The role a woman’s ovaries play after menopause
What role does a woman’s ovaries play in her overall health, and what use are they after menopause?
Menopause is tough enough to deal with when it occurs naturally, but when we enter menopause in our 20s, 30s or 40s due to surgery, these changes are sudden and can therefore be quite distressing.
Women who go through natural menopause often have hot flashes and night sweats caused by the drop in estrogen production, but they usually don’t have the extreme symptoms that come with the abrupt surgical menopause (sudden onset of menopause after removal of the ovaries).
When it’s happening naturally, women see a more gradual decline in estrogen production than those who go through the immediate version.
A woman’s ovaries produce the lion’s share of estrogen and testosterone, so estrogen and testosterone levels crash after removal of her ovaries in surgery.
Pre-menopausal women who have a hysterectomy with bi-lateral oophorectomy will undergo an ?instant? menopause, due to the loss of hormones produced by the ovaries. This includes her ability to produce progesterone [that occurs at ovulation].
After removal of her ovaries, a woman’s cholesterol, particularly the bad LDL cholesterol, rises and she is at increased risk for suffering a heart attack. Other side effects include depression, osteoporosis, and the drop in testosterone causes loss of assertiveness, muscle strength and interest in making love.
Recent studies show that the symptoms of surgical menopause are more severe and prolonged compared to symptoms during natural menopause (when ovarian function gradually diminishes).
The aging ovaries continue to produce certain amounts of estrogen and androgens for at least ten years after the start of menopause. Androgen deficiency affects bone loss, libido, muscular and fat distribution, the sense of well being, energy, and appetite.
Preservation of the ovarian production of estrogen and androgen, albeit reduced compared to the reproductive years, may contribute significantly to a woman’s health.
This is another rationale for preserving the genital organs even after menses have ceased.
Does removing women?s healthy ovaries at hysterectomy really prevent ovarian cancer? A review of the evidence
Today, the debate centres on the removal of a woman’s healthy ovaries during abdominal hysterectomy on the basis of such a removal’s prophylactic – or preventative – effect. Oophorectomy, some claim, prevents the development of ovarian cancer.
But does it really? In fact, no conclusive medical evidence exists to support this belief. Rather, the medical research on this question presents a confused picture, with a few studies claiming prophylactic oophorectomy prevents ovarian cancer, but the majority refuting this claim.
If the ovaries are normal, the chance of cancer later in life appears to be around 0.25%.
There is a 5% chance of reoperation for cysts when the ovaries are saved. However, reoperation for endometriosis may be high as 47% if the ovaries are preserved.
The benefits for women at either a high or low risk for ovarian cancer of prophylactic oophorectomy are unproven.
Women who have been informed they need a hysterectomy are urged to hang on to their ovaries unless life-threatening.
Even though a hysterectomy will interfere with the blood supply resulting in complete dysfunction of your ovaries over time, leaving them where they are will benefit your overall hormonal health … providing they are healthy.
The medical term for the removal of your ovaries during a hysterectomy is castration!
At the end of the day, women should recognise the real role of the hormonal output of their ovaries in their bodies – both before and after menopause – and insist that their practitioners demonstrate the benefit to them of oophorectomy at hysterectomy before seeking their express consent to perform the procedure.
Jessie McGrew | Aug 27, 2009 | Reply
Thank you. I was planning to give up my ovaries in one week when I have my radical hyst for cervical cancer. I now have the info needed to change my decision!
Wes Toms | Feb 3, 2010 | Reply
Hi Jessie,
May I ask did your Op work as my partner had the same op and she had to go through Kemo and Radio anyway?
Just out of interest?
Wes
liz bailey | Feb 6, 2010 | Reply
thank you for this information.I was planning to have a hystorectomy and oophorectomy at the time of my pelic floor repair.I am fully menopausal but had not realised the important roll my overies still play
NBB | Jul 12, 2010 | Reply
6/18/2010 had above surgery. Did fine-abdominal entry not vaginal. Now having nightly episodes of extreme cold, no other symptoms. Not able to find info about this. By the way, my gyn doc recommened ovaries to go. Have been in menopause for 8 years- NEVER had syptoms before. Just hope this resolves soon. No HX CA in me or family. Good luck
Sandy Playne | Jul 15, 2010 | Reply
His Wes, what happened with your partner in the end? I have had breast cancer, so have had mastectomy and chemotherapy. Now they want to remove my ovaries in 3 weeks and I’m unsure of how I feel about this
Thanks, Sandy
Smah | Mar 3, 2011 | Reply
I,m 30 nd i was using contraceptive 5yrs than i stoped its now about 7yrs i dont c my period nd i.ve got hot flushes nd now i wish 2have a baby will i b able to have one?the gyno said my overies they look so small plz help
Catherine Rollins | Mar 4, 2011 | Reply
Dear Smah
I’m happy to email you a complimary copy of my latest ebook ‘Progesterone & Pregnancy – A Guide to Using Bioidentical Progesterone to Facilitate Fertility and Support Pregnancy’.
