Do They have to take both Ovaries?

[mgw321]

Hello,
I'm new to this site.  My wife found out yesterday that there is a 3.6cm avascular solid mass on her left ovary.  It is smooth and hard and it is not a cyst.  The radiologist feels strongly that it is benign.   Her GYN wants her to remove both ovaries, even though this mass is firmly attached to one.  The GYN says that they are of no use now (my wife is 50) and claims that if she does not take both, that it leaves her open to malpratice issues.

I'm spending time today looking for answers, a second opinion and a way to ease my wife's panic.  You see, she feels strongly about keeping at least one ovary.  Putting myself in her shoes, I can understand.  I wouldn't want a doctor taking both my testes if a growth was only affecting one.  AND, this is an excellent GYN which my wife has a 25 year history with, which makes the issue a little more confusing.

Knowledge is power.  I'm hoping that you will share some of your knowledge so that my wife will feel empowered.

Thank you in advance,

Mark

[mgw321]

Thank you all for your comments.  This gives her something to think about.  Again, thanks.

Mark

[manneca]

I agree with the doctor. Ovaries and testes are not the same thing. Your wife can still have sex (and her sex life may be improved) without the ovary. Unless she wants to have children (and at her age, would she?) there is just no reason to keep them. Take them both out and be safer.

[SimplyStar]

I also agree with her doctor, not because of the malpratice thing but because she is avoiding any further problems by having them both removed now.  she is cutting her risk of having OVCA quite a bit by removing the other one.  

[bohan54]

I'm with Marie and your wife's doc and vote for removal of both ovaries.  

[marie3B]

I wish I would have had both my ovaries removed at age 35.  I see no reason to hang on to one ovary.  If it was a fertility concern I could see, but at age 50 I think ovaries can go.  A huge benefit to losing both my ovaries was that as soon as they were gone so were the dreadful hormone related migraines I had suffered with my whole life.  If the mass is not cancer and both ovaries are removed there is the option of hormone replacement therapy.  I have felt no need for it.  I feel fine, except for the chemo.  Good luck.  Other opinions may differ from mine.  With all the damage ovarian cancer has done in my family I may have much less fondness for ovaries than other women.  Marie