Hysterectomy: Should I Also Have My Ovaries Removed
What is a Decision Point?
Hysterectomy: Should I Also Have My Ovaries Removed?You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Hysterectomy: Should I Also Have My Ovaries Removed? Get the facts Your options
Key points to remember
FAQs What is oophorectomy?Surgery to remove the ovaries is called oophorectomy (say "oh-uh-fuh-REK-tuh-mee"). The ovaries are an important part of the female reproductive system. They store eggs and produce sex hormones, including estrogen. Of women who have a hysterectomy, about half of them have their ovaries removed at the same time.1 The main reason doctors recommend removing the ovaries along with the uterus is to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Studies show that if you are at high risk, surgery greatly lowers your risk. What are the benefits of oophorectomy?For women at average risk—this means no personal or family history of ovarian or breast cancer—there is no clear benefit to removing the ovaries at any age. Hysterectomy itself can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer.1 If you have severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS), removing the ovaries can stop hormone changes. This may help you feel better. If you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, having your ovaries removed can greatly lower your risk. Women at high risk for these cancers include those who:
If you don't know if you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor. If your doctor thinks you could be at risk, you may want to think about gene testing. What are the risks of having your ovaries removed?When your ovaries are removed, you lose the estrogen that they produce. Without estrogen, you will go into early menopause. This can cause hot flashes and other symptoms. Having your ovaries removed before age 65 may increase your chance of getting:1
Women who choose to have their ovaries removed can take estrogen replacement therapy. This treatment doesn't prevent heart disease, but it helps to lower your risk of osteoporosis. If you already have bone loss, other medicines can help protect your bones. Why might your doctor recommend having your ovaries removed?Your doctor may recommend having your ovaries removed when you have a hysterectomy if:
Compare your options Compare
Have ovaries removed
along with hysterectomy Have ovaries removed
along with hysterectomy
Have hysterectomy only
Have hysterectomy only
Personal stories Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide. Personal stories about having an oophorectomy with a hysterectomyThese stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. My mother died of ovarian cancer when she was 48, so that's always been one of my biggest fears. I have severe PMS and don't plan to have children, so I decided to have a hysterectomy. And I'm going to have my ovaries taken out at the same time. Knowing my risk of ovarian cancer is reduced will give me more peace of mind. Cynda, age 39 I have a very large fibroid, so I have decided to have a hysterectomy to remove it. But I plan to keep my ovaries so that I don't go into early menopause. Joyce, age 40 My mother and two of her sisters had breast cancer when they were in their 40s. I'm an Ashkenazi Jew, so even though I haven't had the BRCA test, I know chances are good that I have the breast cancer gene. I had decided to have a hysterectomy to put an end to years of heavy menstrual bleeding. I am also going to have an oophorectomy to reduce my risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Minnie, age 37 I am going to have a hysterectomy to treat uterine prolapse. When my older sister had her hysterectomy, they also took her ovaries. But my doctor said it's probably a good idea to save my ovaries, especially since I am small-boned and my mother has osteoporosis. Perdita, age 52 What matters most to you? Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy Reasons not to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy I will worry less about cancer if I have my ovaries removed. I'm not that worried about cancer. More important Equally important More important I don't mind going into early menopause. I don't want to go into early menopause. More important Equally important More important I think that removing my ovaries will help with my severe PMS symptoms. I don't have severe PMS symptoms. More important Equally important More important I feel that there are more benefits to removing my ovaries than keeping them. I feel that there are more benefits to keeping my ovaries than removing them. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important Where are you leaning now? Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having my ovaries removed NOT having my ovaries removed Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward What else do you need to make your decision? Check the facts 1.
If you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, will you benefit by having your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy?
2.
Can you have menopause at the normal time of life if you have your ovaries removed?
3.
Can removing your ovaries increase your chances of getting heart disease and osteoporosis?
