Hello: My friend gave me this website after seeing a commercial and I am so happy she did!! I have a situation that I would love your opinion on. I am 45 and started what seem like perimenopause syptoms a year ago. My OB/GYN did a blood test that showed my estrogen was "sky high" so she did the usual uterus biopsy and sonogram of my ovary - the biopsy came back fine but the sonogram did show a cycst on my right ovary. (In 95 I had my left ovary removed because of recurring cycsts.) My OB/GYN told me to sit tight and have another sonogram in 6 weeks because cycst "usually go away on their own". It has been a year, 3 sonograms and an ultra sound later and the cycst is still there with another one to boot. Upon my last (?) sonogram come the end of this month or July, if the cycst is still there I will ask the Dr. to remove the cycst but I was thinking of just having them remove the ovary and the uterus also. Now at 46 I have no children but am completely ok with that. Everyone that I have spoken to that has had a hysterectomy said it was the best thing they ever did. Isn't it possible to give the hormones orally after surgery and have a easier menopause. I know this last year (while the cycst) was present I definitely had days where I felt like I could barely hang on. I still have my period from anywhere on the 22nd to 45th day. I am putting natural (compounded) progesterone on 25 days a month but taking no estrogen since my estrogen level is already to high. I too have a husband that has been wonderful this past year too but I would love to be able to relieve him of these symptoms too, haha. Can you give me any ideas as to what "might" happen should I have the total hysterectomy from worst to best scenario?
Thank you
and
thank you for the website!!!!!
J.James
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Most of us are taught about the reproductive functions of the uterus and about menstruation, and that's where the education stops.
The uterus is a sex organ. Women who experience uterine orgasm do not experience it after their uterus is removed. The ovaries are the female gonads. The ovaries produce all of the hormones women need all of their life. There is no age and no time when the uterus and ovaries are not needed.
To learn more about female anatomy watch the short video "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs" at www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy
June 16, 2008 - 8:31pmThis Comment
Hello everyone:
I want to thank you all for your responses and though you have giving me some REAL things to consider - I still feel scared with the alternatives. I'm sure some women have cycst on their ovaries with no problems at all. But my problems started with the onset of the cycst on my only ovary. I fear is if we just remove this cycst what is to keep another cycst from forming and going through this all over again? And Michelle my symptoms now are very close to what you describe your symptoms were after your hysterectomy. Why would a cycst remain on an ovary for over a year? What would cause that? Is it possible to have the ovary removed (if the doctor feels it should be) and not the uterus. My sister's have both had cycst burst on their ovary's (not a fun thing I've heard) my mother had to have her uterus removed in her 30's. One sister has had her colon cancer come back on her ovaries and had to have all removed. Sorry for the details just still feel scared.
Michelle - Do you know if the Dr. you recommended is a specialist in hormones? I do have a really nice OB/GYN but I don't think they are hormone specialist.
Again thank you everyone for your responses. Coach Virgina you gave me a lot to think about, I had no idea that all of that was linked just to the uterus - though I can still say that I would not want to go through for the next 10 to 20 years what I've gone through this last year.
Veronica I'm soooo sorry about your mother, that must be awful - I was glad to hear that things are getting better.
Thank you all again, I definitely am leaning just to having the cycst removed now.
J.James
June 16, 2008 - 10:59amThis Comment
Dear Jere2911,
Thank you so much for visiting the site and for your post! It looks like you've been given a lot of really good information regarding your health and your post. You have certainly gone through a lot, and my heart goes out to you. It is never easy trying to figure out what to do in situations like this. I can give you all of the clinical information that you need, but more importantly, you have to follow your gut.
It sounds like you are on the fence about having a complete hysterectomy, and you rightfully should be. I love the fact that you are advocating for yourself and asking all of the right questions. I don't know anyone in the Chandler area itself, but that doesn't mean we can't find anyone who can help you if you want to stay right in your immediate area. But based on what I've seen and heard, I would recommend that you go see Dr. James Mouer at St. Joe's Hospital in Phoenix. Maybe you could also talk to some of your women friends in the Chandler area and find out some names of doctors who they liked. If you do find someone else who you like, please let us know--that is one way that we are building our community.
If you choose to have a complete hysterectomy, there are ways in which you can balance your hormones, like I have been able to do. It seems like complete hysterectomies lead to other things, like incontinence, and several other things. But there are options for those things as well. I'm never going to be a fan of a complete hysterectomy unless it is completely necessary, but this site is for women to come and learn all about their options, and to make their decisions based on choice. Please let us know if there is something else we can help you with. Thank you for coming onto the site, and please let us know what happens. We want to hear back from you.
By the way, did you notice that as of right now, 93 people have read your post since Friday afternoon? That is really amazing and so incredible, and it goes to show how much posts like yours are needed and help women learn from each other.
Best in health, Michelle
June 15, 2008 - 10:34pmThis Comment
It seems as though most of the posts regarding your question are leaning toward cautioning you away from a hysterectomy. There are so many factors, obviously...what are the pros and cons for you? I tend to side with the philosophy of "less is more" when it comes to major surgery, and have the least invasive, least complicated surgery that you can, to relieve your symptoms and improve the quality of life.
My mother had a hysterectomy, and the doctor "nicked" her bladder during the operation. She has had bladder problems ever since (they are improving, though), but how frustrating (and scary) that she needed bladder surgery after her hysterectomy. This happens rarely (or, so I read!), but it is important to know the full spectrum of risks and benefits...that will help you make your decision.