It’s jam-packed with the sort of consumer information you need to get your hands on right now.
Keep in touch …
In light, love & laughter,
Catherine P. Rollins
Founder / CEO
Natural-Progesterone-Advisory-Network.com
Viva | Apr 5, 2011 | Reply
I am 55 and menopause kicked in about 5 years ago. I am having the LHS procedure to remove the uterus and cervix and I did say I wanted the ovaries removed as well. I’ve been told by several doctors, that as long as there is certainty I am in total menopause, the ovaries are not doing anything.
I have had occasional clotting (brown stringy clots that show up on the tissue), along with severe cramping for several that would last no more than a day. However last week, that went on for 5 days in a row and caused all kinds of concern. This is what led to the exam, a uterine biopsy (which is negative) and the decision to have a hysterectomy.
Any thoughts on keeping the ovaries if I am in complete menopause? I just don’t want to be in a position down the line to have to have another operation if they’re not contributing to anything now.
Thank you for any suggestions.
Kate | Apr 14, 2011 | Reply
Saw Gyno today. Had ultra sound,just had one six months ago, do it every six months due to history of cysts. Had two Lap. Surgeries, during fertility treatment, one to remove cyst and endo. The second time a strange cyst called a “Dermoid ” apppeared. They didn’t know what it was. Had me see an Ocnocologist, Lap. right away, turned out to be the Dermoid, removed it, ovary was really cut up, but remained. Things fine for seven years, 48 years old. After the second surgery, went into menopause and not periods for 4 years. Feel fine. Today, after the ultrasound the Doctor came in & she said there was some calcification on my lft ovary. She said it was very small & if she did surgery now, she wouldn’t be able to find it. She said to return in four weeks & she would look again. If it had grown,she would remove both ovaries in out patient surgery. Due to Breast Biopsy for cysts, can’t take hormones. She said I would go through menopause again, would premature age and would possibly have to have chemo or radiation. I said to her “WHAT are you talking about?”"”" She said this is the way it’s done….I asked for a CA125, which I expect to be high, as it was before w/the dermoid and the endo causes it also. In any event, I am just losing it. I don’t want to sit around for four weeks. I should have an MRI or a CatScan, something…I am going to have a colonoscopy. Is it normal to just take out two ovaries? The thing is tiny. She didn’t even explain what it was. I have been on the computer all night. A calcification on the ovary, could be a dermoid. This is the same nightmare as before. Like I said, if it is, the CA125 will be high & she will be sharpening her knives. What should I do????
Linda | Apr 15, 2011 | Reply
I’m so confused now, I had no idea the ovaries still produced hormones after menopause! I’m 55 and menopausal and having a bilateral oophorectomy in 2 weeks as I have a painful haemorraghic ovarian cyst. My gyny Doc recommends removing the ovaries to stop me getting cancer but my CA125 test was very low so no cancer detected. What should I do, I’d rather keep my ovaries and just have the cyst removed but will my surgeon agree to this and can I insist they only remove the cyst?
Lisa Joseph | May 7, 2011 | Reply
I am 43 years old, and was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer last year. I have had a lumpectomy and right auxillary lymph node clearance, followed by fec-t chemotherapy, I declined radiotherapy because of the onset of thyroiditis, now resolved. It has been suggested that I have an injection to turn my ovaries off, even though I have become menopausal since treatment ended, this is to stop the production of estrogen completely as the cancer I had was estrogen positive receptive. I am taking suppliments under the guidance of a nutritional therapist which help balance phase I and II liver detoxification, amoungst others. Do you think this injection is really necessary? plus the drugs to block absorbtion of estrogen from other parts of my body.
debz911 | May 23, 2011 | Reply
Hysterectomy 16 yrs ago, oophorectomy 10 yrs ago. Straight into (medical menopause) On HRT for very short time (no reaction good or bad) Not many problems yill thr past few months. Is it possible to go though “it” again. Have all the usual symptoms! Help!!
Sandi Werner | Sep 29, 2011 | Reply
A complex cyst has been found on one ovary and an oophorectomy is recommended. I have had breast cancer but my CA125 level is low. I’ve been told it’s in my best interests overall to get rid of the ovaries because I don’t need them being 59 and post-menopausal. The surgeon told me removal of the ovaries is the best approach to removal of the cyst. I’m now concerned with the consequences in the long haul.
maggie | Oct 7, 2011 | Reply
I am 64 and had an hyserectomy because of a prolapse and was asked if i would agree to my ovaries being removed,as i was 10years into my menopause i wrongly guessed i would not need them any more, bad mistake. I now suffer from hormone deficiency,which includes bleeding and discharge,i am now on vagifem a vaginal tablet, which after 6months of use are still not working.I was not advised at all about the removal of ovaries and trusted that it would be ok but knowing now i would not have had them removed so i would advise any one to think again before going ahead.