LSH: Do I want perimenopausal ovaries? What are healthy ovaries?

Thanks to everyone who has posted a question or responded to one. I've been reading the posts for hours and am so glad there is a lot of participation and advice.

I'm 48, been in perimenopause for about 6 years now, have PCOS all my life that keeps me from working a few days each cycle. My doctor had told me I was a candidate for a hyster for years now. He put me on bcp to help with the bleeding and erratic cycles (3-8 weeks apart with 10 days of bleeding) which gave me a schedule, but didn't help with the extreme bleeding and pains.

I went to 2nd doctor who did a uterine biopsy (omg that was painful!) and sonogram. Confirmed that my uterus was ok, but it was very large and had many large fibroids. Now I'm convinced I need the hyster, and I'm tired of all the problems.

I go to a 3rd doctor (he was my OB years ago and helped me get pg and delivered my 2 kids) for more confirmation and a decision. He agrees, says a LSH would be his recommendation and do I want my ovaries or not?

I know the answer is to try to keep them, especially if they are healthy. Mine are not (I think). My hormone tests are crazy. I'm PCOS (hairy, apple shaped, insulin resistant, hypothyroid, acne, depressed, etc) too, and I know taking out my ovaries won't cure PCOS. Plus, in my mom's family of 12, they have all passed away from one type of cancer or another (at least 4 were from breast cancer)

My plan is to keep them unless he finds them to be full of cysts. What would you do? Honestly I'm just tired and want relief.

My doctor was a big proponent of keeping even part of one ovary if possible. She told me that "we just haven't gotten hrt right yet." I am very glad to have one left. I feel great and am not on hrt. Even though I had endo, I would rather have as little (of my own) estrogen as possible, but enough to avoid all of the complications that come from the sudden drop produced by ovary removal.

I am 48 and am also perimenopausal. I have my hyster in two weeks and I am electing to have my ovaries removed. I am going to go on HRT. I need it now but am just waiting for the surgery. I have a sister with non-hodgkins lymphoma so getting rid of my ovaries is no big deal for me.

I am 44 and was not perimenopausal. I thought long and hard, but in the end I just didn't like the cancer risk - and it's a hard to detect cancer too. Now I also have a decreased risk of breast cancer, which is pretty common. I am more likely to have heart disease, but I suppose I feel I have some control over that compared to the cancers.

They gave me pictures of my ovaries and they were really healthy looking. No regrets yet...but it's only been a few days.

i personally would keep my ovaries. i wouldnt want to go into surgical menopause and start trying to balance hormone replacement. there are so many benefits to keeping them..google ovary removal, surgical menopause, etc and do lots of reading. your ovaries provide you with small amounts of hormones even after natural menopause.

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Originally Posted by cmtsp My doctor was a big proponent of keeping even part of one ovary if possible. She told me that "we just haven't gotten hrt right yet." I am very glad to have one left. I feel great and am not on hrt. Even though I had endo, I would rather have as little (of my own) estrogen as possible, but enough to avoid all of the complications that come from the sudden drop produced by ovary removal.

My doctor said the same thing. He also said they will continue to emit trace hormones even after menopause. And the natural thing is ALWAYS better than the artificial thing.

My ovaries were perimenopausal before my surgery, but since my hyster, they are working very well. All of the perimenopausal symptoms have gone for the time being and I am feeling fine!

If your ovaries are healthy, keep them!

google the subject... studies have found hat keeping healthy ovaries are VERY important.. even well past menopause. I am almost 48.. kept mine and very glad I did (especially since 1st doctor just wanted to remove them because I was over 45!)

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I agree that to keep them IF they are healthy would be the best. I'm not sure my ovaries are healthy. With the PCOS, my ovaries aren't all that healthy though.