Crotchety makes a good point. This is a time of regression thinking - and depression policies - in the US. They anti-life and anti-women forces in the US are having a heyday and American society is suffering for all of the resulting bad policy. There was a time it was said in jest, "the 1960(s) were good to him, to her." Now these 1960s radicals and potheads, and their 40 something follow-ons (with their own college era drug probelms and radical, anti-life, anti-person, anti-woman agendas) are making the rules and recommendations for the USA from seats of power in the Big Government, Big Medicine and Big Pharma teaming and America is deteriorating. Choose life. Follow your own counsel, not the media message. Vote out all incumbents in 2010. And 2012.

I too had borderline ovarian cancer at age 24 and had everything removed under anesthesia with no choice. I am 43 years old now. There are certainly pluses and minuses. Not having a period or mood swings are nice. I have not broken any bones yet but I do have osteoporosis. My sex life has been impacted because I have chosen not to take hormones orally. I do take estogen vaginally and that has helped tremendously. After the cancer I was grateful to be alive and I was grateful I had two babies that were going to have a mother. My boys are grown and I can not imagine their life without a mother. My surgeon was female and I remember going into surgery with her hand on my face saying it was going to be alright. I do not consider her a butcher. Doctors make the best decisions they can based on the information that is in front of them. I worry about the effect of no estrogen on my heart and my urinary tract. I also worry about broken bones. Every day I thank God that I was able to live. Others need to be grateful for what they have........

After the birth of my daughter in 1990 I had cervical dysplaysia. The dr used a procedure where he froze my cervix. I didn't go every six months like I should have. I started back in 1994. He started the cervical freezing again and I finally asked him after three times, how many more times before you do a hysterectomy? He checked around and ordered a cold cone biopsy. It detected a pre-cancerous cervix. They ordered surgery and when they went in, my uterus was cancerous. Had I not pushed the issue, I have no idea what would have happened to me. 15 years later I am still cancer free.

Thank's for your advice kolynna, I'm sorry you have suffered so much. You're right, removing a womans ovary is the equivalent of male castration. I have a large ovarian cyst and fibroid tumor and was told by a (female) gynecologist that I should have a hysterectomy, and a left salpingo oophorectomy, without EVER giving me any other alternative treatment options which I had to find online myself - like a cystectomy to remove the ovarian cyst and preserve my fertility by making every attempt possible to save my ovary or Uterine Fibroid Emobolization to destroy the fibroid tumors and leave my uterus intact. I thought if I went to a female doctor, she would be more compassionate and understanding of the fact that I don't want to lose any of my reproductive organs - boy was I wrong! There is an extremely small chance I have ovarian cancer and yet I can't find a doctor willing to do the less radical, out-patient laparascopy surgery. Two different doctors want to perform a laparotomy, which would put me in the hospital for at least three days and force me to take a month off of work, which I definately cannot afford. According to information I found online and at the library, some potential life-long consequences of ovary/uterus removal are: surgical menopause, increased risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, acceleration of osteoporosis without hormone replacement therapy, changes is sex drive/sexual dysfunction, psychological difficulties, severe hormone imbalance and the risk of uncontrolled bleeding and organ/nerve injury during surgery. As far as I'm concerned, women should get ten different opinions if they have to, this surgery should not be taken lightly!

Kolynna - Sorry you have suffered so much but please DO NOT tell people to "LEAVE" if a doc advises them to remove their ovaries. A patient should ALWAYS get a second opinion! And, speaking only for myself, I'd rather be 3 inches shorter and deal with daily pain then have cancer and have to go through the ABSOLUTE HELL of chemo, radiation and possible surgeries.

so sorry kolynna.

I am sure lots of woman are now informed about the research, including me, Thanks you.

I had to remove one because of a grapefruitsize, cyst .

Hang in there. Izee

I'm sorry some of you have gone through a hard time after a hysterectomy. To Suzie, they might not want to do it by laparoscopy because it is easier to remove everything if they cut you. They might cut into what might be cancer and "spill" the cancer. They actually sliced her tumor and cells fell into the cavity. That happened to someone I know and she died when she was 56 years old just a couple of years ago.

