Ovary removal after menopause - how did it affect you ?

Im 73 so had the operation in my late 60s. The recovery went very smoothly. I had 3 nights in hospital and rested for about 6 weeks before feeling normal again. I increased my activity level slowly and always had a walk everyday.

3 follow-ups (not follow ops)!

I suggest you write a long list of questions- everything you want to know. I had 2 pages of A4.

My lovely consultant agreed to monitor me for year after not doing surgery- slightly different gynae problem for which he said virtually all older women had a hysterectomy and the data around not having surgery just wasn't there.

He said most said "just remove it".

He answered all my questions and I had 3 follow ops over 18 months or so. Everything seems fine. This was quite a few years ago now. I want to say 7(?).

He was a terrific person. I am truly grateful for his patience and honesty.
Things he didn't know he said so. He looked one thing up whilst I was there and helped me understand the research.

I always offered to stay till the end of clinic to be seen as I had lots of questions and I just went and had a coffee and came back.

Hooray for excellent consultants!

Thanks all, this is really interesting reading . And appreciate the encouraging comments.

AuntieE - glad you had such a positive outcome. Were you on hrt when you went through this ?

notspaghetti - yes I'm reading far too many papers, that's part of the problem ! Dr's must hate me !

aonk - can i ask how old you are ?

Good luck Jeanie99 - hope it goes well for you

Both my ovaries were removed about 5 years ago because of a very large cyst. After a while I began to have frequent hot flushes but no other problems. I was given hrt patches which caused some bleeding. This made me feel very anxious so I stopped using them. I’ve been fine ever since with just the occasional hot flushes usually at night.

I have my surgery on the 15 May next Thursday Hysterectomy, fallopian tubes and ovaries are being removed.
I'm 80 yrs old, never had surgery before. I am extremely stressed.

I had my ovaries removed during a bowel cancer operation due to large polyps which could have turned Cancerous. I wasn't offered HRT at the time (2001). The only thing I have had to contend with is excessive hair, moustache & chin!

Ovarian cancer is one of the most agressive forms

I think this is true of some types (including one of the most common ones) but it is definitely made worse by the fact that most ovarian cancers are already stage 3 or 4 when detected.
There are some ovarian cancers which are much slower growing than others

I had a full hysterectomy at 51, I couldn’t take HRT so had the longest menopause imaginable.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most agressive forms, so I opted to have both ovaries removed.

I had mine removed post-menopause due to wha turned out to be a benign ovarian cyst.

For four weeks or thereabouts afterwards, I tired very easily, which I was prepared for, as the gynaeocologist had warned me of this side effect.

Apart from that, the staples used these days instead of stitches were wretchedly uncomfortable, but that too was only for a couple of weeks.

After a month or so, I had no trouble whatsoever - no "second menopause" here, whatever that is, and oh, the relief of not have constantly to run to wee, due to the cyst pressing on my bladder! And I had so much more energy again. And still have nearly six years later. I am 73 now.

I don't remember when DH and I resumed our usual activities in bed, but everything was fine there too, and the tube of lubricant DH had thoughtfully bought was never needed.

The surgeon had warned me that they would need to perform a hysterectomy as well, but told me as soon as I came out of the anaesethetic that this had not been necessary, as what had looked on the scans to be a massive fibroid in the uterus was actually the 1.3 kg cyst lying in over the uterus, on the outside. of it.

I hope everything goes as well for you.

Have you asked your consultant for pros/cons?

Maybe look at papers on Google Scholar - that's what I'd do.
I think I'd be tempted to keep the healthy one personally - but no good reason to be honest.

I hope you track down some good info.
🤞

I had both ovaries out mid 60s, felt I was having a second mini menopause! Asked for hrt and still waiting - I do finally have an appointment at the menopause clinic but it'll be over two and a half years later. Hope your services are better than round here.

I had a full hysterectomy post menopause and (foolishly) declined HRT and had a second menopause!