Having a hysterectomy next week - unsure

[Sophiewoz]

Hi,
I’m having a hysterectomy soon for ongoing endometriosis, adenemyosis and fibroids and as a result an enlarged uterus.

My surgeon said I can keep my ovaries or he can remove them and this is where I feel stuck. I have always suffered bad PMT pain and mood wise, literally the day after I ovulate I get irritable/angry then that slips into feelings of despair and utter bleakness.

has anyone who has had a hysterectomy but conserved their ovaries noticed an improvement in the emotional side of PMT? I know surgical menopause is not supposed to be great but I’m wondering if I would be better off on oestrogen only hrt as I feel it’s when my body produces progesterone in the second half of my cycle that causes the mood problems.

I feel like I’m going mad constantly weighing up the pros and cons of both so any experience of either would be greatly received

I had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago. They left one ovary in but I think it only lasted a year or so, apparently that’s common, so be prepared that even if they are left in they may fail earlier than expected

I had a hysterectomy at 34 and they left 1 ovary. I did find my PMT symptoms lessened quite a bit.

I didn't go through menopause until I was last 50's

Should say "late" 50's

Thank you both for sharing your experiences, I feel I may be a slightly peri menopausal already as my periods are now so extreme so I’m also considering keeping my ovaries and taking a low dose of orstrogel to see if that improves. May i ask you @Costacoffeeplease and @mydogisthebest when you did go through the menopause what were your first symptoms?

I kept my ovaries as I had my hysterectomy young (early 30s) and they seem to still be working 6 years on. For me it was the best thing to do, as an extra bonus my migraines disappeared, my hair stopped falling out and is now thicker (and much greyer) and my energy level are amazing, I no longer nap in the day!

hope your op goes ok and you get the same benefits xx

I was mid 40s when I had my op. I think my first symptoms were hot flushes and palpitations (not at the same time)

My first symptoms were hot flushes although they were not really that bad. Didn't ever really ever have any other symptoms

I had a hysterectomy at age 38, they left both ovaries but they kept getting painful cysts on, a year later I went in for one taking out and I asked the surgeon if could remove both ovaries and he did, I went straight onto a oestrogen only patch that I have been on for the last 13 years.

I used to get terrible PMT too. I also had endo, adenomysosis and a bulky scarred uterus.

Its great not having the mood swings anymore, I am just on an even keel now all the time

You haven't shared your age, but I think that will have some bearing on the decision you make. I retained one ovary (I was 44 when I had mine for the same reasons as you and previous poster).

Thank you It’s great to hear all your positive experiences @NadineCross do you recall if you experienced the mental side of pmt after your hysterectomy before you had your ovaries removed?

I think I did but its a long time ago now so I cannot remember really

@DeeplyMovingExperience I am almost 43. Did you get the mood side of PMT pre surgery? And if so did you find the surgery reduced it?

I had my ovaries removed at the same time and went straight on to HRT. It was great and I hardly had any menopause symptoms. I tailed off the HRT very very slowly after about 10 years.

I was 45 and the hysterectomy was also due to fibroids.

Yes on the PMT but the endo was excruciating and with the other conditions too I just couldn't go on. I decided on keeping the ovary because I felt it was important to keep some sort of natural hormone going. Any PMT definitely improved and I was mindful of my hormonal cycle without dreading the onslaught of periods-from-hell.

In my late thirties I had a large cyst on my ovary so that was removed. A couple of years later I had a hysterectomy because of endometriosis and I asked for the other ovary to be removed.

I couldn't go on HRT for a few months until we were sure that any remaining endometriosis had gone. The hot flushes were bad. Then they put me on a high dose of oestrogen patch and I soon felt wonderful. 'Ah this is what it must be like to be a man - no mood swings etc.'

I had hysterectomy at 45. I kept both ovaries. I didn't need HRT until 5 years post surgery. All my issues with pmt disappeared with hysterectomy. Best day of my life, including kids and wedding.