Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

My mother has had cysts all her life but she now has bigger ones that aren't getting any better. Her ob/gyn has scheduled her for surgery of July 22nd to remove her ovaries. I feel like it is so drastic.. is there nothing that can be done first? Has anyone ever had their ovaries removed? Recovery? Hormones? What happens?

Re: Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

If she's post menopausal, this shouldn't be a big deal. Peri menopausal she'll go into menopause. She'll need to investigate hormone replacement and weigh its risks.

I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago, but kept my ovaries. My doctor recommended removal of the tubes as well as ovarian cancer starts in the tubes apparently.

I used a fabulous site for information and support. It's called hystersisters.com

Good luck to your mom. My surgery was done by laparoscope and I was up and around within a week, but with lifting restrictions for 2 months.

Re: Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

If she's concerned that there may be another option her doctor isn't offering or that the doctor is rushing her into surgery she should get a 2nd opinion.

I had a hysterectomy with ovary & tube removal (for different reasons.)

The surgery itself wasn't that bad because it was a laparoscopic procedure. I was in & out of the hospital in about 12 hours. I mostly felt stiff for about a week, but I was able to walk around the house, just slowly. I just couldn't lift things & getting in & out of bed was a struggle the first few nights. I think I felt like myself in about 7-10 days & at 2 weeks I spent an afternoon walking around Central Park., I would just get tired easily.

As mentioned above, it ovary removal does bring on menopause (called surgical menopause in this case).

Like PMS, pregnancy & anything else hormonal, the degree to which you experience certain symptoms varies for everyone.
If she is pre-menopausal, her doctors should really explain all this. I felt like everyone talked about the hot flashes, but not really the mood swings.

I am unable to take hormones, but the symptoms have lessened on their own. There are also other medications that can be given for certain symptoms if they are extreme, if you can't take hormones which would treat the cause.

Message edited 6/19/2013 2:03:13 PM.

Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

Why can't the doctor just remove the cysts without planning to remove the ovaries until he is in there and feels it is necessary?

Re: Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

I am so sorry to hear that. It sounds drastic to me. I would definitely get at least one more opinion.

Re: Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

Re: Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

There are times it is appropriate to remove them but removal can put you at risk for other issues like increased risk for parkinsons. Before doing a major proceedure you should always get a second if not third opinion. I would do that if she hasn't already. This way you can be more confident if it is or is not the best option for her.

Re: Removal of Ovaries due to Cysts

I had my right ovary removed due to a mass growing on it. We monitored it, ate healthy, vitamins, exercise etc.. All recommended to shrink but it didn't work. The plan wasn't supposed to remove the ovary but when it came time for surgery and they went in, the mass twisted around the ovary, so they had no choice. The mass was huge they told me.
6 weeks recovery bc it wind up being an abdominal surgery.
FF 4 years later another mass on other ovary- had mass removed. Thank god it wasn't as big and ovary was saved. I have not had any children yet and am going through process of trying.
Mine was a mass though- a solid tumor- not a cyst.
I did my research though before I made the surgery decision and it was getting to the point where is was affecting my life- bleeding, lower back pain etc.


Good luck!