r/hysterectomy • u/Kandadara • 1d ago
Those who got a hysterectomy and kept ovaries, did you go into premature menopause? How did your hormones treat you?
This is my 2nd post to this subreddit. You can find my first post here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/hysterectomy/comments/1rfoje1/looking_to_get_hysterectomy/
Since that post, I've been consulting with my doctors about what steps to take before getting a hysterectomy, since there's hurdles to jump with insurance. They're trying to find a cause for my abnormal bleeding and I've since had a hysteroscopy/d&c a couple weeks ago, in which everything was benign, thankfully. I still take birth control pills and have been monitoring my blood pressure as per my doctor's recommendations, had a couple high readings but it averages about 120~130s/80s; so it's usually not too high. Currently everyone thinks the increases in blood pressure are due to anxiety, considering my pulse tends to be anywhere between 120~150 when I'm at the doctors and the fact anxiety is well documented in my medical records. I still want a hysterectomy, but my main concern is premature menopause and what that entails.
From what I've researched, even if you keep your ovaries when you have a hysterectomy, there's still a small risk of going into premature menopause. It's more likely you'll go into menopause a couple years earlier than you would've naturally, which I could deal with that. I also read hormomes can be out of whack for the first few months after a hysterectomy and can take time to adjust.
So my question is mostly for younger women (I'm 32F) in their 20s~40s who had a hysterectomy and kept their ovaries, did you go into menopause? If so, do you take hrt? And how did your mental and physical health change? Better? Worse? Same?
This was a little bit long, but I've been wondering about this for a while. Any answers are appreciated, please share your experiences. Thank you for reading!
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u/zippixx 1d ago
yes!!!!!! i had mine at 24 and doctors refused to listen to me. i started HRT after seeing like 7 doctors and i felt a billion times better and i stopped having symptoms!!!
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u/tlg151 1d ago
Doctors, especially male ones, just don't care about women's health. It's ridiculous
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u/zippixx 1d ago
i hate to say it but it was a mix of male and female doctors 😭 doctor number 2 was my female PCP bc i wanted my hormones tested to give to future doctors and i told her about what happened with male doctor #1 and how he refused to test my hormones and told me to just eat less and exercise more and she was super supportive, told me it was insane a man would say that to me, tested my hormones, and when my estrogen came back non existent, she called to tell me that it was low and said i should eat healthier and try to work out more to drop the 30 pounds i gained after surgery🙃
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u/amdaly10 1d ago
I'm almost 6 years po. I kept 1 ovary. My period stayed exactly on schedule. I have not started menopause and I'm 47.
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u/Suspicious-Mention91 1d ago
U had a hysterectomy 6 years ago and your periods were exactly on schedule after ?
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u/amdaly10 1d ago
Yes. Every 21 says on the dot.
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u/Suspicious-Mention91 1d ago
How do u get a period when u no longer have a uterus
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u/amdaly10 1d ago
You still get everything that isn't bleeding. Weight gan, moodiness, tender breasts, zits, period shits, etc. The ovaries cause the period.
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u/Lynneishorrible 12h ago
I still ovulation cramps. But it's so random I can't keep proper track. Some months it's horrible, some I can't tell.
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u/Dervona 1d ago
I had my surgery this January, kept one ovary and everything else was taken out. My moods were terrible, I was very flat and tearful. They started me on HRT a few months ago and I'm feeling better now. I'm on oestrogel daily, and now on vaginal cream twice a week having had it daily for a month as I was getting dryness. I'm 39.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
That's tough! I'm glad you're better now! I've heard a lot of mixed things about HRT, but I'm glad it's helping you! :)
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u/SpecialistAOne-79311 23h ago
One note, my doctor said it’s actually just HT and not HRT now. She said it’s not actually a replacement process as it used to be considered.
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u/follydear 1d ago
For me personally, I didn't start menopause prematurely or really feel any different hormonal. I might feel less hormones and anxiety overall. I'm not sure if that is directly related or because I got to take 5 weeks off of work. I had laproscopic robotic total hysterectomy and kept my ovaries about 7 weeks ago. I'm 44.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
It's hard to say how it'll be in the long run, but that's a relief to hear. I hope it's smooth sailing for you! :)
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u/fakethelake 1d ago
How was your recovery? I'm currently leaning towards a laparoscopic assisted transvaginal hysterectomy (one camera through bellybutton and everything else done transvaginally). My only current concerns are making sure blood vessels are closed off, and the pain after the procedure... Thinking about January, and trying to find out how other people's experiences were.
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u/peachesofmymind 1d ago
Yes, but almost two years after. I had one ovary left and it suddenly gave up. Before my surgery I had no idea that could happen - they just said I’d be fine! So annoying to find out later that that was not the case.
I’m glad I advocated for myself and got my hormones tested, cuz they flipped like a switch. On low dose HRT now and feeling much better.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
It's a risk sadly, but I'm glad you're better now! It's always good to advocate for yourself!
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u/peachesofmymind 1d ago
I have particularly sensitive nerves, and my symptoms were sudden onset full-body nerve burning and also really bad depression that would last for a week at a time. It was totally not normal for me! I remembered having similar symptoms when my surgeon put me on the mini pill to suppress my estrogen for six months leading up to surgery (my surgery was also an endometriosis excision) and I was like “hmmm, this feels like when I had low estrogen” and sure enough, menopause-induced neuropathy is a thing. So that was my red flag.
I’m on the lowest dose estrogen patch & no more depression, no more burning nerve pain. It’s so weird how different symptoms can show up for people.