I had a total hysterectomy at 51 years old. I am now 56 and it was the best thing I ever did. No more pain, no more terrible long periods and I am much more fit than before. Every woman I spoke to before I had the surgery said it was the best thing they ever did. My sister had it done at 39 and she is now 64 and doing fine. Its not as bad as they make it out to be.

You can still get ovarian cancer in the lining of your stomach. Very rare though.

Suzie, I hope you get to have all the babies you want. Shortly after my son was born, 19 years ago, I began having very heavy and painful periods. The flow was so bad that I thought I might lose my job for spending too much time in the bathroom on the first few days of my period. The pain was very severe and the flow so heavy there were clots the size of golf balls. My doctor convinced me to have my uterus taken out. After all those years of 10 day long periods, I felt so free. I've read that when a woman has her uterus taken out she doesn't enjoy sex as much. That's so not true! I do still have my ovaries so I have plenty of drive. My husband and I don't need to use any birthcontrol. How great is that!

I had a hysterectomy and had my ovaries removed 5 years ago. Like Woodyspond said, IT WAS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER DONE!!! That monthly problem became weekly and was running my life. I also had 3 hip replacements 10 years ago. The hip problems ruined MY life. I struggle to walk short distances because the first doctor had very minimal surgical skills. When he put me back together after detaching my femur from my pelvis, I was deformed. I found another doctor who gave me back a reasonable life. I used to be a very capable person, now I just get by thanks to hip replacement surgery. I hate to start anything, because I'll usually run into some problem that'll prevent me from finishing - especially if I have to keep getting up to get something. Everything just takes longer. So, of course, I was scared about the hysterectomy, but one week afterward I was a happy camper! If I could, I'd be tap dancing now thinking about how much better off I am now in that regard, at least. If you need a hysterectomy and don't want any more children, I will certainly support that. It's a walk in the park compared to hip surgery.

I sure wish I had insurance and could afford follow-up screening for either one of my problems. I had severe abdominal pain a few years ago and had an MRI. They charged me $5,000 for the MRI alone, plus another $3,000 for the other services performed. I won't go back. That was a trumped up charge. If you have insurance, the insurance company only has to pay $2,000 for those procedures. That's where the medical industry gets criminal - triple charging uninsured people who are unemployed and broke - kicking you when you're down. With the exception of a few good ones, many of them are greedy and heartless.

Amen! My heart goes out to you<3

kolynna,

Obviously you've had to endure a terrible experience, and I'm very sorry for that. However, it is irresponsible to tell women they should ignore a doctor who tells them to remove their ovaries. In 2001, doctors found cysts on my mothers left ovary, and recommended removing both. She decided to go against their recommendation and only had the 1 removed. Then in 2006, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer (stage IIIC), and had to have a hysterectomy, as well as an appendectomy because the cancer had spread.

Luckily, because of an experimental treatment and wonderful doctors, my mom is still with us. But unfortunately most women with that stage of ovarian cancer are not nearly as lucky. My mom made a decision years ago that could have cost her her life. Now I'm not saying that all women should have their ovaries removed at the first sign of a problem, I'm just saying that everyone should get all of the information they can before making such an important decision.

It is impossible to judge whether it helped her or not without more facts. But if there was cancer or pre-cancer that caused her doctors to recommend that surgery, it may well have helped as she lived another 19 years after her surgery. I have known young women, sometimes with young children, who died of deadly forms of breast and ovarian cancer that were not caught in time (sometimes because the woman with symptoms decided not to seek help until it was too late). Sure, prophylactic removal is an idea for which each at risk woman must evaluate what she fears most (the surgery or a higher risk of cancer). But I know women with bad family histories who have set themselves free with the prophylactic surgeries and have no medical complicatioins.

AMEN!!!!

Double Amen! I too have had my ovaries removed due to cancer and have NO regrets. My life is very much as it was before.

I'm sorry that you are suffering, but it is irresponsible to say that ovaries should never be removed. Drs hate women so they are taking out ovaries left and right? Get real.

It's up to each woman to do research and get as multiple opinions when facing any kind of surgery. But sometimes it is necessary.

