I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy in a month. Can't decide if I should remove ovaries. I'm age 44 so I have quite a few years left before menapause, but I'm concerned about ovarian cancer as it runs in my family. The hysterectomy is being performed by my ob. I have very large fibroids causing horrible bleeding and pain, a polyp and an ovarian cyst that was biopsied two years ago and was benign. My CA-125 is slightly elevated and has been for years. Keep or get rid of my ovaries?
Hi, it's only my personal opinion but as it runs in your family and if it were me I would have them removed, early menopause would be better than ovarian cancer, also as you have already had an ovarian cyst even though it was benign, to me could be a red flag. Just my personal opinion though as ultimately it is your decision, what advice has your ob given you?
Dear Nicole
I agree with Phoebe. Since ovarian cancer runs in your family, it's not worth the risk of holding on to them. Ovarian cancer is very difficult to diagnose and then when it is it's often too late. Your CA-125 is already elevated and you would constantly be watching this. I am surprised that your gynaecologist hasn't recommended removing the ovaries.
If going into early menopause is your concern, discuss going on HRT. I had hysterectomy and removal of ovaries in May and continued on oestrogen HRT, dropped the progesterone. I had no changes or problems. That would be preferred route. The reason for my hysterectomy was increasing lining of the endometrium but there were also ovarian cysts which proved not to be cancerous. However, the full op means no more fear of (1) endometrial cancer (2) tubal cancer (3) cervical cancer (4) ovarian cancer - such a bonus.
All the best with your decision. Cheers Lyn
Hi nicole hope u are well 😊 im 44 to and i had mine removed as they can course problems in the future. It did put me straight in the menopause but i went straight on hrt which as made me feel great .im 7 weeks post op bk at work and doing mostly everything now.good luck in what ever you decide hun x
Hi I am the same age and had my hysterectomy in May. I kept my ovaries. X
Hi Karmaway
I wonder what your reasons were for retaining ovaries and if this was the advice you were given or personal choice? Do you take HRT? Cheers Lyn
Hi Lyn, it was an option and I decided to keep them. I didn’t want to have an early menopause. They went in to shock the poor buggers for the first 7 mths and I had a mini menopause-migraines/mood swings etc but all good now and I feel great! I don’t need HRT I had my hormones checked recently. No ovarian cancer in my family. Mother had fibroids like me and had the whole lot whipped out. I think it’s down to personal choice really, Gynae advice and medical reasons ❤️
Could consider leaving the ovary that has not had a cyst. My impression - risk of ovarian cancer reduced when uterus and tubes removed and still slim risk of ovarian cancer with ovaries removed. Ovaries provide protection against many other things even after menopause. I just researched this because I had hysterectomy in December at age 54 - family history of oc but ovaries looked good so I opted to keep them. Unfortunately, there are not always clear answers. Good luck.
I had hysterectomy in April 2015 and decided to keep my ovaries because I was 45 with a history of heart disease on both sides of the family. In December 2017 I was hospitalized with severe pain. After testing found out I had large mass on one ovary and smaller mass on other. Now I’m scheduled for emergency surgery next week as both ovaries have to come out not knowing what outcome will be. I wish I would have had them removed back in 2015. I’m not sure which path I will follow being put into surgical menopause but anything is better than all this worry. Take your time to make your decision. If you were my sister with an elevated 125 I would definitely beg you to remove them. I wish you good luck and am sending you some helpful vibes!
Hi Nicole
i am 43 and had a full abdominal hysterectomy in July, my surgeon gave me the option removing my ovaries and cervix to illuminate the risk of cancer. I have no family history of cancers, but felt it was not worth taking the risk.
I also started HRT the same week as having my operation so my body did not miss the hormones, I have had no adverse affects and I am glad I took this route.
i hope this helps xx
There seems to be a lot of ganging up on these forums, liking other people’s comments and questioning people’s decidions. Let’s remember we are all equal in this and allowed to make whatever decision we wish and not be judged for it or being made to feel scared that you may get cancer. A professional is the only person that can give medical facts in this ♥️.