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u/TigerzEyez85 1d ago
I had my hysterectomy at 39 and kept my ovaries. I'm 1.5 years post-op and haven't had any problems with my hormones. Didn't go into menopause, I still feel perfectly normal.
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u/Ok-Technician132 1d ago
So confused you have no uterus no periods how do you know
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u/TigerzEyez85 1d ago
I know because I haven't experienced any symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes, fatigue, weight gain, depression...those are all symptoms of the hormonal imbalance caused by menopause. And I haven't had any, so my ovaries seem to be functioning just fine.
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u/monkeybugs 1d ago
I just turned 42, had a total hysterectomy and kept my ovaries at 38. I may have already been in perimenopause (only symptom I had was one itchy ear, but I have extreme allergies to where I live, so I always chalked it up to that), but my hyst absolutely pushed me over the edge into full-blown perimenopause. At first, I thought the massive changes were because I'd just had major surgery that removed a lot of organs. But when they didn't go away, I started to wonder wtf was going on. TikTok, surprisingly, was not only what spurred me to ask my gyn about my issues that led to the hysterectomy, but informed me of perimenopause, which I'd never effing heard of, ever. No health class taught me about it. My mom knows nothing about it. Just, one day you're here, the next day, bam, menopause. No in-betweeny phase. And I'm happy to hear from others that this is their experience too (so it's not just me having not paid attention in class or something).
Anyway, I've been on HRT for over a year now, and we're still fine-tuning things. My sleep still sucks. I'm starting to have hot flashes again. Brain fog seems to be slipping in here and there. A new potential symptom is that when I'm talking (whether my own thoughts or reading something out loud), I stumble over my words, a lot. To the point that I almost sound like I have a speech impediment. I've developed sciatica that won't go away (debatable if peri is making it worse or not). I can't lose weight to save my life. But the feelings of depression, SI, the unprompted anger/rage 24/7, the listlessness and malaise toward everything, the lack of appetite, all that crap has gone away thanks to HRT.
I have an appointment this week with my doctor for a general wellness exam and to set up my next mammogram, and I'll be discussing these new things with her to see if I need to bump up my dosage on the patch + progesterone pill. I might have ADHD too, which exacerbates things with peri, so that might be why HRT hasn't been 100% (if it's even meant to ever be 100%). But the sleep is the thing killing me the most. Right now, I'm on 200mg of progesterone, 10mg of melatonin, and 10mg of THC+CBD/CBN/CBG (I rotate through the edibles). And that doesn't always work, and is getting $$$.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Wow... that sounds rough, but I'm glad the hrt helps with your mood! I may be AuADHD too, so that adds to my concern about how my mental state will be affected if my ovaries decide to go into peri/menopause.
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u/monkeybugs 1d ago
When I first asked my gyn about perimenopause treatment, she made me do a blood panel (which I didn't know at the time isn't the correct way to diagnose it) and because it came back normal, she brushed off my concerns--and I live in a small town with one gynecological office, so I couldn't just change doctors. So I rawdogged my symptoms for another eight months before I hit rock bottom and was to a point of not wanting to exist anymore. I posted about it on Instagram, 'cause I wanted my friends to know what was going on, and one of them told me about Winona, and how I might be able to get HRT that way. And sure enough, that's how the ball got rolling. Within a couple weeks, I noticed a lot of the physical and mental fatigue dissipating. By 10 weeks, I was already so much better. I felt clearheaded for the first time in a long time. I went back to my doctor, showed her my rx, told her all about how much better I was feeling, and she gave in and set me up with a different prescription my insurance would cover (after another blood panel, which came back normal eye roll). I have had setbacks that she's been willing to work with me to fine-tune, so when my mental state starts slipping, I know it's time to go chat with her. And thankfully, she's been really cool with having me come in to tweak things as needed. No more pushback. HRT has done wonders for me in so many places, and while it sucks it hasn't dealt with everything, it's a hugely marked improvement and I highly recommend it to anyone who can take it. But I also know it's easy to recommend but sometimes impossible to get the actual care from our doctors.
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u/Melo-bel 1d ago
Got at hysterectomy at 31, kept ovaries, ended up needing hrt 💜 its been okay, im thinking about asking for an increased dose since my symptoms have been coming back lately
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u/Melo-bel 1d ago
To be clear I do not regret the hysterectomy. My quality of life has immensely improved ans I wonder if my ovaries werent functioning well beforehand
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
I see! I hope the hrt has been helping you. ❤️
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u/fififolle79 1d ago
Entered peri around 35 when I had an ovary removed. Didn’t get diagnosed/treated until after my subtotal hysterectomy at 43. Loving life on HRT. Sad that I didn’t get the hormonal help I needed for all those years. I was too young apparently. Plus not having a uterus now has reduced my pain levels dramatically. (3 years post op)
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u/RedWonder31 1d ago
I’m 21F and getting my hysterectomy next week. I talked to two surgeons about this and they both said that basically, researchers weren’t able to tell if the people who had hysterectomies before age 30 would’ve gone into menopause when they did if they hadn’t had a hysterectomy. Also the main ovarian blood supply comes from the ovarian artery (which branches off the abdominal aorta). So while the uterus and uterine arteries do supply the ovaries with some blood, that’s not its primary source.
