To Keep or not to Keep the Ovaries in Hysterectomy Surgery

The Vagina Doctor Podcast with Duncan Turner MD

Should Ovaries Be Removed During Gynecologic Surgery? Menopause, Risks, and Hormone Therapy

This episode explains how the decision to remove ovaries during gynecologic surgery depends on whether a patient is premenopausal, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal. Postmenopausally, ovaries produce little measurable estrogen or progesterone, so removal during pelvic surgery can reduce future risks like cysts or malignancy, regardless of hormone replacement therapy. For younger or perimenopausal patients, the choice is more individualized: if menopause is more than five years away, keeping functioning ovaries may preserve hormonal benefits, while removing active ovaries can cause sudden, symptomatic surgical menopause requiring hormone replacement. The script also addresses concerns about faster aging, noting symptoms are largely estrogen-related (vaginal dryness, atrophic vaginitis, urinary frequency/incontinence, pelvic floor issues) and may be mitigated with hormone therapy.

00:00 Ovary Decisions in Surgery

00:35 Postmenopause Remove Ovaries

01:45 Perimenopause Weigh Options

02:13 Keeping Ovaries Benefits

02:28 Surgical Menopause and HRT

02:47 Aging Concerns Explained

03:51 Estrogen Loss Symptoms

04:28 Personalized Summary

https://www.youtube.com/@thevaginadoctor

https://www.turnermedicalarts.com

@turnermedicalarts.com