I had a complete hysterectomy at 45. Best thing I ever did. I had lost so much blood from having extremely heavy periods ever month that I was anemic. Also, my hormones were all screwed up from the cysts and caused a nervous breakdown and I developed OCD. Now I can think straight and I am feeling great! Never felt better! Went thru menopause with very little problems. Did not and do not now take hormones. Suffered thru the hot flashes and now avoid things or limit things like carbs and alcohal that can bring them on. I haven't lost any height and have no problems. Now I am dieting, excersing and losing weight and I feel great.

I watched my mother die from ovarian cancer when she was 56. I vowed then that when I was finished having my family, my ovaries would go! When I was 53, I had a complete hysterectomy and I have never regretted it. I was starting menopause anyway and had no plans to have more children (and would have been too old then at any rate). I have lost some height, but I have a scan done regularly to check for osteoporosis and "so far, so good". All you have to do is watch somebody die from ovarian (or breast) cancer to know that this was not a route you want to take. My mom ended up with a colostomy and months of pain and suffering before she finally succumbed to the disease. She went from being a vibrant "young" woman to a zonked out "skeleton" in months after three surgeries. She was kept comfortable with a morphine drip which just snowed her under and deprived her of any meaningful existence for the last few months of her life. Make your own choice, but removing my ovaries was the right choice for me.

JW-421212, I am so sorry to hear about the horrible way your mother was treated, and your dads' insensitivity to you and your sisters. My mom died of colon cancer, and my dad took such loving care of her for the two years she was sick. I wish your mom could've had the same treatment. It sounds like you have a loving relationship with your husband though, so I am happy for you about that. God Bless You!

JW -- I hope your life works out for you based on your demands. Maybe it will. But some women with a strong family history of breast cancer get it themselves, and others want to do what they can to prevent it. Your father, who was losing his wife (and it sounds like he'd have rather had her without her breasts than to lose her) may have known something about your and your sisters' risk factors and not wanted to lose you, too. Again, your story doesn't contain enough facts to judge, but for some women with a family history the risk is high.

I had breast cancer at age 52 and have been blessed with a wonderful caring oncologist. I wouldn't say that he never keeps me waiting, but when he gets to me I have his full attention, and always have had. He devised a chemo protocol based on the best science at the time because he wanted me to live, and he was very concerned about anticipating and preventing side effects. I did not have the other breast removed despite a high risk of eventually having a "mirror image" cancer in the other breast. But I do have mammograms and MRIs every year, plus tests for ovarian cancer. Since I've gone through the choice of whether to do preventive surgery, I can truly understand why some women would make that choice. A year ago something funny showed up on my breast MRI in the mirror image location so I had to have an MRI-guided biopsy, which fortunately was benign but it was very unpleasant, and the worry until it was over were dreadful. I made the right choice for me, not to have prophylactic surgery, and guarded watchfulness -- coupled with a constant worry of it returning in the back of my mind -- is simply part of the consequences of tha choice. I would never judge a woman who wants to cut her risk of having to go through with that by having prophylactic surgery.

And as to doctor waiting times, the best doctors are often busy, and cannot control whether they have unexpected emergencies. If you want a good doctor, you have to take him or her as they are, and if you can't accept their style you should find a doctor with different priorities. One of my doctors is frequently running 2-3 hours behind schedule because he is good, and in demand, and he takes the time with his patients when necessary. People in his waiting room form support groups waiting for their appointments. :) But I know the office runs late, and I know I want that doctor because he's wonderful and he'll give me extra time when I need it, so I take work to do while I wait. Don't assume that good doctors can make their practices and the needs of their other patients run on schedule so that you never have to wait.

Sounds like you had some bad experiences, but I don't quite know why you are so angry at your father. It sounds like he has his priorities straight to me! Seems he cared more about a woman's life and health than whether she looks like a playboy model! Maybe you need to find a man who cherishes you for who you are and not your body parts that are, after all just body parts, which have no bearing on who you are as a person! As a woman facing the possibility of reducing my breasts, I am greatful to finally have a man who supports me and could care less whether I have breasts or not! He would rather that I be healthy and not in pain than looking like I should be working at Hooters!

While I understand that you had bad experiences, which is too bad,... maybe you need to give your father a break. Maybe he recognizes that a woman is worth more than her body parts!