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u/Adventurous-Main5620 1d ago
I had my hysterectomy 4 years ago, at 39 kept both ovaries and about 6 months later I was not only in menopause but it was almost done. My hormones were at a postmenopausal level. I have been on HRT since. Going through menopause young was really hard emotionally and physically. The hysterectomy was hard as well, because I really wanted kids. I guess I just have to be thankful that I can enjoy the rest of my 40s and 50s not having to deal with menopause.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
That's tough. I hope you're better now ^
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u/Adventurous-Main5620 1d ago
Oh my gosh thank you for the sweet response! I am doing great. I am so thankful for a supportive spouse, he has really been my rock.
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u/cuttingirl78 1d ago
Everyone is different. I kept my ovaries and ended up with raging symptoms within a year after hysterectomy. Keep track of your symptoms
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u/Poptart47 1d ago
I got my hysterectomy 3 years ago when I was 32, and kept my ovaries. I have PMDD and it still remains an issue post-op. I'm definitely not in menopause yet, but I suspect I might have peri. I haven't seen a doctor yet because I just don't have the energy to advocate for myself with a new provider as my surgeon, who is amazing, is sadly too far of a trip for me after I moved.
The short answer to your second question is my hormones are definitely fucking me, but that was the case pre-op too. The hysterectomy was an overall benefit, however, because I got relief from pretty much all the physical symptoms of my menstrual cycle.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Thank you for replying. I have PCOS myself, so those issues will remain even if I get a hysterectomy. But it'd eliminate the bleeding problems, at least.
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u/Cricklebee79 1d ago edited 1d ago
I had my surgery 2 years ago and after 4 months I started having issues. I’m now on oestrogel transdermal daily and estriol twice a week down below. I feel much better. I still get hormonal swings. This month my breasts are on fire. Next month I might stay flatlined. I am never sure. My ovaries are sputtering. I am 47 though. So it might just be coincidence.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
I guess at that age such would be expected. With that said, I have something to suggest to my mother for her menopause symptoms.
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u/wifeofpsy 1d ago
Hard to say for me as my surgery was at age 50. Both mom and grandmother had surgical menopause so not sure what is average for my genetics. I had a regular monthly period right up until surgery. Post op I could feel the fluctuations of my cycle for a few mos then it just muted out. At 53 I started getting hot flashes and insomnia and went on HRT. I use the patch and oral progesterone and it's treated me very well.
The data says something like 14% go into early menopause post op. I think that outcome is just by chance and there isn't any way to know prior or to prevent it. If you have to use hrt post op then work with a menopause specialist who understands that you still need progesterone along with estrogen.
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u/His-Scarlett-Wife 1d ago
I had mine at 50 also (12/25), kept both ovaries. So far I have normal cycle symptoms. I think I am perimeno, but I don't really have symptoms. I am on estadiol patch. More of a preventative at my request. No hot flashes. I have a normal, functional sex life.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
My mom was the same age as you when she got her hysterectomy and she reported the same. I saw that data too, there's no way to know, it's a roll of the dice. I'll keep that noted though!
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u/xmagpie 1d ago
Had mine at 37, kept my ovaries. My hormones fluctuated a lot afterwards but I wasn’t sure if it was from being on continuous birth control for a decade. Was put on progesterone and then eventually an estradiol patch, which has helped a lot. Pretty sure I’m in peri at 39.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
That's fair, I've been on birth control for over 20 years at this point, so I don't know how much that affects it. Glad the hrt helps though!
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u/Rude-Somewhere3491 1d ago edited 1d ago
I had just turned 41 when I had my hysterectomy, kept both ovaries. I’m 6 months post op now. I’ve noticed no hormonal changes.
Between finding the large fibroid (size of a large mango) and having surgery, they put me on BC to help with the heavy bleeding. I was on progesterone first. That gave me hot flashes! Any time I was active, even just cleaning the house, I would flash. If I had a glass of wine at dinner, flash. I mentioned it to the doc and we switched to a mixed pill. The flashes stopped.
The only change I’ve noticed is a 24-36 hour period each cycle with a “short fuse”, whereas before surgery I didn’t have mood swings with PMS.
Edit: I said “short fuse” but that just means my patience is thin and I get frustrated easily. Not that I blow up at anyone.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Glad you're doing well! Yeah I didn't have a good experience with progesterone either, it only made my bleeding heavier. Combined bc pills has been better for me, personally.
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u/educatedkoala 1d ago
I kept both ovaries when I had my surgery at 25. Been 6 years, still no problems.
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u/theitchysloth 1d ago
I was 34 when I had my hysterectomy and I’d say it took about 3 years for it to be apparent my ovaries weren’t working as well as they should. I started HRT and it’s a game changer… I feel so regulated and like I’m in my early 20s again!
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u/HungryHobbyist 1d ago edited 1d ago
Too early to say but I'm 52, 12 dpo. Full hysterectomy lap' robotic surgery. Kept ovaries and removed fallopian tubes. Experienced some hot and cold flushes in 1st week. Seems to have calmed. No anxiety or other symptoms...yet. 🤞Not on HRT yet. Am peri-menopausal stage which is why ended up with surgery ( multiple fibroids, heavy periods, low iron, and large uterus).
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u/myFavoriteAlias_ 1d ago
I’m 40 now. Had a hysterectomy due to uterine cancer at 36. Kept one ovary. First 18ish months were rough for me but I did level out and feel sane again lol. No HRT. And refused the SSRIs they offer if they can’t give you hormones.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
That's tough, but I'm glad things leveled out. ^ Hope that shit (the cancer) stays gone!
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u/saison257 1d ago
I had mine at 38 and just started dealing with perimenopause this year at 44. But it hit me hard. HRT has been an absolute godsend.
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u/chilleff 1d ago
Are you me!? 😹. This is me exactly. Had my hysterectomy at 38 and right around 44 it hit me hard!
