Womens Health

Ovary removal at age 44

I am scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy and a bladder neck suspension surgery next week. My doctor advises me to have my uterus, cervix, ovaries and tubes all removed. He states that there is a 1 in 70 chance in women over 40 getting cancer in their ovaries and tubes.

I have heard from other women that they have multiple problems after having all of their organs removed and that it would be best to leave the ovaries and tubes if nothing is wrong with them.

I have a prolapsed uterus and have small cysts on my cervix which my doctor said was nothing to worry about and that he would be removing my cervix anyway. There will be another doctor performing the bladder part of the surgery who is a urologist. I have had six children and had a tubal ligation after my 6th child.

I am 44 years old and have always been an easy going person. My thoughts tend to lie with if there is nothing wrong with my ovaries and tubes, I should not have them removed and not have to be on the hormone therapy. My doctor says that he recommends all of his patients over 40 to have everything removed.

He states that the one advantage to having this done is that I will never go through menopause, unless I do not take my hormones. Would you advise further?

Many women do have difficulty with hormone replacement after removal of ovaries. Doctors usually recommend ovary removal at age 45. Below 40 it's definitely best to leave them in. After 45, the reduction in ovarian cancer outweighs the increase in heart problems if you can't take HRT for 4-5 extra years, and the possible increase in breast cancer.

I see many women deciding based on their medical and family history at your age. If there is any colon cancer, breast cancer, or uterine cancer, they choose to have the ovaries removed on the slight chance they have a familial tendency to cancer.

If heart disease is more of a problem, then leaving the ovaries in until natural menopause would decrease the number of years that you might not be able to take HRT.

If the ovarian cysts give pain, then that is another reason to add favoring removal. I would say it's a neutral decision at your age and you should do whatever you feel is best.

Table of Contents
1. Hysterectomy Problems
2. Herniated bowels?
3. Tummy exercises
4. When to have hysterectomy
5. Sharp pains and imsomnia
6. Nausea and weight loss
7. Gas problems?
 
 
Login to comment
(0 Comments)

Post a comment