I lost my mother to ovarian cancer in March of this year. She has a partial hysterectomy years ago, but for some reason her ovaries were not removed. She was diagnosed in May of 08 with ovarian cancer, had surgery and then chemo and was doing well, until last fall when her CA125 started climbing. She went back for more chemo which helped at first, but then again her numbers started climbing and at the end of January they told her there was nothing else they could do although she would have tried anything. She died at my house also under hospice care. I am 47 and have had the CA125 test for the past two years and my doctor said if there is any significant change, she would recommend having my ovaries removed. I have a 16 year old and 15 year old and want to see them get married and have children of their own, plus the fact that I don't want them to have to take care of me and see me suffer like my mother did. It was a slow, horrible and painful death that I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy.

Hi mom of four,

Wow your story sounds just like my moms. She Had everything removed for the same reason at age 50 and is now almost 70. No bone loss and a very healthy heart.

AMEN ANDY!!!! I hope that your wife is doing well. She's very lucky to have a husband like you who is willing to fight for her decision. :0)

check out and educate yourself at hersfoundation.org you will learn why and how there.

Don't know if anyone else has explained this, but... during gestation, when your sex is determined - if you are to become a boy, your "ovaries" are your testicles... and if you become a girl... then vice versa. If you were a boy and your testicles were cut off, that would be castration... therefore, removing your ovaries is female castration.

I, too, fought with doctors for years who wanted to perform a hysterectomy on me because I had fibroids. There was nothing else wrong with me and I was in no pain. I got THREE opinions - including a doctor who, after I told him what I had been through, told me "Some people are not comfortable having some people as their doctors... I am not comfortable having YOU as my patient." (and yes, that is a quote) Not sure what it was I told him that made him say this - except that I did not want to have a hysterectomy over some fibroids when there was nothing else wrong with me. That went on for years till I finally found a doctor who would listen to me. He knew a lot about alternative medicine and never ever pushed me to have a hysterectomy.

In the long term, I fully believe waiting saved my life. I developed Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2001 just before my 50th birthday. As a result of this I did have to have surgery which removed 2 tumors, 12" of my small intestine, and all my female organs. However, because of the fibroid which needed a large blood supply, and cancer being a blood borne disease, the only organs (or other parts) in my body which were affected by the cancer were my female organs (which I could afford to lose under these circumstances). So telling those other doctors "No" in the end, saved my life and made my cure from cancer easier. I am now 8 years out from finishing chemo and my oncologist has pronounced me "cured".

However, having the hysterectomy did have a lasting effect on me and if the choice hadn't been taken away by the cancer I still wouldn't have one unless there was no other way. It is a known fact most doctors (OB/GYN) are looking for an easy way out for them - not their patients. I saw this during my time when I was fighting to keep my female organs. It is easier for them to have you go thru the surgery. It is not necessarily better for you. I question this study because it is vague (read the article again and you will see what I mean). It clearly states "The study was observational, meaning it can't prove one choice was better than another. Other factors could have caused differences in the women's cancer rates." So what I get out of this is doctors are looking for a way to prove to women what the doctors want is not necessarily in a woman's best interests. For that reason I tend to agree with the person who told women to "run" if they are told to remove their healthy ovaries. I would at least try to find a doctor who will listen and not be patronizing. OB/GYN's are developing a notoriety for an over abundance of surgeries that are not necessary. Look at the rise in C-sections. Most of them unnecessary, but the Dr's do not want to have to get up in the middle of the night or miss their golf games. It is ridiculous. And yes, if this were happening to men, there would be an outcry.

I think the other women (and myself) are just trying to say... do not always believe EVERYTHING your Doctor tells you if you feel it is not in your best interest. Read, be informed, even if it means a doctor has to tell you he "doesn't feel comfortable with you as his patient". That is a red flag. Heed it. And the person who suggested going to the Hers Foundation website was definitely "right on the money". Do it. It is enlightening when it comes to female health.

The testicles in men produce testosterone. Ovaries in women produce Estrogen. Testosterone in men makes them grow body hair, have deeper voices, stronger muscles and bones and creates sex drive. Estrogen in women makes them develop breasts and hips. It protects their hearts and bones and allows them to menstruate, conceive and carry a baby.