Decide what's next 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. 3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Your Summary Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Your decisionNext steps Which way you're leaning How sure you are Your comments Your knowledge of the factsKey concepts that you understood Key concepts that may need review Getting ready to actPatient choices Credits and ReferencesCredits
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Hysterectomy: Should I Also Have My Ovaries Removed?Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
1. Get the factsYour options
Key points to remember
FAQs What is oophorectomy?Surgery to remove the ovaries is called oophorectomy (say "oh-uh-fuh-REK-tuh-mee"). The ovaries are an important part of the female reproductive system . They store eggs and produce sex hormones, including estrogen. Of women who have a hysterectomy, about half of them have their ovaries removed at the same time.1 The main reason doctors recommend removing the ovaries along with the uterus is to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Studies show that if you are at high risk, surgery greatly lowers your risk. What are the benefits of oophorectomy?For women at average risk—this means no personal or family history of ovarian or breast cancer—there is no clear benefit to removing the ovaries at any age. Hysterectomy itself can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer.1 If you have severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS), removing the ovaries can stop hormone changes. This may help you feel better. If you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, having your ovaries removed can greatly lower your risk. Women at high risk for these cancers include those who:
If you don't know if you are at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor. If your doctor thinks you could be at risk, you may want to think about gene testing. What are the risks of having your ovaries removed?When your ovaries are removed, you lose the estrogen that they produce. Without estrogen, you will go into early menopause. This can cause hot flashes and other symptoms. Having your ovaries removed before age 65 may increase your chance of getting:1
Women who choose to have their ovaries removed can take estrogen replacement therapy. This treatment doesn't prevent heart disease, but it helps to lower your risk of osteoporosis. If you already have bone loss, other medicines can help protect your bones. Why might your doctor recommend having your ovaries removed?Your doctor may recommend having your ovaries removed when you have a hysterectomy if:
2. Compare your options
Personal storiesAre you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide. Personal stories about having an oophorectomy with a hysterectomyThese stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "My mother died of ovarian cancer when she was 48, so that's always been one of my biggest fears. I have severe PMS and don't plan to have children, so I decided to have a hysterectomy. And I'm going to have my ovaries taken out at the same time. Knowing my risk of ovarian cancer is reduced will give me more peace of mind." — Cynda, age 39 "I have a very large fibroid, so I have decided to have a hysterectomy to remove it. But I plan to keep my ovaries so that I don't go into early menopause." — Joyce, age 40 "My mother and two of her sisters had breast cancer when they were in their 40s. I'm an Ashkenazi Jew, so even though I haven't had the BRCA test, I know chances are good that I have the breast cancer gene. I had decided to have a hysterectomy to put an end to years of heavy menstrual bleeding. I am also going to have an oophorectomy to reduce my risk of breast and ovarian cancer." — Minnie, age 37 "I am going to have a hysterectomy to treat uterine prolapse. When my older sister had her hysterectomy, they also took her ovaries. But my doctor said it's probably a good idea to save my ovaries, especially since I am small-boned and my mother has osteoporosis." — Perdita, age 52 3. What matters most to you?Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy Reasons not to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy I will worry less about cancer if I have my ovaries removed. I'm not that worried about cancer. More important Equally important More important I don't mind going into early menopause. I don't want to go into early menopause. More important Equally important More important I think that removing my ovaries will help with my severe PMS symptoms. I don't have severe PMS symptoms. More important Equally important More important I feel that there are more benefits to removing my ovaries than keeping them. I feel that there are more benefits to keeping my ovaries than removing them. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important 4. Where are you leaning now?Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having my ovaries removed NOT having my ovaries removed Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward 5. What else do you need to make your decision?Check the facts1. If you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, will you benefit by having your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy?
You're right. Studies show that if you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, surgery to remove your ovaries may greatly lower your risk. 2. Can you have menopause at the normal time of life if you have your ovaries removed?
You're right. If you have your ovaries removed before menopause, you will go into early menopause. This can cause hot flashes and other symptoms. 3. Can removing your ovaries increase your chances of getting heart disease and osteoporosis?
You're right. Having your ovaries removed before age 65 can increase your chances of getting heart disease and osteoporosis. Decide what's next1. Do you understand the options available to you? 2. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3. Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2. Check what you need to do before you make this decision.
3. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Credits
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version. Last Revised: January 9, 2012 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise 
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions. To learn more visit Healthwise.org © 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. |
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