Will I go into menopause and what are my choices?

[CCL1967]

On Monday I am having an oophrectomy of the right ovary. My left ovary has never been found I had a total hysterectomy 2 years ago including cervix but they left ovaries due to my age being 45 at the time. I'm now nearly 48. The scan showed a haemorrhagic cyst measuring 5 x 4 and I have had ongoing pain on the right side as well as all over my tummy and pressure in my back passage. The consultant was querying endometriosis. My CA125 came back at 13. Do you think it's likely I'll go into menopause bearing in mind no one knows where my left ovary is lol? And what's the easiest way to cope with it medically or non medically? My children are still young and I work 2 jobs and am a single mum, so I need things to be easy

Have you raised any of this with your consultant? They should be proactive and explaining what will happen and how they will treat you. Bit poor that they haven't.

If you have no ovaries left then yes you will be plunged into menopause. This ought to have been discussed. some drs are a bit off-hand and will assume that because you are almost menopause age there is not point offering your HRT but that's ridiculous because a natural meno can take 10 years from beginning to end- doesn't happen in hours.

You should be offered HRT until the age of the average meno which is 51. You will only need oestrogen as you have no uterus. The risks of this are minimal and a lot of research shows reduced breast cancer in women who are on oestrogen-only HRT.

Patches and gel are safer anyway not tablets. Do discuss all with the consultant and hope it goes well for you.

Oh wow pinkfrocks for the information. No I didn't know any of that,especially about only needing oestrogen. It has all happened so suddenly that I was kind of in shock when I saw the consultant. Basically I saw him last Friday following a scan from 2 weeks ago, and he wanted to book me in for op 3 days later but I said I needed time to sort child care arrangements hence it now being Monday. Do you know of any good forums or where I can read up about other ladies experiences? To be honest when I was due to have my hysterectomy I was fine about it, but the thought of losing my ovaries has plunged me into sadness

Have a look at www.menopausematters.co.uk