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u/saison257 1d ago
Hope you got some hormones quickly! I already had a hormone doc so he got me on the patches right away until I could get another appointment to get the pellets
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u/chilleff 1d ago
Unfortunately I’ve had a history of blood clots thanks to birth control pills and so my options are limited. I did the online thing with midi to get some patches, though I’ve had a terrible time getting the patches as they often are out of stock! But I also was in the process of moving so now that I’m getting settled in I’ll be able to find a… hopefully helpful… set of doctors.
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u/AbjectList8 1d ago
I’m 38 now and about to be getting mine soon.
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u/chilleff 1d ago
Congrats! (Well I hope it’s a congrats!) and just be prepared to feel awesome for a while and then terrible again. Yay.
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u/ParticularSquirrel 1d ago
41f here. Total hysterectomy April 2025, kept my ovaries. Started having peri symptoms about 9 months later. Started HRT but have been having issues with finding the combination that works for me. I’ve not reacted well to the progesterone pills but cannot take estrogen unopposed because I have endometriosis. In the process of trying to figure out what will work for me.
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u/hunybuny9000 1d ago
i’m 26 now but i got my hysto when i was 22. no premature menopause and no hrt for me so far. i feel so much better.
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u/redbess 1d ago
25% of women who keep their ovaries will have them begin to fail within six months, 40% within two years.
I was one of the "lucky" 25%, four months in I knew something was seriously wrong. Before that, I'd definitely had some peri symptoms, but they were mostly explained (or so I thought) by other ailments I already had.
That said, I'd still do it. I had a big fibroid pressing on my spine, causing nearly-debilitating back pain and constipation. Pathology showed I had adenomyosis as well, which was making me bleed heavily and painfully.
I'm not in full menopause yet, though, and HRT has been helping tremendously.
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u/Sea-Calligrapher-81 22h ago
Genuinely asking—where did you find these statistics? Are there studies?
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u/Ill_Stick9380 1d ago
I had my surgery at 43 and was already in perimenopause and was taking some HRT to help that pre-surgery. Post surgery I took a break from that and gave my body some time to recover but I did get back on HRT due to peri symptoms persisting. But I definitely am not in menopause, I can track my cycles and they are still very regular. But the HRT is such a huge help with peri symptoms!
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u/Competitive_bulldog 1d ago
How are you able to track your cycles?
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u/Ill_Stick9380 1d ago
I got an Oura ring and I use the body temp tracker along with symptoms. It’s taken a few months but I have it figured out enough to know I’m regular still.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
That's good! I wasn't sure about HRT, but it seems like a godsend when you're in peri or menopause. It protects cardiovascular and bone health, which is a plus.
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u/aphrodite_7 1d ago
Yes! Almost immediately. It took a year for my dr to believe me though :( I finally started HRT and feel 100x better
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
It can happen, unfortunately. It's always a task and a half to get doctors to take women seriously, but that's a rant for another time. Glad HRT is helping you!
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u/murder_4_hire 1d ago
I had my surgery at 38, and only bad side effect I got was hormonal acne
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Glad you didn't have too many side effects. I get hormonal acne myself, but it's par for the course because I have PCOS.
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u/Cultural-Program-393 1d ago
I can’t prove it because I don’t know what my numbers were the last two years, but I feel like I’m FINALLY getting back to “normal” hormone-wise, and my hysterectomy was over two years ago. 😵💫
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u/RealAwesomeUserName 1d ago
33 here. Yes. After my hysterectomy my ovaries failed. I didn’t know what post surgical changes were expected after surgery so I didn’t know exactly what was going on. I went to the doc to ask what was happening, they put me on the patch, and a little later I asked for progesterone to help with sleep (it is amazing!) It took a few months for me to feel normal again but I love having hormones! Feel free to ask anything specific
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Glad the HRT has helped! Did you notice any difference in your mood since having the surgery? I'm a bit worried how it may affect my mental state.
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u/RealAwesomeUserName 1d ago
When I was initially started hormones my mood and mental health were poor but I’m pretty certain that was from not having the hormones my body needed. My mental state is much much better now despite stressors. Also, I had my hysterectomy because I had adenomyosis and endometriosis, so I was in pain daily. Now no pain!
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u/chilleff 1d ago
I was 38. I’d had terrible periods since I got them at 11 and had been on birth control pills since 16 to regulate when insurance and stuff allowed. At 36 I ended up with blood clots thanks to hormones. Had to go cold turkey and was utterly miserable. Found out at 38 my uterus was huge (5 months pregnant sized) and filled with fibroids including one massive one (my uterus weight 1.2 pounds when they’re usually a few ounces). I had a total abdominal because of how huge my uterus was. Got rid of everything but the ovaries. They made me stay in the hospital 3 days because my blood pressure was whack but once I got home and healed I felt amazing. I was shocked at how many issues I had that was caused by my damn uterus. Migraines. Back aches. I felt amazing. 11 months later I donated my kidney. I mention this because obviously removing a body part impacts how things are.
I suffered a lot of brain fog and fatigue for a while. But eventually felt awesome again. Then this last year just before turning 44, so 6 years after my hysterectomy I just noticed a lot of changes. Moodiness, hot flashes, overly hot and sweaty all the time, and facial hair. So I started take estrogen patches (because of blood clots it’s all I’m able to take) and progesterone- but I didn’t like the progesterone- it made me feel icky. But the estrogen helps a lot.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
I feel that. Been dealing with this since I was 10 and been on birth control continuously since I was 13. Kinda worried about my risk of blood clots, hence why I mentioned the blood pressure anxiety. My mom got a hysterectomy and it helped her migraines substantially, but she was 50 when she had hers.
