after effects of oophorectomy (with hysto)

[wkly1269]

 I am planning on getting a total hystorectomy in may. I have been going back and forth on whether i should have my ovaries removed also. I was wondering if there where any guys that has had this done experience any bad menopausal side effects following there surgeries? Or if they, in addition to T, have to take low dose estrogen supplements? I am already 1 month on T. I would like to get all my female parts removed to avoid getting cancers in the future associated with those organs.

[sam1234]

wekly,
I had the who ovariohysterectomy including removal of the cervix. If you are going to go with a hysto, I'd have them take the ovaries as well.

I never had any menapausal side effects. They did mine through the vagina so there are no scars. I'd been on Testosterone for almost a year by then. I guess the T was enough to avoid any menapause. If you aren't going to use the ovaries, why keep them? Having both female and male hormone coursing through your body may cause a problem. Besides, if the ovaries are removed, you don't have to worry about ovarian cysts or cancer.

Its a relatively short surgery compared to a phalloplasty, but i won't lie, it does hurt. My surgeon didn't believe in doing the surgery for what he said was (mental illness), and left no instructions for after sugery so that night was pretty bad. A good surgeon wouldn't do that though, and you would probably have a better experience.

If you haven't had the top surgery yet, you might want to consider getting that out of the way first. That is a visible change and you get to go shirtless in the summer. Things may be more liberal now, but at the time I did it, there was a definate order I had to follow. T then chest then OVH, and finally phalloplasty. At least now, you have choices of surgeons that will help and are experienced,

Sam1234

[wkly1269]

I would love to get top surgery done first but I am financially strapped right now. Insurance will cover my hysto because I had PCOS before I even started T and have really irregular bleeding. I have even been hospitalized because of it. Top surgery is def next on the list when i can save up and pay off some bills. I def wish I had smaller ones. I hope T starts shrinking them soon so I can start looking for a binder.

Skott

[HeyTrace19]

If you think there is ANY, even the most remote, possibility that you will want to live as female again, you might want to consider keeping the ovaries... Just a thought, as it does happen! 

I had everything removed about a year and a half ago and have had no typical menopausal type symptoms as of yet.  I am different now though, in some ways, and I have noticed a change in how my body functions.  I truly do not feel as healthy as I did in the past. It would be interesting to know if this also would have happened had I kept the ovaries or if how I feel is more directly related to aging.  I also had the surgery via abdominal incision due to a large benign tumor, so that was, and still is, to some degree, very difficult in terms of physical recovery.  I did need to INCREASE my testosterone dose just a bit a number of months after the surgery, which is atypical, but a possibility. 

If I had to do it all again, would I make the same choice?  Not certain.  The best part of it all is that I have few to no worries about gyn cancer in my future, which is a HUGE relief!

Hope you figure out the route you wish to take and it all goes well...

[yaka]

If you think there is ANY, even the most remote, possibility that you will want to live as female again, you might want to consider keeping the ovaries... Just a thought, as it does happen! 

I agree, and also if you think in future you don't want to be dependant on external hormones. Because once the ovaries are gone, you will have no choice but to take them.

I did not have any menopausal issues, aside from some front hole pain (but I had this issue pre-hysto). I take topical estrogen which is localised and doesn't affect serum levels, and it seems to be working out.

[mm]

This is a decision we must make too keep or get them out.  I want mine out when I have the surgery; I see no need for them only can cause problems for me.  They have already caused me too many problems.  From all I have read being on t for awhile before surgery will result in little or no post surgery menopause problems as your body is operating with t and not e at that time.  I get such dsypheria every month now I can't wait until I have the money for mine.

[makipu]

Whether or not having the ovaries removed too was where I was stuck at but when I have hysterectomy I am just going to keep the damn things even though they caused painful cysts... I'll just have the cyst be drained but who knows what makes them even form?
For me, the decision came from not having to rely on outside hormones forever which are medications that cause unwanted side effects.

[sam1234]

Whether or not having the ovaries removed too was where I was stuck at but when I have hysterectomy I am just going to keep the damn things even though they caused painful cysts... I'll just have the cyst be drained but who knows what makes them even form?
For me, the decision came from not having to rely on outside hormones forever which are medications that cause unwanted side effects.

What other hormones are you referring to besides T? I have my ovaries removed, but have never had either endocrinologists or GPs suggest I use anything but T. My current GP said that fat produces estrogen and seems to think that no other outside hormones are needed. Would you mind elaborating? I always like to learn more about what others are being maintained on.

sam1234

[makipu]

I wasn't specifically referring to T but when I did ask my PCP she did say I can take E along with it; like a little bit of both. I was specifically asking this because I wasn't sure if my bones would be protected and the fact that I am a nonbinary male.

I am kind of confused when you say fat produces estrogen? I thought estrogen produces fat?  So it goes both ways?  So if one has their ovaries removed they will produce estrogen if they have excess fat besides the very little amount from liver and adrenal glands?

[FTMax]

I am kind of confused when you say fat produces estrogen? I thought estrogen produces fat?  So it goes both ways

The higher body fat percentage, the more testosterone is converted to estrogen in the male body. The more estrogen, the harder to burn the fat cells.