Removal of just ovaries - pros & cons

[KatyMac]

I haven't googled yet!

I have (apparently a 5cm cyst on my left ovary and a fair amount of scarring from an ectopic 15yrs ago)

Good idea to remove them both? After/Side effects?

The GP is, like me, more concerned about my lump - it's bigger today than last Wednesday when I saw her

She is getting my MRI results and if she can't interpret them she will 'ring a friend, if that's ok' so I said yes . She is not cancelling my abdo scan in 2 weeks in case the MRI didn't so high enough - she'll make a decision when she has seen it

She understands why I think I'm borderline but feels that at 50 although I am technically premenopausal realistically I am closer to post than pre and will be finding out what type of cyst it is. She feels at 50 being too conservative might be a bigger risk than being too enthusiastic.

She is looking into the right type of hrt for me - so I can start 'as soon as' if I go ahead

She thinks, if at all possible I should do my gall stones first (or have less invasive treatment if possible) then I can build me health up to have the more major op

So quite a positive appt I think

If you have a simple cyst that is just 5cms, removing both ovaries sounds like overkill.
Most simple cysts go away.

Simple cysts do not turn cancerous. The cyst is either 'dodgy' or not.

Mine was 3.5cms. I was early 50s at the time. There was never any suggestion or removal (Harley St gynae) but they did scan every few months just to be really sure. It went away but took about 2 years.

I'm 30 and I've been in forced early menopause since I was 27, my oncologist and gynae had told me the symptoms tend to be worse as your body hasn't done it in the correct way and boy am I suffering all the usual sweats flushed etc. But my bones and joints hurt all the time. It took three years to find a HRT therapy to work for me and i still get symptoms, ive had a bine denstity scan and my bones uo to now are fine. There is no explination why they hurt so much. Menopause currently has a signifcant impact on my life.

If they are willing to leave your one of your ovaries, I personally (knowing what I know from my personal experience of forced menopause) would let your body do what it's going to do anyway in its own time, if there is no significant health risk to you.

you have mentioned a lump get that seen to immediately because chemo and radiotherapy are no fun I tell ya. You mentioned a few health problems you have again if there is no significant health risk to you don't bring on anything else such as a forced menopause, you're going through enough. Let you're body do what it's going to anyway in its own time.

Do Lots of research, ask lots of questions get a second and third opinion if need be ultimately you need to weigh the pros and cons.
Hope it doesn't become too much a difficult choice for you. Do what feels right for YOU and only you, ask those closest to you what they would do once you have all your facts but don't let them away your decision.

Sorry i habe just re read my post. I am thinking worst case scenario with regards to your lump, I hope my remark didn't seem insensitive or scare you. I'm very very sorry of it did. Please just go and get it looked at just in case it could be a cyst but always the chance it not. Don't take no risks

Don't worry you and my GP are on the same wavelength

She wants more infor before 'we' make a decision - however I now have another gynae appt on Monday @4:30 - who knows what that one is for!

I think early menopause at 27 must have been traumatic for your body - quite horrid. But at 50 I have been approaching it for a few years now - my mum menopaused at 39 so when I started having symptoms 2/3 yrs ago I was so relieved it hadn't followed her pathway & while I know Peri can go on for a while I assumed 3-5 yrs would probably be the max I'd experience

Well that was confusing; When I got home from work there was a letter with another appt with Gynea for Monday afternoon

Then I saw the Gallstone clinic last night (6:40 appt so I was seen before the 18 weeks)

He isn't going to do the gallstone op because I 'need' to have the gynae op first - they've had a chat. After I've recovered from the Gynae op I can ring him and he will arrange to have the gallstone op about 2-4 weeks later but I may well not need it as the pain may be gone!

And he has never seen anything like my lump before - it looks like a hernia but doesn't feel like it & he has written to the Gynae and asked them to shove a camera up to look at it while they are doing my ovaries

But if I have another gallstone attack they will do both surgeries together

I'm going to ring the GP, I think

as per the previous poster, you are allowed to have 2nd opinions or even 3rd. I know I keep banging on about this but if you have a simply cyst you do not need both ovaries whipped out. Some drs are too scalpel happy. They could remove the cyst, or the single ovary. I can't understand why you have not been told the type of cyst and why the need to remove both ovaries.

Do you have private insurance? can you go outside the NHS and get someone who knows what they are doing? You have still got an undiagnosed lump and saying 'shove a camera in' while having an op is laughable.

I rang this morning and the appt on Monday is to meet my surgeon and ask any questions I have, as the appointment last week was so short and I may not have considered what I needed to ask.

I'm guessing this person will have the answers I need about

1. what type of cyst
2. remove cyst, one ovary or two
3. what would happen if I wanted to wait and see what happens

and to tell them the GP would like advance warning of what HRT I'd need

Which actually seems pretty thoughtful - I think those are the main questions?

And I have a pre-opp assessment on Thursday.....which has me wondering about the 8-12 weeks I was quoted

sounds good! I'd ask why they feel removal is necessary at all.

re. the HRT- there isn't a huge choice and your GP ought to be au fait with it all anyway. I'd say you need a high dose ( 2mgs estrogen) as you would be plunged into surgical menopause. TBH they ought to write your script for this, give you a supply immediately after the op from the hospital, and inform your GP.

Is it worth (or even possible) trying to work out how far in to perimenopause I am?

As I know I no longer have the periods I used to have they are very very different (of course that could be the cyst)

Ok the cysts has grown 1.5cms between ultrasound and MRI so 10 days or so

Generally in women of menopause age they take both ovaries - at 50 with hot flushes/other symptoms they are classing me of menopause age

It appears to be unicellular but there is a lot of scar tissue so they aren't sure

If I insist they can watch and wait but there advise would be to remove fairly soon as the growth is quite significant

And they did a pipelle biopsy there and then (after promising to do with when they operated so under general) and I couldn't ride my bike home so DH had to come and get me

They are going to monitor my hormones but unless I have severe symptoms HRT is unlikely I need to talk to my GP about it

They are going to monitor my hormones but unless I have severe symptoms HRT is unlikely I need to talk to my GP about it

That is completely and utterly ridiculous. How do they think you will feel after being put into surgical menopause? You won't have any hormones.If you have flushes now how are they not going to get worse with no ovaries?

This is worth reading - great meno dr. menopausedoctor.co.uk/early-menopause/surgical-menopause/

I strongly suggest you join the forum on Menopause Matters and ask around before you decide.