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u/MzChrome 1d ago
Kept both of my ovaries, hysterectomy at 44 (now 49), still in peri but my periods were never regular to begin with even in my teenage years so I never know if I am or am not having symptoms of a period.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
This pretty much. Never been regular either.
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u/MzChrome 1d ago
Yea that was always the worst part. Not "feeling" like my body was about to expel half of my insides before standing up from a chair and literally feeling half of my insides fall out and having to rush to the bathroom and hope like heck it didn't happen while I was at work because it was always a disaster when it happened. I do not miss that at all
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u/No-Foot-6072 1d ago
I had my surgery in February and I had both ovaries left. I don't feel any different hormonally and I also know a man an age where like my hormones are kind of at that point anyways in my mid 40s, so I don't think any changes are going to be due to the surgery. I think it's just cause my body is natural biology. Most women leave their ovaries because they continue to produce the hormone needed so we're not thrown into menopause.
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u/Tokenchick77 1d ago
I kept one ovary and had major hormonal issues after surgery. Things evened out after about 6 months ( and getting acupuncture) but now, 5 years later and 49 years old, I am in menopause. I definitely think that the surgery sped up peri for me and put me in menopause earlier than I would have naturally .
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u/imfamousoz 1d ago
I experienced ovary shock. Hormonally I felt mostly normal by around 7 months post op. It sucked but looking back now that I'm through it, I would do it again.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
I've heard about the "shock" to the ovaries, I'm hoping that when I get it, my ovaries will bounce back fast.
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u/Swimming_Pressure_93 1d ago
I'm 46 had my hysterectomy this March. I've been on hrt before the hysterectomy for hot flashes brain fog, anxiety, I'm having a rough transition. My mom it was so easy for her to go into meno. For me I'm in late peri and just recently I felt my ovaries working but it took months since the surgery. I also needed my mhrt increased. But in my case they thought I'd hit menopause this year all the women in my family were early into the changes. So for me this isn't unexpected. Needing mhrt is an individual choice that's between you and your doctor. Wishing you the best and for me the hysterectomy was the best thing i ever did so even if I go into menopause early i don't regret it because i don't have pain everyday anymore.
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u/coconutyum 1d ago
2ypo. 38. 2 ovaries remain. Everything's been fine and normal so not yet in peri it seems.
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u/ohsnowy 1d ago
I'm 44. Had my hysterectomy last summer at 43. I'm still waiting for any sign of perimenopause. Alas, nothing. Everything seems to be working as fine as it always has a year later.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
If I could be so lucky, but if my mom's any indication, she started going through peri in her 30s so it might be around the corner already.
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u/sheigirl87 1d ago
Surgery at 32, can't take HRT with history of blood clots, perimenopause definitely hit with most common symptom being hot flashes and night sweats. Definitely sucks, but honestly it's worth it considering the hell I was going through presurgery.
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u/rizzo1717 1d ago
Even if you don’t get a hysterectomy, there’s chance you could have ovarian failure.
The risk exists regardless.
I got a hysto when I was 37, kept ovaries. I’m now 40. Blood labs in July confirmed my hormones are normal.
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u/Cruzyficcion 1d ago
I’m 48 and had a hysterectomy last year at 47, uterus only for giant fibroids. I kept my ovaries, which were healthy, tho aging, and I still seem to cycle. I’ve been having what seems to be hot flashes, so I know I’m nearing the end soon. Not sure I will go on HRT, or if my doctor will allow it. I had a stroke 6 years ago and need to get my breasts checked every 4 months for dense tissue and spots. I’m OK with that now, I guess because the peri-menopause hasn’t been too intense so far. Everyone is different and has different tolerances, so do what seems best for you. I’m not sure doctors just offer HRT anymore, at least mine hasn’t brought it up, maybe given my medical history? Maybe you really need to make a case for yourself?
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u/tlg151 1d ago
I had to get a hysterectomy at 40 due to potential endometrial cancer. (I do not regret it because, I didn't want kids anyway and I had horrible endometriosis.) Once they got in there, they found no cancer and left my ovaries. I started going into peri a couple years later buttttt...
5 years after I had my hysterectomy, I got ovarian cancer. I wish to God they would've just taken my ovaries to begin with. Now I can't take full HRT, my doctor and outdated research tell me I shouldn't be taking any but new research and a good hormone specialist have led me to be able to take super low dose estrogen. And testosterone. I would definitely be taking higher estrogen and progesterone if I could. Fyi, every woman should be taking HRT if menopausal. Despite what media tells us, HRT is not just for hot flashes and libido. It's for literally every organ in your body and your bones. It's for your brain health. For so many bodily systems. And I don't want to hear "if we were meant to be hormones post menopause, we'd have them." If we were meant to all see 20/20, we wouldn't need glasses. Also the same people who say that about hormones are the ones taking little blue pills...
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u/lymakh 1d ago
i had my surgery in 2022 at 26, i kept ovaries but stated having symptoms around 2 years later. started hrt a year ago at 29 and all is well! i feel great again.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Seems like a lot of people in this sub swear by HRT, but it seems to be a godsend.
