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losing both ovaries
Hello everyone. I am 45 going to be 46. I had my right ovary and tube removed because of a 10cm cyst. My left ovary was fine at that time but then i had 2 cysts on my left ovary... a 3 cm and 4 cm.. very painful. They are gone now. I am going in for bladder surgery a T.O.T. for stress continence feb 14.. and they can take my left ovary while they are in there. I talked to my dr about the pros and cons of taking the left overy while they are in there because i dont want to go back in for another surgery in a year to take that ovary out. i am close to menopause and i know it would be surgical menopause but i am so close anyway... and then i would not have to worry about it anymore.
I was just wondering what you all thought about my situation. Thank you for any input.
Shari
I was just wondering what you all thought about my situation. Thank you for any input.
Shari
Hi Shari,
You are in my thoughts and prayers for making your decision. Good luck with your surgery! I will be looking forward to hearing your update!
Shelly
You are in my thoughts and prayers for making your decision. Good luck with your surgery! I will be looking forward to hearing your update!
Shelly
Ok so I go in on Monday... I am nervous. I did get a second opinion...but bottom line it's up to me. I will get the bladder tacked up for sure. I will talk to my dr doing the surgery one last time...I have right up to them wheeling me in to decide. I'm kinda on the fence...and I'm thinking if I am having such a hard time deciding then I should leave the ovary. I have not had any pain since last November ... But I still have in the back of my mind..what if...surgery/anesthesia are nothing I take lightly...so the less of them the better. I will sign in and let you all know what I decided.
Thank you all for your input..it has really helped me!
Shari
Thank you all for your input..it has really helped me!
Shari
Hi Shari,
I can see the argument for and against taking the ovary. I would feel the same way you do about not wanting to deal with another surgery. But, here's my two cents. I completely agree with what Loisia61 said as that has been my experience with surgical menopause. I was put into surgical menopause three years ago at 37 due to early staged ovarian cancer. Since I have had cancer, I can't take HRT. It has been a terrible experience for me. All of what Loisia mentioned above has happened to me. In addition, I already have osteoporosis and I have been diligent about taking the recommended calcium and D every day (both before and after my surgery). This is a hard thing to battle, because the drugs to treat osteoporosis also come with unwanted side effects. In three years, I went from great bone mass to osteoporosis. My doctor says even one ovary is able to help prevent osteoporosis.
I did not need chemo with my stage of cancer. My doctor feels all of my adverse effects are related to the complete loss of hormone. I got vaginal atrophy and it has made intercourse a nightmare. I aged at the speed of light. My sex drive is non-existent. I've been married 15 years to my loving, supportive husband. But, the changes are there and there doesn't seem to be a remedy. I am not sure if I had such dramatic changes because I had high hormones and then none. But, even past menopause the ovaries produce progesterone and testosterone in small amounts. Some women like MarieMichele have had a positive experience. So, it truly is a personal decision. Trust your instinct.
I have done lots of research and have learned that many studies have shown that having both ovaries removed causes a higher incidence of many health conditions. As you mention, there is just no way to exactly duplicate the hormones from the ovaries. One of the worst parts for me is that I just feel depleted much of the time. I have always been a healthy, active person and this change has left me feeling discouraged. Good luck with your surgery! Keep us posted on how you are doing!
Shelly
I can see the argument for and against taking the ovary. I would feel the same way you do about not wanting to deal with another surgery. But, here's my two cents. I completely agree with what Loisia61 said as that has been my experience with surgical menopause. I was put into surgical menopause three years ago at 37 due to early staged ovarian cancer. Since I have had cancer, I can't take HRT. It has been a terrible experience for me. All of what Loisia mentioned above has happened to me. In addition, I already have osteoporosis and I have been diligent about taking the recommended calcium and D every day (both before and after my surgery). This is a hard thing to battle, because the drugs to treat osteoporosis also come with unwanted side effects. In three years, I went from great bone mass to osteoporosis. My doctor says even one ovary is able to help prevent osteoporosis.
I did not need chemo with my stage of cancer. My doctor feels all of my adverse effects are related to the complete loss of hormone. I got vaginal atrophy and it has made intercourse a nightmare. I aged at the speed of light. My sex drive is non-existent. I've been married 15 years to my loving, supportive husband. But, the changes are there and there doesn't seem to be a remedy. I am not sure if I had such dramatic changes because I had high hormones and then none. But, even past menopause the ovaries produce progesterone and testosterone in small amounts. Some women like MarieMichele have had a positive experience. So, it truly is a personal decision. Trust your instinct.
I have done lots of research and have learned that many studies have shown that having both ovaries removed causes a higher incidence of many health conditions. As you mention, there is just no way to exactly duplicate the hormones from the ovaries. One of the worst parts for me is that I just feel depleted much of the time. I have always been a healthy, active person and this change has left me feeling discouraged. Good luck with your surgery! Keep us posted on how you are doing!
