Having a hysterecomy? – 5 reasons to hang on to your ovaries

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Hysterectomy and your ovariesAbout 600 hysterectomies are performed in the U.S every year and about half or these are accompanied by removal of apparently normal ovaries. The reasoning behind this is that it reduces the occurrence of ovarian cancer, i.e. if your ovaries aren’t there, then they can’t become cancerous.

Ovarian cancer is not common – about 1 in 400 American women will develop ovarian cancer by the age of 50. The main problem with ovarian cancer is that it is usually detected in the late stages when treatment becomes virtually useless.

Unfortunately, removing the ovaries before the age of 65 also carries some major health risks. If you’re having a hysterectomy for a benign (non-cancerous) condition, here are 5 reasons to keep your ovaries:


  1. You will have less chance of developing ovarian cancer. Does that sound confusing? Let me explain. When you have a hysterectomy, the surgeon looks at the ovaries to make sure that they’re healthy before the abdomen is closed up. Any abnormal looking ovaries are usually removed at this point. A more likely explanation according to some studies that have been done suggests that:
    • removal of the uterus closes the route through which cancer-causing agents like talc, uterine tissue and the human papilloma virus would have reached the ovaries,
    • destruction of some tissues of the reproductive system cause release of substances which in turn cause the production of antibodies which protect you from developing ovarian cancer.

    This reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer lasts for 10-20 years after the hysterectomy.

  2. After menopause, the ovaries continue producing the hormones androstenedione and testosterone until the age of 80. These hormones are converted to estrone, the main form of estrogen found in the body after menopause. Removal of the ovaries even after menopause can cause sudden onset or worsening of menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbances and depression.
  3. You’ll be less likely to have a hip fracture. Estrogens and androgens slow down the rate at which bone is broken down in the body. Removing the postmenopausal ovary removes a major source of androgens which are converted to estrogen. One study has shown that women who had their ovaries removed after menopause had a 54% higher risk of having a fracture due to osteoporosis than postmenopausal women who still had their ovaries.
  4. You will have less chance of developing heart disease. The absence of the sex hormones that are produced after menopause further increase your risk of developing heart disease. This could be bad news especially if you have other risk factors for heart disease.
  5. Medication may not be the solution.It has been argued that estrogen replacement therapy and other forms of medication can help with some of these conditions like menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis after the ovaries have been removed. These therapies have their own risks and some women go off the medication because of distressing side effects.

With women living longer now (average of 78 years), quality of life becomes very important in any decision you take about your health. I haven’t written this to scare you into keeping your ovaries. I think it’s important to have a balanced view so that you can make informed decisions. Do some reading, talk to your doctor, ask him/her questions and expect answers in simple language you can understand. At the end of all this, make the decision that best suits your personal circumstances.

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Tags: hormone-replacement-therapy, HRT, Hysterectomy, menopause health

June 4, 2007 by Ada
Filed under: General Health issues, Hysterectomy 

Comments

9 Comments on Having a hysterecomy? – 5 reasons to hang on to your ovaries

  1. Nora W. Coffey on Mon, 4th Jun 2007 6:52 pm

    2. You’ve make several excellent points. One of the problems women face is that we are not taught about female anatomy and what happens to a woman’s body when their female organs are removed.

    At http://www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy you can watch a short female anatomy video that every woman needs to see:

    Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs

  2. Ada on Wed, 6th Jun 2007 10:20 am

    3. Hi Nora. Thanks for dropping by. As you may have noticed, I strongly believe that women (and men as well for that matter) need to have as much information as possible both for and against any procedure they are having. Unfortunately information is often skewed towards one particular point of view. Checked out your site. You have a lot of resources there. Very interesting. Good luck with your activities and have a great day.

  3. Amy on Thu, 23rd Aug 2007 6:33 pm

    4. I have a very good reason for not keeping your ovaries. My mother had a hysterectomy over 31 years ago and the doctors left her ovaries. May 21, 2007 she was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer. After 56 days in the hospital and 2 surgeries later my mother died August 14, 2007. Her last three months on this earth was hell. If those doctors would have removed her ovaries I would still have my mother and best friend.

  4. Ada on Sun, 9th Sep 2007 1:00 am

    5. I’m sorry for your loss Amy. I did mention that keeping your ovaries can result in developing ovarian cancer later in life. However, I was trying to emphasize that the benefits of keeping the ovaries can outweigh the risks for some women. I just think that women should be given as much information as possible to make an informed decisions about their bodies and their health. It is unfair to give them only one side of the story. Every woman is different. I am not for or against keeping the ovaries. I believe in giving women viable options when it comes to their health. Take care and God bless you.

  5. lani on Fri, 14th Sep 2007 10:21 am

    6. I just had a hysterectomy 2 weeks ago. My doctor said I could vertually do anything excep heavy lifting. But I read no bending. I have been bending until no.

    I just read about the mother that contracted ovarian cancer after a partial hysterectomy. The doctor left my ovaries due to the fact I had no cancer in the operation. Now I am worried. Do I need to have regular ultra-sounds to check my ovaries through life.

    Thanks.

  6. Ada on Wed, 19th Sep 2007 8:25 pm

    7. Ovarian cancer is definitely not the most common cancer in women. However, every woman that develops cancer of the ovaries is more than just a statistic. That said, it’s a good idea to have a transvaginal ultrasound scan every year. Other screening methods are not too well developed right now. Don’t panic, just be vigilant

  7. Patti S on Thu, 12th Jun 2008 5:59 pm

    8. Please help, what about removal of both overies, only the overies, when only one has a cyst on it?
    It is supposed to be a clear liquid cyst… which has grown to be about the size of a tennis ball.

  8. Jody on Wed, 30th Jul 2008 10:38 pm

    9. I had a partial hysterectomy at the age of 28. I still have one ovary. I had what the doctor called “precancerous cells”. But, now I have alot of strange things going on such as breast tenderness and lack of sex drive. I still have one ovary so I’m not sure if it’s premenopause. I don’t have night sweats or mood swings either. Should I worry about cancer in the other ovary? The doctor said it may need to be removed in the future. This was two years ago.

  9. Janette on Sun, 17th Aug 2008 5:32 pm

    10. I have been concerned that I may have ovarian cancer. I have an onocologist that has been monitering me due to enlarged lymph nodes with questional biopsy results. I had a partial hysterectomy 29 yrs ago and was told the ovaries were cystic but left for hormone production. I was also told that the ovaries would need to be removed in the future and gave them 5 yrs. I never had them removed and do have symptoms of ovarian cancer now. My abdominal area has swelled up that I look pregnannt. I do not have weight gain anywhere else. I had the ca-125 blood test last year but it was ok then. I am also in final stage of Myasthenia Gravis and fighting cellulitis in my legs from build up of lymph fluid and lasix ddoes nothing for me. My next visit I plan to bring up the subject of ovarian cancer with my onocologist. Wish me luck…………

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