Elective hysterectomy and Ultrasound questions

Good points there Robyn

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you have a hysterectomy and they leave your ovaries you don't go straight into the menopause. 

I want to say that it varies from person to person. It's not sposed to be as severe if ovaries left, but still can be for some. Definately still straight into menopause as of course no more periods, but you can't predict what your hormones are going to do in reaction to no uterus. 

If the menopause happens naturally then of course the first indication is unpredictable periods, plus all the other unpleasant perimenopause symptoms. However if your periods cease because of a hysterectomy, and your healthy ovaries remain, then your body still has a monthly cycle, you still have oestrogen, and the benefits of that. If you have a hysterectomy at 35, for example, you may have 20 more years before hitting the menopause. 

Once again, correct me if this doesn't ring true. It's certainly the case with those women I know who had a hysterectomy at a young age! 

IIn the December 2011 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University researchers corroborated what many physicians have felt for many years, namely younger women who underwent hysterectomy had an approximate 2x increased incidence of early menopause. This early menopause increases a woman's risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and other medical ailments. While the exact mechanism is not known, it is felt to occur from disrupting the ovarian blood flow during surgery (which allows the uterus to be removed surgically). This disruption causes early ovarian failure and therefore early menopause. This should give woman pause before pursuing hysterectomy for benign conditions like fibroids when there are excellent non-surgical approaches available to treat fibroids (ex. Uterine Fibroid Embolization).

I was 42 with my hysterectomy (they left one ovary) other had a lot of cysts and went right into menopause within a few months after surgery. My Dr. didn't expect that and thought Id be fine with one ovary! I agree mine was basically elective (a lot of pain and mostly low back/tail bone pain) no-one could tell me the problem had a hysterectomy since it was recommended to me by several OB/GYN. I had an ablation and a small amount of endometriosis but my hysterectomy was unnecessary procedure. I regret everyday of my life having this surgery and it turns out that I was having Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and thats why the back pain/tailbone pain was happening. I would absolutely never recommend this surgery unless absolutely sure its needed. Now, I am dealing with HRT at 44 and not finding the right balance and sexual dysfunction! I wished I'd never done this surgery.

 

Hi Mel, so sorry you are feeling just the same as me!  Regret every single day as well,, My sexual disfunction remains and has never returned back to normal.  But there may be hope for you with the right hormone balance and it could be that a bit of testosterone may help you but you would have to get this via a private consultation and prescription.  Hope things get better soon.

Hi there, I am currently on Estrogen patches, been prescribed testosterone cream just recently (a few weeks) to apply vaginally (clitoris) and I use progesterone bio identical cream on my inner arms, etc. I'm in the USA and my Dr. will easily prescribe the bio identical hormones, but I just don't believe they are quite balanced. He doesn't really monitor blood levels just goes by your symptoms! He says the blood work really isn't reliable, so I just don't know. I was hoping the HRT would help with the sexual dysfunction but I have been trying it for over a year now and still having problems, although the testosterone cream is a new addition so maybe it will help in some way, I hope. Did you find the testosterone helped you sexually?  It's so frustrating! I had this surgery 2 years ago and I feel like it may never get better :-( , but glad to know that I am not the only one with this problem, I felt like a freak! I really feel that it has a lot to do with lack of blood flow to the area and caused a huge decrease in sensations in the clitoris and vagina (maybe the cut nerves/ blood flow loss, etc). I realize that I was probably having uterine contractions with orgasims and now that it's missing that makes sense but I don't understand why the clitoris seems affected by the surgery as well. I am perplexed! I also had a Laproscopic Vaginal hysterectomy with one ovary removed, but although they left my right ovary it stopped working after surgery as well! 

Everything you are saying Mel applies to me, I am perplexed as well and why some women are not affected sexually and then some are makes me feel that it is down to the skill of the surgeon or care (or don't care) in that they cut vital nerves/muscles and do the damage.  I had the testo patches when I had a uterus for low sex drive.  I had a great medical professor who believed in monitoring blood levels for all the hormones, my testo levels were 0.07 when an average women before monopause is 2, 3, 4 or even more.  I had blood tests for hormones every 6 months.  Also my estrogen levels were declining.  As said, I felt great.  Then in the UK they stopped the teso patches, then some time after that I had a hysterectomy for prolapse after the mesh that was holding the uterus up failed.  Big mistake for me.  I was advised to do pelvic floor exercises to try and get my sexual function back, it's not worked.  It's like the medics are saying the fault is with me not the surgeon.  I have searched many articles online which have explained what has happened to the lack of function but it doesn't explan why some women are OK.  The HERS Foundation are so anti hysterectomy that it's depressing if you've had to have one but they also do some explanations.  I can only send all my best wishes that you will be OK one day.

I'm really sorry, but this is far too technical for a non medic. I would want all the findings explained to me in language I could understand. 

I hope you get the advice you need, before making a decision.