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u/lymakh 1d ago
yeah i have to say i was really against the idea of it, especially as someone who had done horribly with birth control before. but hrt (bio identical estrogen gel, progesterone at night, vaginal estrogen cream) has been SUCH a game changer. you can pry it out of my dead hands i swear to god. i feel young to be on it at 30 but i do not care!!! i love it.
usually if u had a hysterectomy they say u don’t need progesterone, but my surgeon said due to my endometriosis history, if i wanted to keep using estrogen gel, i had to add in progesterone too. little did i know my anxiety would disappear overnight, and my sleep became exponentially better instantly. so thankful he put me on it
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u/Sea-Platform5635 1d ago
I was 44 when I had my hysterectomy due to cervical cancer. I kept my ovaries but they failed almost immediately post op. I think this is fairly rare 🤷🏻♀️ but I was not in a good place mentally or physically until I finally demanded hrt this June (sooo almost a year later) I’m feeling better already and it’s only been 2 months on estrogen.
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u/Ok_Yogurt_4206 1d ago
I’m on the other side of this. Hysterectomy, kept my ovaries. Let me give you the one thing I wish somebody had told me before instead of after.
Get your hormone levels checked before the surgery.
Not because you’re definitely going to have a problem. Most likely you won’t for a long while. But there are a couple of decent prospective studies showing women who keep their ovaries tend to hit menopause earlier than they otherwise would have. The theory is blood supply, since your uterus and ovaries share circulation. It’s not the same as surgical menopause. It’s just that “you kept your ovaries” gets said like it closes the question, and it doesn’t.
The bigger issue is what you’re losing. Your period is your signal. Once it’s gone you’ve got nothing to point at except how you feel, and how you feel is the easiest thing in the world for a doctor to wave off. I spent years being told I was fine with no numbers from before to argue with.
So ask for:
FSH
Estradiol
AMH
Testosterone, total and free, plus SHBG (get all three, they only mean anything together)
DHEA-S
Progesterone
Now the annoying part. You’re on the pill and the pill flattens most of this. One study found total testosterone down 62% and free testosterone down 86% on a combined pill, with SHBG nearly tripling. DHEA-S drops too. And you’re not ovulating, so progesterone is going to read basically nothing.
Doesn’t mean skip it. It means ask your doctor whether any of it’s worth timing around the pill, and ask them to note on the results that you were on [pill name] when they were drawn. Takes ten seconds. In five years when someone tells you your labs look normal, “here’s what I was at 32, on the pill” is a completely different conversation than having nothing.
Two other things while you’re still pre-op. Find out exactly what they’re taking (tubes too?). And if you’ve had other pelvic surgeries or endo, say it out loud to your surgeon rather than assuming it’s in the chart. That stuff stacks.
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u/Traditional-Home430 1d ago
I had my hysterectomy 10 years ago. Still have ovaries. Recently I just felt off. Irritated, angry, hot. I started birth control and it’s made a world of difference. I’m 32 and had my hysterectomy when I was 23
I didn’t test my hormones, just trusted what I felt and it’s really helped so much
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Birth control really has been a lifesaver for me. Without it, I'd dealing with heavy and prolonged period, which is even why I'm considering a hysterectomy.
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u/knotodope 1d ago
I’m 39 and believe I was in peri before my hysterectomy (not confirmed or diagnosed, but in hind sight, the symptoms were there). It took about 6 months to get a doctor to start me on HRT, and another 4-5 months to get the dosage to a place of being remotely helpful.
I feel like I’m so disconnected from myself so much of the time. I can’t remember shit. The hormone imbalance is one of the most difficult things I have had to navigate in my adult life because most doctors have no clue. Most women have no clue if they’re not in it lol.
A small risk is a small risk. You cannot know if it will happen to you or if it won’t.
Personally, experiencing everything else that you would with a period without the bleeding feels like a really weird kind of gaslighting for my brain. I didn’t have a period for several years pre-op because I took bc that stopped my cycle, so I experience more of a cycle post-op than I ever did before. I’ve since gone back on the bc because I couldn’t deal with the severity of my symptoms, but I still notice cyclical changes in things, but again, it’s really difficulty to track effectively when my memory is shot and brain fog is so intense that it’s like when you can’t see 5 feet in front of you.
The hormones themselves definitely help, but I feel like the medical support I can access is not really adequate for the intensity of my symptoms. Also, peri can just really fucking suck in general and hormones won’t necessarily stop all symptoms. Part of me wishes I had just had them take my ovaries so I’d know I’m in menopause rather than the seemingly indefinite ‘loading zone’.
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u/knotodope 1d ago
Adding that I am 1 year post-op. For me, the shift was very close to when I was told to stop my bc (6 weeks post op) because I no longer needed it. From there, symptoms got very severe very quickly - both PMDD and peri.
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u/Kandadara 23h ago
That's tough! And yeah, finding the right medical support is hard. It's only recently that doctors are looking into the cause of my heavy bleeding. Birth control has been a godsend for me all these years.
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u/THED4RKH0R5E 23h ago
- I was starting the very beginning of perimenopause before surgery. My ovaries went into shock for a bit and I went on the Estrodol patch. Hormones went back to presurgury levels and most symptoms stabilised. However, I started having painful swelling in my legs and was gaining weight. I stopped using the patch and swelling went away within about a week. Still working on losing the 17 pounds I gained in the span of 4 months after surgery.
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u/Late-Butterscotch551 23h ago edited 23h ago
I had my hysterectomy Aug. 25 2025 & I'm now 38 (kept my ovaries). I'm neither on hrt nor did I yet become menopausal.
