Afraid to return to doctor

Hi folks:

Almost two years ago, I went to my primary care physician. After a pelvic exam, he sent me for an ultrasound, suspecting fibroids. They found what they thought was an ovarian cyst, and with an elevated OVA 1 test, scheduled me for a bilateral oophorectomy and a hysterectomy.

I have fibroids, but in the past year have had no bad cramps or heavy periods.

At the time, I had never felt better in my life and was training for a half marathon. I fought and fought and finally, as I was being prepped for surgery, the doctor decided that it was ok to remove just one ovary and Fallopian tube. Turned out that what I had was an endometrioma. Recovered, and about 2 1/2 months later was back to my life.

This whole process started in Jan and ended in July.

Since then, I have had neither a pap nor a pelvic. I am terrified to go back to the doctor and have him feel the fibroids and send me on this process again.

NO ONE in my family has had female cancers. There is a history of cardiac disease and dementia which can be exacerbated by oopherectomy.

I would like to have a pap again to ease my mind.

What should I do?

You should go to the doctor and get a good exam so you can know what's going on. Some conditions are much better treated when caught early. You don't have to lose your ovaries to have your fibroids treated. Quite often you don't even have to have a hysterectomy. You can have a myomectomy or UFE. If you do not like what this doctor says, get a second opinion. But you do need to monitor your health. That is your responsibility to yourself. So even if your doctor finds fibroids, it does not mean oophorectomy. Even with an endometrioma, it is possible in some cases just to remove the endometrioma and leave the ovary. You won't know until you go.