Take either away, it can cause many problems. Some people never notice the missing hormones.

Jennifer..Your advice is a little strong. My wife had a tumor 20 years ago and because of her age the doctor removed all of 1 ovary and but left a small part of the other. Now she is in final stages of ovarian cancer that started on that small part he left. I can't say she wouldn't have got the disease in some other way, but I would have like to cut her odds by having removed them both back then. If the doctor recommends removal, get a second opinion; don't reject his advice.

Jennifer, you are so wrong. No one tried to talk me into a hysterectomy. I had fibroids, an ovarian growth and some other thing that affected my intestine. I had 3 doctors tell me it was up to me. I scheduled an appt with an OB/GYN oncology surgeon. He explained everything to me in detail, including doing it by laparoscopy, vaginally or by incision. He explained if I was on the table and they found cancer they would have to make an incision because he would never remove a cancer by laparoscope or vaginally. I posted something before this about someone I know who had a painful tumor on her ovary. They did hers by laparoscopy and they cut the tumor, spilling it into the cavity and it spread. She ended up having lung pieces removed, intestine pieces removed, 1/2 of her liver and 4 years later, she died a tragic and painful death.

Mine did not turn out to be cancer but I told the doctor, take it all! There is too much cancer in my family so get it out of there and he did. I was home for 6 weeks, I felt fine after that, never had a problem and its now 5 years later, I still don't have any problems. It was the best thing I ever did. I am monitored for bone loss and heart and many other things but everything so far is fine. I do not miss those terrible periods and my sex life, which I was worried about losing the desire for....is fantastic! So it is not a bad thing for everyone. All of us are different and have different bodies and reasons for doing things. Its all very personal.

When women's bodies and women's organs are treated with respect and all efforts are made to preserve them instead of remove them, then I will have respect for doctors.

Hysterectomy/castration is a big money maker for surgeons who perform it, doctors who clean up the mess, big pharma who prescribes HRT. The losers are women and their families.

For those who think I bitch too much, get over it. My life was RUINED! I have ditched the oncologist who butchered me, and after many doctors found one who is very up front and not deceitful. She took me back to her office and we had a very long discussion about what was done to me, that yes, this surgery is to blame for my current (and now life long) problems and there is nothing that can be done about it.

To any woman whose doctor suggests hysterectomy/castration please check out the HERS Foundation and get the facts.

And yes, I've seen people die of cancer. I've also seen people (my mother, my best friends, and my own child) die from stupid, money hungry doctors who did criminal things but are protected by standard of care laws.

Would I rather be dead?

Would you like to switch places with me pal?

I am so so sorry for you ....I thank God I got to the website hersfoundation.org before I was butchered. I will be praying for you... (my to be surgeon contacted her boss at Mayo and put me on the do not let her be a patient here anymore list!!!!!) just because I questioned her reasons to hysterectomize my body!!!! Thank God my husband backed me all the way and said run from that butcher!!!

What you say is correct. However, one day I was curious about what the training and abilities of a physician assistant are so I googled it. I found out there are about 30 different types of physcian assistants. Each one has it's own training and certification. This is just one type of medical position. There are dozens of different specialists and levels of specialists, and dozens of different types of technicians. Now, if each of them has dozens of different types of approvals, how on earth is anyone supposed to know who is trained to do what, let alone find out if they are good at it? To that, add the many schools of thought on treating each condition for the thousands of possible diagnoses. If you are not already a specialist in a certain area, you can't possible know if you are getting the best information about your problem. As they say, "You don't know what you don't know."

I think the medical community needs to get together and standardize at least the types of medical specialists, technicians, and levels of treatment authority. Or, could they please put out a handbook for us to refer to that explains what each certification means. i.e. what the education, experience, and other requirements are for getting certified?

The public can't be expected to be a medical specialist when that is not their field. I have to guess that even the medical professionals don't know a lot of this stuff. Moreover, try to go to doctor and tell them what you read in an attempt to question whether you are getting the complete information and the best treatment. They just roll their eyes at you and inform you of how uninformed you really are. Enough!