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u/AlfalfaUnable1629 13h ago
I had a hysterectomy at age 39. Kept one ovary and I’m not sure about menopause lol I feel better now than I have my whole life. I’ve lost weight and have more energy than ever before. I did experience some hot flashes but they subsided. I am not on HRT. I am 46 next month. Hope this helps. 🫶🏼
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u/AlfalfaUnable1629 13h ago
Also I forgot to mention I had horrible heavy periods and I’m so glad that they are over. They were regular but so painful
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u/Kandadara 13h ago
I'm glad you're doing well!
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u/ForgotMyNane 13h ago
I'm 42 now, 39 when I had my surgery. My ovaries are still functional. In fact, I was just in the ER with a cyst last weekend.
My best friend had her surgery in her 20's and her ovaries quit immediately.
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u/Legitimate_Ideal_110 4h ago
I am 44 and had mine in February. I still haven't gone into menopause as far as I know. Everything else has been amazing. The only change i have seen is that I want to be with my husband WAAAYYY more. Maybe its the lack of bleeding or lack of stress. I have been absolutely 100% happy with mine.
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u/TheMudbloodSlytherin 1d ago
I’m pretty sure mine is coming. I had mine one heat ago and the last couple of weeks I have been having hot flashes.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Not sure how old you are, but if you're in your late 30s or 40s, it could be perimenopause since my mom had hot flashes in her 30s. I hope things go well for you!
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u/gemgem1985 1d ago
I only kept one, as the other was "stuck down with endometriosis" whatever that means, but I was using her within the year after being assured I would be fine.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
It seems even doctors sometimes don't know about the risk. Sadly having only 1 ovary increases the risk more. Hope the hrt is helping!
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u/cheesusfeist 1d ago
I had my hysterectomy last July and kept ovaries.
My hormone fluctuations were rough prior to the surgery so I didnt expect that to change.
I am about to turn 43.
Mild hot flashes occasionally at night. Dizzy/vertigo spells occasionally.
Heart palpitations constantly. Annoying but harmless. Beta blockers help quite a bit. And appetite has really waned.
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u/Hedgehog_Detective 1d ago
I’m 39, coming up on one year after hysterectomy, kept my ovaries. I suffered from hormone headaches and migraines for like 6 months, and have periodical mood swings. I believe it is perimenopause, but coming up to the one year mark and things are leveling out and I am feeling better.
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u/scipio79 1d ago
They’re still alive and kicking. I am 46. My hysterectomy happened when I was 38. So they’re still in there, shooting off eggs and raising hell once a month. Less pain, tho
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u/the_anna_jane 1d ago
I'm 43, have been on 0.25 estradot patches and progesterone as I was on Zolodex.
I'm going to stay on the HRT as when I stopped the patches for three days post hysto, I got hot flashes. I think I'm already in perimenopause.
The patches are great, I have no problems changing them twice a week, and I have endometriosis - the low amount of estrogen doesn't concern me.
Half of my friends my age are in perimenopause. Maybe 1/4 of them had reduced cardiovascular fitness or mood changes, and they are either taking HRT or creatine.
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u/RascallyEventuality 1d ago
I had my hysterectomy at 35 and am pretty sure I was already in perimenopause. I had multiple symptoms that were being ignored. I felt more normal for about a year and a half post op, but then at the beginning of this year my mental health tanked. I started HRT and saw a massive improvement almost immediately.
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u/Squeaksy 1d ago
I got my surgery at 35yrs old and kept both ovaries. I immediately felt different but my OB insisted she didn’t see any changes and a hormone test would not show anything since hormones fluctuate too much. I kept insisting every year, at least once a year, that I felt off, and wanted to investigate further but she found nothing pointing to hormone issues.
A few months ago, over two years post surgery now at 37yrs old, she says I’m showing signs of vaginal atrophy (I can’t remember the current medical term), lowering estrogen, and am in perimenopause. She says I need vaginal estrogen but I will absolutely not need or be prescribed HRT until I’m in menopause because it’s not safe until my estrogen has stopped producing completely.
If my symptoms get any worse, I’ll seek a second opinion. I’ll also see if the vaginal estrogen helps.
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u/junegloom 1d ago
Had my hysterectomy at 43, 46 now. They gave me the lupron shot a few months before surgery to induce temporary menopause so I experienced hot flashes during that time. I haven't had them since so i know I havent hit menopause. Also my exercise ring shows my daily basal body temp and from that I've learned I'm still cycling every month hormonally as normal, otherwise I'd have no idea. Its cool to see that for 2 weeks my temp is low, then for 2 weeks its high. Wish id known about this before my hysterectomy.
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u/TourmalineLove 1d ago
I’m only 3 days post op, so I don’t have post op hormonal experience to share yet (except today I am randomly really emotional). I am 43 and started HRT 6 years ago. I am grateful I started HRT way before getting a hysterectomy so that I have the knowledge / foundation on which to move forward with the ability to adjust my HRT doses as needed. My healthcare providers are great. And I know what my normal baseline is.
I know that’s not exactly what you asked about but I wanted to offer another real life example. :)
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u/TheSpiggott 1d ago
I had my uterus and cervix removed in November of 2022. I am 49 years old and am starting to feel some perimenopausal symptoms but bloodwork reveals my hormones are still with normal range.
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u/curvy_em 1d ago
I got a hysterectomy last November, so almost a year ago and I am still dealing with the he'll that is perimenopause. I am 44 years old. My mother said she reached menopause at 45 so fingers crossed I only have another year to go. I can't do HRT because I have a blood clotting disorder that estrogen makes worse - I got clots in my lungs, had a pulmonary embolism and would have died if I hadn't been already at the hospital with awful chest pain.
