Ovary Removal at 57

I'm having a hysterectomy tomorrow due to a prolapsed uterus and the gyn wants to take my one remaining ovary.  My other ovary and tube was taken out in 1986 (25 years ago) due to a borderline tumor.  I don't want her to take the ovary>  I have osteopenia and know that the ovary may continue to provide health benefits after menopause.  What should I do?  I know that ovarian cancer is an insidious type of cancer that's hard to detect but, on the other hand, I want to protect myself as much as possible from heart disease, dementia and osteoporosis.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi there,
if you are in the menopause, the ovary is bnot producing estrogen and therefore will not protect you from osteoporosis.
It is not proven that estrogen protects against dementia but again a post menopausal ovary will not give you that.
taking the ovary out protects you from ovarian cancer - you have a 1 in 80 lifetime risk of that
and there is no screening test for ovarian cancer.

there is some data that there is increased cardiac disease with the removal of ovaries.
the best protection from cardiac disease is 30 minutes of exercise, not being overweight,
and potentially taking a baby aspirin a day
best wishes