Saving the ovaries is good for:

Removing the ovaries is good for:

There is a 5% chance of reoperation for cysts when the ovaries are saved.

Reoperation for endometriosis may be high as 47% if the ovaries are preserved.

Removal is generally recommended if two family members have ovarian cancer.

If the ovaries are normal, the chance of cancer later in life appears to be around 0.25%.

In England, 22% of physicians routinely remove ovaries by age 49 as opposed to 81% of American physicians.

Return to top of page.

Saving the cervix helps 90% of women by:

Saving the cervix may help 1 to 7% of women by:

Removing the cervix may help 0.4 to 10% by:

Removing the cervix for endometriosis can decrease future surgery for endometriosis.

Complications increase if the cervix needs to be removed at a second operation.

90% of women do well with or without the cervix.

Return to top of page.

Pain, fever, nausea, and feeling tired are common.

Readmission to the hospital, infection, blood transfusion and decreased sexuality are uncommon.

Further surgery, paralysis, colostomy, coma and death are rare.

Return to top of page.

Emotions and mood are influenced by hormones and stress.

These are most commonly secondary problems and can be the cause of the most distress.

Return to top of page.

Ovarian testosterone and ovarian estrogen are decreased.

Hot flashes and dry vagina can come with decreased estrogen.

Bladder instability, bone loss and osteoporosis are also related to decreased estrogen.

High estrogen can cause breast tenderness and water retention.

Energy, concentration, and sexuality may require testosterone.

DHEA or progesterone may also be needed.

The plan after surgery is to try to produce a general feeling of being balanced.

Return to top of page.

Postoperative pain and healing interfere with sleep; sleep is required to rebuild energy.

Post-surgical healing requires energy.

Dealing with hormonal and emotional changes requires energy.

Dealing with stress requires energy.

Work and other daily stresses are increased after surgery.

Body image changes are related to loss of uterus, surgical scars and weight changes; all of these increase stress.

Energy loss and stress usually last for a few weeks or a few months.

In some women, these may last for several months or years. We can usually find a hormonal or other solution that helps if we keep working on the problem.

Return to top of page.

Estrogen can cause water retention, breast tenderness, and high blood pressure.

Testosterone can increase weight and lipids.

Hormonal changes can influence weight.

Hormonal changes increase stress and increase problems with emotions.

Return to top of page.