Shelly
Thank you all for taking the time to share your stories and suggestions.. I will take all the information into consideration and I will let you know how my surgery goes... the dr said i have all the way up to them wheeling me in to surgery to change my mind about taking the ovary. I know the ovary does many more things than any HT can do.. they can mimic what the ovary produces they just cant replicate it. I will continue does some research and I am talking to another ob/gyn.
thanks again.. i will keep you posted.
Shari
Charlotte NC
thanks again.. i will keep you posted.
Shari
Charlotte NC
I am 36 and had a hysterectomy (partial) at the age of 26, left ovary gone at 30 and right ovary gone at 31. I have a condition called ORS (Ovarian Remnant Syndrome) which helps with my menopause. I have microscopic ovarian cells left behind because of all the scar tissue and because my ovaries were both attached to other organs. I am taking hormones, and am doing quite well. With surgical menopause my biggest problem was hot flashes and insomnia. The hot flashes went away when the hormone leveled out in my body. The insomnia however has not gone away. I have to take Ambian, but if I don't then I get maybe a couple hours of sleep. The trick to surgical menopause is for them to start you on it as soon as you have your surgery. For a long time I was on the hormone patches (I am horrible at remembering to change the patch, so now I am on the pills) and my doctor put it on right after my surgery. It really does help. If it were me and you feel you are close to menopause, then I would have the ovary out. Then you don't have to worry about having anymore surgeries. I have not had one bit of regret about having mine out and like I said, I am 36 with all of my reproductive organs gone by the time I was 32. Good luck and I know you will make the decision that is best for you. Please let us know how your surgery goes.
I completed normal menopause close to my 46th birthday and lost both ovaries at age 48 due to a large cyst and things my surgeon told me during my pre-surgery consult. I do not know what surgical menopause is like but I understand your motives. You are old enough, yes. I do not miss having periods or worrying about ovarian cancer. But my hair thinned a lot since menopause. Change in hormones is the likely cause and I do not trust HRT at my age. Other than that, I look and feel fine. More stable without dealing with a monthly cycle, in fact.
I am not sure whether my experience will help, but .. I went through normal menopause (early) with no major issues at 47/8.
At age 59, I had a benign ovarian tumour & all the reproductive plumping removed at once, as they figured I had cancer. What I noticed was that my previously firm breasts went soft within 4 months and my skin elasticity weakened, so I think the reduced amount of estrogen still being produced by my post-menopause ovaries was helping to keep my body and skin youthful.
If I were in your situation, I would NOT do anything extra, as you do not have a problem at this time with your other ovary. Maybe you never will. You could accelerate aging by tampering with your body's natural plan and might create different problems.
I would also try to avoid a hysterectomy like the plague, or put it off as long as possible. Hysterectomies leave no structure to hold up the intestines, so you end up with a droopy belly when you stand up. If you gain post-menopausal weight (many women do), the empty area could fill with fat cells. Welcome to bathing suits with a skirt. The psychological hit of having my lovely body now looking terrible has been really hard. Be VERY careful and do your research!
The birth control pill reduces symptoms of pre-menopause, but could accelerate natural menopause.
At age 59, I had a benign ovarian tumour & all the reproductive plumping removed at once, as they figured I had cancer. What I noticed was that my previously firm breasts went soft within 4 months and my skin elasticity weakened, so I think the reduced amount of estrogen still being produced by my post-menopause ovaries was helping to keep my body and skin youthful.
If I were in your situation, I would NOT do anything extra, as you do not have a problem at this time with your other ovary. Maybe you never will. You could accelerate aging by tampering with your body's natural plan and might create different problems.
I would also try to avoid a hysterectomy like the plague, or put it off as long as possible. Hysterectomies leave no structure to hold up the intestines, so you end up with a droopy belly when you stand up. If you gain post-menopausal weight (many women do), the empty area could fill with fat cells. Welcome to bathing suits with a skirt. The psychological hit of having my lovely body now looking terrible has been really hard. Be VERY careful and do your research!
The birth control pill reduces symptoms of pre-menopause, but could accelerate natural menopause.
Hi,
It depends how much you are worrying about the situation, when you say you are close to the menopause, do you think you have you started to go through it already? I would also weigh up the pain causd by the cysts, how often you get the pain vs losing your hormones. Have they advised what kind of cysts they think they are? Will they give you regular ultrasounds to check them? Its quite a tricky one. I have a 10cm cyst, that they think is a dermoid, I just want it gone, I was due for surgery this week, but it was cancelled due to me finding out I was pregnant. I am prepared to lose my ovary, I am nearly 35, and want it out when its okay to operate.
It depends how much you are worrying about the situation, when you say you are close to the menopause, do you think you have you started to go through it already? I would also weigh up the pain causd by the cysts, how often you get the pain vs losing your hormones. Have they advised what kind of cysts they think they are? Will they give you regular ultrasounds to check them? Its quite a tricky one. I have a 10cm cyst, that they think is a dermoid, I just want it gone, I was due for surgery this week, but it was cancelled due to me finding out I was pregnant. I am prepared to lose my ovary, I am nearly 35, and want it out when its okay to operate.
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