Ovaries or Not

[HLD71]

I have requested a vaginal hysterectomy in an effort to expedite healing time.  My Dr wants to take my ovaries.  I am 40 with 3 children - and have no itention to have more.  I had a tubal ligation in 2000, and an endometrial ablation in 2010.  The ablation only partially worked.  I have very light periods, but tremendous pain.  My Dr recommends a total hysterectomy due to andometriosis.  My maternial grandmother had uterine cancer and had a hysterectomy before 40.  My mother and both sisters had cervical cancer - but no uterine or ovary issues.  I am conflicted.  Any advice?
What will happen after?

[Londres70]

Peepee gave some great advice.  I kept my ovaries in and glad I did.  

[peepee]

Endo is entirely dependent on your body's estrogen levels. hence doctors like to get rid of the ovaries, to stop you making more estrogen. Do the research and find out if there are new ways to treat endo without totally starving your body of hormones, becuase, if this is the primary reason that they are wanting your ovaries, it also means that you are not a candidate for HRT. Do not make this desicion lightly.

[peepee]

To all women out there facing Hysterectomy.
KEEP YOUR OVARIES. The doctors get more money form doing the full surgery. Unless your ovaries are diseased to the point that they look precancerous, keep them. Your body will go through the process of menopause so much more smoothly if you keep your ovaries. And if you decide this is the way to go, STIPULATE ON PAPER that you want to keep them. As i was rolled into surgery, i demanded to keep mine, unless huge problems were found. I came back with my appendix removed, my ovaries, gone, my cervex removed, and all "to prevent future surgery just in case' as they found a slight case of endo. I have never suffered from endo in my life.Your body needs your ovaries. Keep them, unless your gp can give you a darned good reason why they have to go. The risk of 'future surgery' is not warrented in a lot of cases, and with the latest breakthroughs in medicine, the cures for any "future' problems may well be just around the corner.

[HLD71]

Thanks for the info -
My issue is this - I am a veteran.  All of my care is free - but it's through the VA.  I cannot "shop" for a doctor, or another opinion.  It's the only one I have.

[Cherie762]

Id like you to read up on the DaVinci Robotic method of hysterectomy it is with out a doubt the best method, quickest healing , least scars, I had this method and was happy with it, have studied it alot. Its very expensive, so many insurances balk at it.

[AnnieBrooke]

Does the doctor want to take the ovaries because the hysterectomy is planned to b vaginal?  I'd go the abdominal route if it meant keeping my ovaries.

Or is he wanting to take the ovaries 'just because'?  (I've heard doctors think this is a good idea because they are in there already, because "I always have to go back in 6 months and get them anyway" or because "that way you will never have to worry about ovarian cancer.")  Since it doesn't sound like you're worried about ovarian cancer any more than any other woman, the reasoning that he should take them out just because he's in there anyway would not impress me.  You will have at least ten more years of hormonal help from those ovaries, and I don't see taking them out just because he is in the area.  If he is one of the doctors who says he always has to come back for the ovaries in a short time after removing the uterus, I would probably check with some other doctors.

Just my 2 cents worth.  I mean, how would a guy react if he went in to consult about getting a vasectomy, and the doctor said "Well, let's just take the testicals while we're there.  That way, you'll never have to worry about testicular cancer."