Hysterectomy

I had a total hysterectomy at 42 due to heavy bleeding and fibroids causing anaemia. I went straight onto the lowest possible dose of oestrogen only HRT - and have been on it ever since (I'm now 74), and have been told I can stay on it 'til I die provided I keep an eye out for breast cancer.

The HRT, it now appears, helps amongst other things to maintain a better memory, protects against dementia and osteoporosis and isn't the demon it used to be thought. Like Nannynoodles I did try to come off it a couple of times years back but the resulting menopausal symptoms weren't good so my breaks were short lived. (I wasn't a nice person either. So much so that my DH asked me to go back on again!)

I had a total hysterectomy at 39 due to very heavy bleeding and anemia and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I have made, it transformed my life!
I was put onto oestrogen only HRT straight away (originally 25 years ago it was equine but now there are alternatives available) and I have been told there is no reason I can’t stay on it for life if I want. Several years ago I did try coming off and as I started to experience menopausal symptoms my GP suggested I stay on as I feel great and there are definite health benefits re osteoporosis, dryness etc.
Definitely don’t panic, hopefully like me, you will feel so much better.

I had hysterectomy many years ago and the surgeon decided I should keep one ovary. Never had any problem since.

Leisa I had an hysterectomy 10 years ago but they left my ovaries and went on HRT which made a massive difference. I joined a forum called Hystersisters which was very informative. Hope all this information helps.

@whiff thank you for being so honest about your journey. It’s really helpful. ?

Leisa I was 38 when I opted for a total hysterectomy. I am now 63. I had a very large cyst on my left ovary. I had 2 children both born by c section. My daughter is now 38 and son 34. My c section scar would be used to open me up. It's a big scar from my belly button to my pubic hair.

I was given all the options but was told if they found anything amiss then they may have to take everything.

I decided it was better for my state of mind to decide to have a total as if it was my decision I knew I would be able to get over the operation better. It was my decision. I talked with my husband but like he said it's my body my decision but would support any decision I made.

I am glad I made the decision. Now this is not to frighten you but what happened to me remember this was 25 years ago. When they opened me up they found my right ovary covered in cysts so I would have lost it anyway but because it was my decision I recovered better because I was prepared to lose everything. And I mean everything they took the lot including my cervix.

I went onto HRT the day after my operation and was on it for 16 years. I had no problems while on it. Then had to come off it . The menopause symptoms hit within a few weeks off it. But I put up with them.

Since I came off HRT take calcium vit D and K tablet everyday.

The large cyst contained 2ls of fluid( hair ,bone , body fluid) this was tested along with the small cysts luckily everything was benign .

I have never regretted my decision. And because of no cervix never had to have a smear.

I know things have changed a lot since then . But you need to make what decision is right for you.

I knew for me I didn't want to go through another big operation so having the total hysterectomy solved a huge problem.

I hope that has helped you . It's a big decision to make but you need to think about if you developed problems with your ovaries in the future could you face another operation.

I wish you all the best with your decision.

I had an hysterectomy at 30yrs old suffered painfully long periods ( two weeks or longer). I was told I would have been an emergency in under six month’s time, surgeon left my ovaries in. No problems, had allendronic acid tablets for five years after I reached late 70s, therefore no concerns re osteoporosis developing.

All these comments are so reassuring and informative. I don’t feel as freaked out as I did, so thank you all.

I wasn't able to have HRT because of the links between it and the type of cancer I had.

For me, I was already 45. I started my periods very early so possibly I would have had an early menopause anyway. That might be why I had an easy time. Although I had a friend of 32 who had the same hysterectomy as me for the same reasons who also had minimal symptoms.

It's encouraging to read stories of women having undergone oophorectomy (surgically induced menopause) with little or no effects but it can feel like a lottery:

This from a research published in 2019:

The abrupt discontinuation of ovarian function (by oophorectomy) in pre-menopausal women is associated with more severe consequences than natural menopause, such as increased overall mortality rate (16.8% versus 13.3% in patients with ovarian conservation), and increased rates of pulmonary and colorectal cancer, coronary disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, psychiatric disorders, osteoporosis and sexual dysfunction.

And see Table 2 further down the page and the explanations that follow:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6722518/

We have to make our own risk assessment based on what we know about our families' medical history and how we feel about HRT. I had ethical concerns about its manufacture.

