have no function. And with the research indicating ovarian cancer may originate in the tubes, removing them was a definite yes for me. There really didn't seem to be a downside to removing them or an upside to keeping them. My surgery was vaginal, so in the end only one tube was removed because my surgeon "couldn't reach" the other one.

My doctor gave me a choice and after explaining it to me I decided to have the tubes taken also. Better safe than sorry I figured I would regret it if something happened down the line.

I am a big supporter of keeping all of your body parts, unless there is something specific to you that indicates a problem.

I kept my intact, for the following reasons:

1) Concern about additional damage being caused to ovaries

2) The research, if you read it yourself, about cancer origins is limited, at best

3) There is still so much that is unknown about the complex functioning and interrelationship of the human body and its parts. It used to be standard to remove a woman's ovaries (!!). What other part of the complex function might the tubes play that is currently unknown?