Ovary removal - anyone with advice?

[TheBlessedCheesemaker]

I’m late 50’s and a scan has shown a complex, solid cyst 3x3x2. I will be re-scanned next month and gynae who performed the scan said that most likely outcome will be removal of both ovaries. No CA-125 markers, thank God.
I’m already on brilliant HRT regime so only thing that might need adding would be testosterone (ovaries still producing a fair bit apparently - yay). Not sure this will be easy to obtain as off-licence in U.K.
Anyone with any advice/experience? My GP thinks it might be overkill and suggests I get a second opinion. I’m a bit in the dark and dr.google doesn’t really return much info…

I had a bilateral salpingo oophorectomy alongside my hysterectomy - I also had a complex cyst; mine was throwing up an elevated CA-125 although it didn't prove to be cancerous.

I'm not on any HRT. You do still produce testosterone from your adrenal glands - I don't think I have any negative effects from lack of testosterone.

I was in a lot of pain from the cyst and my ovaries had been destroyed by endometriosis so I had no choice but to have them out. If you're not in pain then it really comes down to the likelihood of future complications should you ovaries stay in.

You say your cyst is on one ovary - if your other ovary is OK, I would ask about the possibility of keeping that one at least, as having one is better than losing both.

Thanks for posting, CQ.
Gynae thought both should be done because likelihood of recurrence, I think. I’m not in pain at all so not sure why gynae thought I should go straight to whipping both out. I am adopted with no family health history to refer to so maybe she is being ultra conservative and deeming me high risk because of lack of knowledge to the contrary. Or maybe this is the standard treatment now. Just seems pretty extreme.

You can always get another opinion. I've been on this forum for years and the range of opinions and treatments from doctors is quite staggering.

One thing to bear in mind is that many gynaecologists specialise in different things. I know of one who is a UK specialist in ovarian issues (incl cancer) and one of his strengths is avoiding surgery on women unnecessarily by being able to pinpoint (through scanning) which cysts are dangerous or not.

There is a very wide range of expertise in gynaecology.

If you want the name / location of the consultant I am happy to do so, by PM.