Like Gagajo I had heard such scare stories of the menopause and I m sure some people do have a bad time but then some people have a horrendous time with monthly periods (including one of my granddaughters who is laid low in agony for two weeks of every month)
I have only positives and thank the day I stopped
As for brittle bones there is so much you can take to combat it I come from a family with osteoporosis so took extra calcium now at 76 I do have an annual infusion but it doesn’t stop any of my outdoor activities sea swimming, allotment digging, cycling walking etc etc so all I can say is don’t see an early menopause as a necessary negative leisa

I had a total hysterectomy at 45 due to a link between uterine cancer and the type of breast cancer I had AND my dodgy family cancer gene.

I had brutal hot flushes for about 2 months but after that, very few if any side effects. 11 years later I HAVE had a huge drop in libido but I can say hand on heart, I really don't care about that and it doesn't cause me any concern.

I had other risk reducing surgery as well and love the peace of mind it has given me.

So many people talk about the menopause as if it is the end of life (and I appreciate they have a different perspective to me) but speaking personally, it was a wonderful thing. No more PMT. No more horrible period cramps. No more mess and smell. No more mood swings. I wish I'd done it five years earlier.

I was off work for 4 weeks. And my job is quite an active one. The surgery itself was a doddle (may not be the same for you with fibroids). I woke up the next morning, feeling as if I'd had nothing done. I repainted my toenails in my hospital bed without a tinge and went home the same day.

I had an emergency hysterectomy when I had our last child at 38 years old as I had a massive post partum haemorrhage. My ovaries were left. I passed through the menopause without any problems without regular HRT. I have used occasional vagifem pessaries. Now 63 . I made a swift recovery and was back at work within 3 months. I dont really know when my ovaries decided to pack in! Good luck. Hope all goes smoothly.

@Silverbridge this is so informative. Thank you so much!

I had a hysterectomy at 40 due to heavy bleeding and endometriosis. The surgeon advised removing the ovaries at the same time as, in his words, symptoms of ovarian cancer often do not present until it is in an advanced stage so better to remove something that could be an invisible danger.

I declined his advice as I did not want to go into early menopause and have to take HRT. I was particulary worried about my bones. My mother had early osteo-arthritis and osteoporosis. As a keen hiker, joint and bone health was and is important to me. I'm 66 now and, like Thoro have had no problems. I don't even know when menopause happened as I had no symptoms.

He did not mention any link to bowel cancer but there is research which concluded that ovarian metastases are rare in colorectal cancer and mostly occurs in younger patients. The age range of the patients in the study was 24-65 with a median age of 42.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4577483/

You are under the age where regular bowel screening is offered but you can request it if there is family history:

www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/diagnostic-tests/bowel-screening

That's the key here (imo), early detection of any changes in the bowel which could indicate cancer.

@BlueBelle thanks for this. One of the male doctors I spoke to completely freaked me out and talked about brittle bones and heart attacks! I know it’s not all like this… all the women I have spoken to have been so positive. ?

Don’t be too afraid of the menopause I had a natural menopause at 46 and never had a days trouble It was wonderful to be without the monthly disruption (I had completed my family obviously)
I didn’t use any HRT or anything it just went My daughter has also had a trouble free menopause it certainly doesn’t have to be a negative time for everyone
Good luck which ever you decide I know what I would do

@Thoro thank you so much for this!

@MiniMoon thanks for this response. Yes, I suppose any elimination of cancer in the future must be a positive. How old is your sister and how is she coping with the menopausal symptoms? Is she on HRT? Thanks again.

My sister had a hysterectomy 6 weeks ago. She made the decision to have her ovaries removed at the same time. It made sense, as she said it also removed the possibility that in the future she might develop ovarian cancer. There is no history of cancer in our family, but better safe than sorry in her opinion.
Whatever you decide, good luck.

I had a hysterectomy at 43 because I had very heavy periods leaving me very anaemic all the time. I had my ovaries left in and had no problems, with my menopause starting around 50. (70 now). My mother had had ovarian cancer and had died of breast cancer ten years earlier - it seems from talking to the other patients at the time that it was very much down to what the consultant usually did! Good luck with your decision