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The rationale for keeping the ovaries, would be to maintain a source of your
own sex hormone production. It is possible that your ovaries may continue to produce adequate amounts of estrogen
and testosterone until the time you would have had experienced a natural menopause. The normally functioning postmenopausal
ovary also may be capable of producing significant amounts of testosterone for several years following menopause.
Testosterone is the hormone is closely associated with energy levels, lean body mass, libido and sexual function.
In addition, if testosterone levels are present, some of it may be converted to estrogen by a process called, "aromatization".
This may be the reason that naturally menopausal women are known to have less severe menopausal symptoms and fewer
negative health consequences. as contrasted to women who have had their a surgical removal of benefit in reducing
the severity of menopausal symptoms.
However it should be noted, there is an increased incidence of ovarian failure following hysterectomy. This is
discussed in some detail in the section of the web site, Ovarian Failure Following Hysterectomy.
Is there any reason I might want my ovaries removed?
There is always the argument that removing the ovary prevents the possibility of ovarian cancer. A woman has a
1 in 70 chance of developing cancer of the ovary during her lifetime. Due to a lack of symptoms initially, the
presence of ovarian cancer is typically not discovered to a late stage and for this reason is often fatal. The
peak incidence of ovarian cancer is between the ages of 70-80.
There is a type of ovarian cancer that is hereditary. The mutated genes responsible for most hereditary ovarian
cancers have been identified, (BRCA1, BRCA2). There is a blood test available to identify carriers of this gene.
Woman who are identified as having the mutated gene should consider the option of ovarian removal and non-carriers
can be assured that their risk of ovarian cancer is not increased.
I'm concerned about the possibility of ovarian cancer, but I want to keep my ovaries.
Is there anything I can do?
If you were to decide to keep your ovaries, there are strategies that can be and I believe should be implemented
by all women, to increase the possibility of discovering a developing ovarian cancer at an early stage and increase
one's chance of surviving this disease. (1)A yearly pelvic ultrasound, preferably transvaginal and utilizing one
of the more advanced ultrasound technologies. (2)A yearly CA 125 blood test. (3)A yearly pelvic examination. (4)An
immediate visit to the doctor for any persistent abdominal symptoms.
What if I have endometriosis?
If the reason for your hysterectomy is endometriosis, there is an additional consideration for removing the ovaries.
There is research that documents that patients who were treated for endometriosis with ovarian conservation were
at a substantially increased risk of recurrent symptoms and a frequent need for reoperation, as compared to those
who had ovarian removal.
Is there an age that you recommended that your patients who needed a hysterectomy
have their ovaries removed?
If I was asked, I usually recommended that patients 45 and over consider having their ovaries removed, assuming
they planned to use HRT. Not all women respond well to the more frequently used HRT regimens. Accordingly, one
important factor in the decision making process is whether you have a physician resource available who is knowledgeable
about menopausal issues and skilled in a wide range of HRT treatment options. This is discussed in the section
of the web site, Hysterectomy.
If I have my ovaries removed, should I go on HRT?
I would certainly suggest that. I believe that women who are experiencing hormonal deprivation should consider
appropriate HRT as a first line strategy for health and quality of life maintenance. Surgically menopausal users
of HRT are known to have a lesser incidence of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and death, than non-users.
In addition surgically menopausal women who are without the benefit of HRT, may experience severe and life altering
menopausal symptoms.
What are the risks of going on HRT?
I believe, assuming that HRT is given in a physiologic manner and in my view means a non-oral route of administration,
specifically transdermal or subcutaneous, in doses that result in physiologic blood levels of estradiol and testosterone,
the risks would be no greater than having your own source of hormone production. I prefer to prescribe non-oral
regimens of estradiol and testosterone, utilizing non-oral routes of administration. This has the advantage of
avoiding the "bolus, first pass" liver consequences and enzyme alterations associated with oral administration
of hormones. Oral administration of HRT, is the most commonly used route of sex hormone delivery used in the world
and it has been proven to be effective and safe for most women. However, my sense is that non-oral routes of administration
are potentially even safer and more effective. There is more about this in the section of the web site, Methods
of HRT.
I would like to share a scenario I often saw repeated in various forms.
I would be speaking to a menopausal woman from whom I had just taken a detailed history. She had related that she
smoked 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes daily, drank 3-5 cocktails daily, took over-the-counter and prescription diet
medication, did no exercise, was 30 lbs overweight, consumed a high fat diet, had undergone 3 cosmetic surgeries
requiring an anesthetic, visited a tanning salon 3 times a week, did not wear a seat belt while driving, did not
have regular pelvic exams or mammography and was having unprotected sex.
After I had discussed HRT at length, including the weight of evidence that HRT is an effective health maintenance
strategy, she would look at me and say, "but I am afraid of the risks of HRT!"
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Dr Nosanchuk is currently in practice in Southeastern Michigan
and is accepting new patients. His office is located in Bingham Farms, a suburb of the Detroit Metropolitan Area.
Dr N specializes in the care and treatment of menopausal women and has a special interest providing treatment to
women whose lives have been altered by their menopause, hysterectomy, or both. This includes strategies to restore
quality of life, by resolving problems, such as persistent symptoms, loss of libido and disturbances of sexual
function.
Appointments with Dr Nosanchuk can be scheduled by calling (248) 644-7200
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