Women who have had their ovaries removed before menopause?

Question

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20497319/

NEW YORK - Women who have their ovaries removed before menopause run a heightened risk of developing dementia or other mental problems later in life — unless they take estrogen until age 50, a new study suggests

I just read this article, we need to know these things.

The study did not include women who had ovaries removed as part of cancer treatment, and Rocca said the results do not apply to such women.

Answer 1

Kay, I lost my ovaries at thirty. I had a very large cyst on my left ovary and it was about to rupture! They took both ovaries as they said the other one would not last long.

The very first morning, after surgery, they started me on hormone therapy to keep me from going into menopause at such an early age. I have remained on this therapy but, not with an OBGYN! I opted to go to an endocrinologist who truly knows the body's chemistry and how everything works together!

Now, I am 52, my hormone therapy has continously gone down as the doctor has slowly reduced the amount so that it would be a natural progression to my body. It has worked beautifully!

I am currently on the lowest dosage. This is the place I would be at if I had my ovaries and so, I feel great! Minus...the menopausal symptoms which are normal.

As for the dementia and such...I've been dealing with that all my life! LOL Just kidding you.

Answer 2

Lets see, I was born in 1948, had a complete hysterectomy in 1984 and refused to take estrogen. Why?, you ask. Let me try and explain. If someone has had cancer they cannot take hormones, by the way, that's what estrogen is. Why?, well because estrogen runs the chance of their cancer resurfacing. Now, this is where common sense comes into play. If an somewhat unhealthy person cannot take estrogen...Why play Russian Roulette with your life? More and more studies have been linking estrogen to cancer. I said this way back when & finally in the latest American Medical Journals, the doctors have finally admitted that this is a fact.
Estrogen is also one of the ingredients in most birth control pills. It is a known fact that Estrogen causes blood clots. Why risk your life?
A little bit of dementia in your old age is natural. You only have so many brain cells and as the body ages, these cells deteriate along with the rest of your body.
In 1984, when my doctor said he was going to start me on Estrogen Therapy, I asked him, "Dr. Currie, Do you own a gun?" He said "No, why?" Well, I responded with my usual sarcasm, "Excuse me , but , do you live in this body? Unless you've got a really big gun & you plan to chase me down to stick this pill down my throat, I just don't see it happening. I don't think you're big enough nor bad enough to make me. And besides all that, I don't plan to die from cancer or the effects of said disease. So there."
NO M'am, I think taking estrogen is the worse thing to do, unless, of course you think its an easy way out of this life and into the next.

Answer 3

I had a hysterectomy at age 38. One ovary was removed and the other kind of shriveled up as time went by. I started HRT but had side effects, and there was so much controversy about HRT that I just stopped. Went through the hot flashes for about 2 years. I'm fine without it. I think. Maybe I have mental problems and don't know. Hmmmmmmmmmm.....

Answer 4

A woman who has had her ovaries removed has very likely been apprised of this risk and many others. Most women who have had their ovaries removed do take estrogen until 50 as a routine form of post hysterectomy therapy.

Answer 5

I had a total hysterectomy at 24 because of cancer. I did not take hormones becaue of the cancer risk, later the reports of HRT sort of made me feel good about not taking them. I keep mentally active, I will be 57 in a few weeks. I believe mental activity helps prevent dementia. I keep learning new things a kind of mental aerobics.

Answer 6

I had a complete hysterectomy 8 years ago. Had a couple problems with HRT and chose not to take it (which is why I feel like a walking hot-flash most of the time!). So....now instead of the threat of breast cancer, it's dementia that might get me? Sure wish "modern medicine" would finally get it right and stop changing the rules!

Answer 7

I'm one of that group that had my ovaries removed (age 48, hysterectomy); I knew the estrogen made me feel better, so I'm glad that it's also good for me. Certainly it seems to me that the benefits far outweigh the risks, even if it's just to stop hot flashes and keep me SANE!!

Answer 8

This is where ya lose me. I opt out of subjects like this. I don't want to know. I know...that's a shallow statement for me to make, but I just don't want to know! Yukky subject.

Answer 9

that's why they try to leave the ovaries now

Answer 10

Thank you for caring and sharing