Ovaries or no Ovaries

[Pizzame]

I'm 46 next week and have recently been diagnosed with a large fibroid approx 15cm x 10cm and also an ovarian cyst. Consultant has recommended an hysterectomy as I'm also having severe bleeding during my period and am very anaemic.

Hysterectomy is also being recommended as my mother had breast cancer but I'm unsure if I want both my ovaries removed. I am not sure I want or am ready to go straight to the menopause.

Having my ovaries removed will reduce the risk of cancer but yet HRT increases the risk and all that of heart disease and osteoporosis.

Has anyone gone through similar. I'm torn as to what to do but I can't continue with the severe bleeding and back and legs pain.

[GrtGrandma76]

ihad a hysterectomy at 40 but they left my ovaries I now wish they hadn’t as 35 years on i had an ovarian cyst and my ovaries removed. The cyst weighed 2.8 kgs and was the size of a football.Having a major op was no fun at my age. I wished that i had my ovaries removed when i was 40. Regardless you will go through the menopause sooner rather than later.Better to have a hysterectomy now and get rid of the problems you are currently having .

[Dondonsm23]

Hi there I can imagine the torment of deciding whether you are ready to let go of your bits and bobs (excuse my expression) for the last 8 years I too have the same size fibroad in which I think is all my chronic pelvic pain problems I have had an embolization it's not shrunk exactly but stopped my periods My pelvic pain is horrendous I have had lots of tests & procedures an hysterectomy was offered but I didn't have it I wish I had of the lovely 76 year old lady that replied to you knows a little more than we do it's a big decision but I would take her advise you could probably recover with an hysterectomy better now because of your age

Seek out other options to help with the menopause it's just such a very difficult decision but you could experience even more problems years down the line Good luck 🙏

[Mumbolina]

I have been something similar so can only tell you my story and hope that this helps you make your decision.

I had a total hysterectomy two years ago at the age of 48 after years of very heavy bleeding caused by multiple fibroids including one very large one which seemed to be the main problem. I had previously tried many interventions- (progesterone, mirena coil etc) but nothing stopped the incessant and worsening blood loss and clotting and I ended up having 3 iron infusions and a blood transfusion to treat the anemia. I don’t know if you have been offered or tried any other treatment yet- maybe it’s worth a try first as something less invasive- it may work for you? There are also ways they can try to reduce the fibroid size too- worth investigating if you feel the surgery isn’t for you at this point.

For me, I felt I couldn’t continue with the debilitating years ahead before natural menopause. Also, in the knowledge my Mum had also had breast cancer in her 50s ( this was after her own hysterectomy for similar issues to mine), I had my ovaries taken too. My own mum had gone on to develop ovarian cancer later in life which may have been totally unrelated to the breast cancer but still I figured if they were gone at this point, that worry was not there.

I was lucky - surgery was keyhole - complicated by the size of the uterus and its attachments ! - but my surgeon persisted for hours and I avoided the potential longer recovery time after incision.

So now, I take HRT - yes - but having no ovaries means you only need take oestrogen which has fewer risk factors attached than the combined hormone therapy. Yes I have menopausal symptoms but I know I’d more than likely be going through this now anyway as many of my contemporaries are without having the surgery. I have a good Gp who is happy to measure my oestrogen levels and find the right dosage for me which has been a bit trial and error but I am happy with current results . In the long term I don’t know if I will take forever, but I figure my body would still be producing this level of oestrogen at this age anyway and the oestrogens now are pretty body identical and you are ultimately in control of how much you take.

I feel lighter in body and mind for having the surgery and now being able to live my life without the debilitating anemia and uncertainty of how long this would all go on and the impact menopause would take on my particular physiology.

Once you make your decision- whatever that my be - I hope you feel better too. Make a list of pros and cons, talk to family and friends - do they see the impact on you now? Can you imagine a life without the extreme blood loss and debilitating anemia everyday. It’s not an easy decision as surgery is invasive and always a worry. I understand this. Hopefully you have a good doctor who can guide you too.

Good luck and best wishes for your next steps.

[Boba369]

Fibroids can go away after menopause. My mom got hers to shrink by taking B vitamins and Evening primrose oil. I have fibroids too. Try this first. Just take some everyday. Don't take out your ovaries unless you think you will get cancer. My mom had a hysterectomy and wished she hadn't because they took all her ovaries and everything out and she got flashes and other problems. Also beets are supposed to help start eating those too.