I dont see any ganging up on anyone, perhaps you see something I don't, I only see open honest personal experiences, some of us did have cancer and are very thankful that everything was removed I know I am
Yes! Which is why we have to be mindful of people’s experiences ♥️.
Hi Nicole, I think it is a very personal decision in deciding if you have your ovaries removed or not but, obviously you will way up if they are healthy or are they going to be troublesome for you in the future which I am sure your ob will help you with that also you do have to consider family history. , sorry iam not much leap to you as only you can decide really I myself am having everything removed but iam already on my menopause my consultant made that decision for me anyway , but hope you go on OK and recover quickly whatever you decide keep me posted .xxx
I had endo, but found I had lost my ovaries when I woke up, they said they didn't look good, hormone replacement with very slow step down of strength of tablets over the next 18 months or so, and I was finally past the hot flushes, intense sweating, feel fine now 10 year on. No more grinding pain in the pelvis every month.
Firstly I'd recommend a chat with a professional and then another & another to help U decide what's best for U. These are huge decisions with loads of factors.
You mentioned you are 44 yrs of age with plenty of years before menopause....
I left work on the Friday of Halloween went to doc because I had been constipated ( 6 days ) I was running and drinking 2 litres of water a day, thought it a little odd that's the only reason I called into the doc ..
From there she said best check it out with a scan .. i had a cyst on ovary .. had op .. sent home, went back to be told it was stage 1 ovarian C
( my world fell apart just hearing the word - see I still can't write it )
I'm now a week passed after having a hysterectomy ( precaution messuments for future along with chemo to come 
I've had no girlie issues ever, no endo , no
Pain , no cramps , I've not missed a period or been late in at least 10 yr
had twin pregnancy that went fine no reason to suspect anything might be wrong
I'm not trying to scare u -
but u surmise u have many years before menopause
..... I'm 37 and left work on that bank holiday weekend of halloween and I've not been back yet .
Grab all the information u can,
Ovarian C is not something to
Take chances on
Xx
Personally I would have them removed. I had total hysterectomy end Nov only because they had found cyst non cancerous and offered a full hysterectomy same time. My mum had hysterectomy when she was 32 and left left her ovaries. Last year we found out she had ovarian cancer she has spent last year having chemo and operation she is 80. I will be 60 this year and decided to take offer of full hysterectomy and not take any changes. Think it whatever you feel best doing good luck x
Dear Debi
I am so sorry to hear about your Mum. It is so unfortunate but perhaps at the time she had a hysterectomy leaving the ovaries was the recognised thing to do. However, with the prevalence of ovarian cancer and the difficulty in diagnosing it early enough to make a difference, I'm in agreement with most of the others in removing the ovaries. Before I had mine removed I had a scan and the radiographer told me that she'd brought her wedding forward to allow her Mum to be present as she was dying from ovarian cancer. These ladies were so upset as they knew that it could have been prevented if she'd had them removed at the time of her hysterectomy. After having total hysterectomy with ovaries removed I continued with HRT and it was as if there had been no change. I had a wonderful recovery. One bit of advice that people have been giving is to listen to their doctors. However, I would say always get a second opinion. I contacted a past gynaecologist I knew who advised me that having a hysterectomy was risky and not to have it unless cancer was showing! I took no notice of this and went ahead, why wait until the horse has bolted.
Good luck to you all. Lyn
Hi Lyn,
I was just wondering how long after you had ovaries removed that you started with HRT? I am due to have mine removed Thursday and I’m so lost as to if I should start hormones or not. I suffer from acute migraines but am under control with preventive medications and I am terrified what will happen once I’m in surgical menopause. I have read a lot on the topic and everyone has a different opinion. Any advice?
I think it’s wrong that you’re scaring people (me for one) that still have their ovaries. There can be many factors that contribute to getting cancer. Not just having your uterus removed. I had a perfectly competent surgeon who teaches other surgeons and she advised me I’d be fine to keep mine as their is no ovarian cancer in my family.