5 Things You Should Definitely Know If You’re Having Your Ovaries Removed

Surgery should never be taken lightly, particularly when it is a surgery with as many ripple effects as having your ovaries removed.

If you’re thinking about this procedure, or you’ve been advised to do it by your doctor, there are some things that you should know.

There are a number of reasons that women choose, or are encouraged, to have their ovaries removed. Some do it to minimise the risk of ovarian cancer, a disease that is hard to diagnose in time to be treated effectively. Others do it because there is something medically wrong with the ovary, such as cysts, pain, or even twisting (a.k.a. torsion). For whatever reason, the fact is that as the ovaries are the hormonal hub of the reproductive system, their removal can have further reaching effects than you might realise. So, here are some things that we think you should know about having your ovaries removed.

1. The Surgery Might Not Be Complicated

There are two different ways that your surgeon may choose to approach your surgery. One of the more common, and least invasive, ways to remove the ovaries is laparoscopically. This basically means that a small camera is inserted through the belly button to help guide the removal. So you won’t have the big scar, and the recovery time is much shorter. Not all women can have this kind of surgery, so talk to your doctor about your options.

2. You’ll Go Straight Into Menopause

When your ovaries are removed, your body will fall straight into menopause, and it’s probably not going to be an enjoyable ride. You will experience all of the symptoms of a severe hormone drop, and many women choose to go onto hormone replacement therapy to either ease the transition or, if they’re still young, to delay some of the worst symptoms of menopause until their older.

3. Your Sex Drive Will Dip

When the hormones in your body dips, so too will your sex drive. Many younger women who have their ovaries removed struggle to get back into the swing of things with sex. Along with hormonal changes that cause the actual libido to dip, women also deal with vaginal dryness, which can have a serious impact on the enjoyment of sex. What is important to remember in situations like this is that sex is in the head as much as the hormones, and there’s no saying you can’t come back from an ovary removal.

4. You Might Not Need To Remove Both

If you’re choosing to remove your ovaries to reduce the risk of cancer, then both of your ovaries will need to be removed. Simply removing one will not have any positive associated effect on your cancer risk. However, if you’ve got problems with cysts or torsion, the issue may just be with one ovary. This means that you’ll avoid the changes in fertility and hormonal functions, you’ll keep menstruating, avoid the heath risks associated with early menopause, and may even be able to get pregnant.

5. We Still Don’t Know What All the Long-Term Effects Are

There’s so much we still don’t know about the human body, and unfortunately, many of these blind spots are related to the removal of the ovaries. While removing the ovaries does lower the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in certain individuals, there are risks associated with ovary removal. Although large numbers of long-term studies have not yet been undertaken, there are indicators that ovary removal may lead to a higher risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, all because of the sudden oestrogen drop. That’s why it’s so important to have a frank and honest discussion with your doctor about the procedure, its importance for you, and what it will mean for you lie.

It’s no small thing to go in for a surgery and get your ovaries removed. There are long and short term effects on your body, your hormones and your mental state. If you aren’t rushed by an impending risk factor, take some time to talk with your doctor about your options, and make a clear decision about what you want. That’s what is important in the end.