June 14, 2008 - 7:30pmThis Comment
Did you know that in the United States 550,000 hysterectomies are performed each year? In the vast majority of these cases the indications for surgery are benign, non life-threatening conditions. Only 10% of hysterectomies are performed for cancer. Only you can decide which direction to go after you are informed about the pros and cons on going through with a procedure such as hysterectomy.
We are taught that the role of the uterus is that of an "incubator," to carry babies into this world. Once the incubator role is over, be it because of a woman's age or her lack of desire for more children, the uterus is a nuisance. The uterus may bleed, cause pain, and/or develop cancer. At this point, hysterectomy would seem an advantage to a woman's well being and longevity. We also know that the ovaries’ function (hormone production) after age 40, are approaching their end, and we are also told that the ovaries can develop cancer it would seem only logical to remove the ovaries as well during hysterectomy. But is this attitude supported by scientific evidence and recent research? Do not forget the uterus has many roles, not just that of an incubator. Consequently, hysterectomy may potentially be followed by negative consequences, which could significantly impact the quality of a woman's life. One of those is a 50% increase of dying of cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) disease is 50%. During menopause there is a sharp increase in the risk of coronary heart disease. It is possible that hysterectomy is not likely to prolong average life span, rather they may actually shorten it, due to an increase in heart and vascular disease. This is a risk you may want to consider before moving forward with your decision.
A report published by the Women's Health Initiative stated that there is a slight increase in the risk of heart disease, thromboembolic disease, and breast cancer in women using a combination of estrogen-progesterone (Prempro) replacement therapy. This has led medical authorities to recommend restriction of hormone replacement therapy to be used only for short-term relief certain symptoms like vaginal dryness. Overall, only 10% of menopausal women in the U.S. are taking hormone replacement therapy and this percentage is dropping rapidly. Given these facts, there seems to be a compelling argument for avoiding unnecessary hysterectomy whenever possible. I tend to believe that optimal health is maintained by uterine and ovarian preservation, except when cancer is already present or there is a family history.
June 13, 2008 - 11:11pmThere are recent studies showing that the symptoms of surgical menopause (sudden onset of menopause after removal of the ovaries) are more severe and prolonged compared to symptoms during natural menopause (when ovarian function gradually diminishes). Women who had their ovaries removed after menopause had 54% more osteoporotic fractures than women with intact ovaries. Androgen deficiency affects bone loss, libido, muscular and fat distribution, the sense of well being, energy, and appetite. Preservation of the ovarian production of estrogen and androgen, albeit reduced compared to the reproductive years, may contribute significantly to a woman's health. In a more recent long term observational study, hysterectomy was shown to double the risk of fracture in perimenopausal women. Hysterectomy also increased the risk of osteoporotic fractures by 20% regardless of whether the ovaries were removed or preserved. Another study reports that women who underwent oophorectomy had an increased risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment, especially if surgery occurred before age 38. The risk of dementia and cognitive impairment increased 70% in women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy before age 46 and 260% in women who had unilateral oophorectomy before age 38. Other long-term adverse effects of hysterectomy have been reported such as urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence due to bladder denervation (surgically cutting off the nerve supply to the bladder), weaker rhythmic uterine contractions (orgasm) and other emotional problems. These studies and many others are available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/whi/ I suggest you evaluate all the pros and cons of having or not having the procedure done. Best of luck!
This Comment
I'm nearly 43 and personally I can't imagine having a hysterectomy while in my 40's. (We're still so young!!)
I was having an awful time last year with heavy bleeding as I was just entering the throes of perimenopause. My gynecologist suggested a number of treatments, including ablation and hysterectomy. I decided to go with the most conservative route, which was going on a birth control pill. It solved the problem, and I'm grateful that I didn't have to consider a hysterectomy. I really feel for you, having to deal with this issue!
I have a close friend who had a complete hysterectomy (ovaries, cervix too) while in her 40's and it was a horrible experience for her. I'm sure it's different for every woman, but if I were in your situation, I'd try to put off a hysterectomy as long as possible.
Your friends who said that hysterectomy was the best thing that happened to them -- do you know if they take hormone replacement therapy?
June 13, 2008 - 3:48pmThis Comment
Have you given any thought to the ablation option? I was in the same boat last year and choose the ablation option. It was one day surgery and the next day you wouldn't have known that I had surgery. I must admit it has been awesome and one of the best decision's I've ever made. I have not had a period since last fall and although the hormone and memopose issues will still be there, I don't have to be on the birth control pill which also has risks.
August 2, 2008 - 10:36amThis Comment
Hello Optimist: Thank you so much for your reply!!
Regarding my friends and replacement hormones - I only know of one friend's experience with the hormones. The doctors put her on estrogen after the surgery and it was then that she felt like she was going to loose her mind so she took herself off of it and has felt wonderful ever since. That was 30+ years ago. Now that was just one person's experience and should not be taken as the norm. But again at 46 I have not wanted children so what would be the negative part of going ahead and having a hysterectomy when I am custom of having cycst on my ovaries (also my sisters have had cycst & to the point where they have burst). Was your friend's horrible experience right after the surgery or ever since? And I am one of those women who cannot take birth control - talk about mood swings, whew definitely not for me. Maybe because my body produces to much estrogen by itself???
Thanks again for the feedback though
June 13, 2008 - 4:34pmThis Comment