Do I have to undergo surgery to remove the ovaries?

Reader question: “I am 43 and have to have my uterus removed due to very large fibroids, and I have also been asked to have my fallopian tubes and ovaries removed. Surely I ended up in menopause then? What do you think?”

The doctor answers: According to the reason

– Yes, it is true that if you remove the ovaries, you end up in menopause, so that the hormonal balance after the operation is similar to menopause.

The difference is that at age 43 you usually have about ten years left until menopause (your last menstrual period) – and there are usually gradual hormonal changes (in most women), while the same change happens suddenly in a woman who removes the ovaries of your age.

– Thinking a bit – why are you advised to remove your ovaries and fallopian tubes? Is there a family history of ovarian and breast cancer or any other genetic condition that puts you at risk of developing cancer? In this case, it is best to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes at the same time with the uterus to prevent this from happening.

Ovary can protect against disease

Even if you don’t have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, I still think it’s a good idea to have your fallopian tubes removed because their function (the tube-like organs that transport eggs from the ovaries to the uterus during pregnancy) is no longer needed.

– On the other hand, I think you should keep your ovaries. They produce hormones that protect you from cardiovascular disease (one of the most common diseases in women), depression and osteoporosis. Although you can replace them with hormones in a medicinal form, I don’t think there is any reason to do so if you can avoid them and instead keep your ovaries for your age.