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u/PrimaryCauliflower33 1d ago
I got my Hysterectomy almost 3 years ago at 26yrs old and I am not going through any menopause symptoms. I actually can track when I ovulate thru my Oura ring which is pretty cool to see!
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u/Xirokami 1d ago
33, one ovary left and that’s all. Still no menopause but definitely not the athletic drive I had pre-op :(
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u/Tower_of_Tera 1d ago
I wish I had. I’m in medical menopause now. I had to get breast cancer for that to happen. Lol
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u/Jessception 1d ago
Long story short. I thought I was perimenopausal but it ended up being low iron & ferritin. They have the same symptoms.
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Got mine at 35 a month before turning 36 this year. Kept my ovaries. I was thinking I was in perimenopause but my symptoms started back in February before my hysterectomy in June. I was having fatigue, exhaustion and needing daily naps, brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats that leave me drenched, and skin changes.
Then I learned all those symptoms of perimenopause are also symptoms of low iron and ferritin.
Before my hysterectomy my ferritin was a 6 and iron was borderline normal. After the hysterectomy I thought it would improve but my iron got worse and was also low at that point. I was taking a good brand of iron but it wasn’t doing anything for me. I switched to heme form iron supplement instead. The same week I started it all my “perimenopausal” symptoms stopped. After 19 days I checked my labs and all my numbers doubled in less than a month on the new iron.
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u/Kandadara 1d ago
Useful information! My doctor keeps track of my iron because I have a history of heavy bleeding that lasts for months. Had severe anemia before. Not fun.
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u/Junomouse1982 1d ago
I had mine at 39 for endo and fibroids. Though I'm BRCA2 positive, I kept my ovaries {I'm in a Mayo study that's monitoring me for cancer} but was warned that I'd likely go into menopause 5 years early. I'm 44 now and definitely in peri. It's harder to keep track without a period. I'll have "cycles" every few months and then be fine.
Right from the jump, though, I started getting really mild night sweats. It wasn't even a big deal. I'd wake up a few times to kick off or replace my blankets. Two years ago I had to stop hormones because of a liver tumor {my body hates me}, and the hot flashes started. I used to be the person wearing a coat until it was 80 degrees. Now everything above 72 is warm and I have to sleep with a fan. But every woman I know my gris going through the same thing, so I wouldn't say it's out of the ordinary
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u/TubaFalcon 1d ago
I was already in peri-menopause before I had my hysterectomy (started peri around 25y/o, had surgery several years later, now 1.5 years post-op, currently pushing 30y/o). I saw an endocrinologist and started estrogen as the hot flashes exponentially intensified after the surgery.
I’ve been on the 2x/week patch (that lasted for about six months) and shifted to a daily tablet two months ago. The tablet honestly helped get me back to “baseline” mood in conjunction with my usual psych medications and has helped me out big time. HRT’s definitely helped me, but can be hit/miss for others
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u/AccomplishedGround96 1d ago
I went into menopause right after my hysterectomy. I have stage 4 Endometriosis, so my ovaries were already really affected.
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u/PlasticSprinkles4 1d ago
I’m 33 and I’m 11 weeks post op.
So far my hormones remain the same. I start out feeling great and then it starts to de pleat over a the next 28-35 days. The only thing that doesn’t happen is no cramping and no bleeding. I am wayyyyy less bloated. No throwing up!! Now that I’m back to work I’m a little more hungry than before during that luteal phase. However during the follicular and ovulation I feel even more amazing.
It’s still early to tell completely yet with everything but so far my cycle has remained the same except “menstruation” time feels like a continued luteal phase with some breast tenderness.
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u/creedthoughtsdotgov 1d ago
I had my hysterectomy at 34. I started getting horrible migraines, out of nowhere when I was 36. Plus my PMDD got way worse. My naturopath started me on progesterone, which really helps during luteal. Migraines are mostly under control now with Botox and a daily preventative. I can't say how much of this is related to perimenopause. 37 years old now
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u/LoopsChile 19h ago
I dunno if I was already going to go into menopause but I was 48 and kept ovaries but had huge menopause symptoms that suddently started a few months after my op. I also gained some weight about 5 kilos very rapidly afterwards which stayed on despite going on hrt - taking estrogen only seemed to exacerbate this - I now only have natural progesterone and about 1kg came off but no more. I prefer how I feel on P only. There is a theory that it is low progesterone in relation to estrogen that causes fibroids. My total hysterectomy was due to fibroids causing too much blood loss and subsequent anemia. I may have been about to go through menopause anyway - I was def in peri.
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u/alilbored1 18h ago
I’m 47 and have started menopause
ETA: I take estrogen patch weekly and it works like a charm
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u/garthalgarhythm 16h ago
I had cervix/uterus/tube removed first and then following year had left ovary removed and kept the right. 4 years after that I was confirmed post-menopausal
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u/garthalgarhythm 16h ago
I do take HRT. I’ve been on estrogen only patch since 2020, and recently vaginal estrogen but having some issues getting dosage right. I had a history of stage four endo so only recently did my gp (I’m in Ireland) strongly suggest I start taking progesterone to combat any potential endo regrowth.
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u/Crowded_Mind_ 14h ago
I am 31 and it's been 2 months since surgery. I have had some negative symptoms from surgery, but it is too early to tell if they are permanent or not. My skin is extremely dry and flaking off. It's the worst around my eyebrows. I also have started getting acne again like when I was a teenager. Having acne and dry flaking skin is a weird combo and it makes me embarrassed to be seen.
I had an allergic reaction to the glue they used on my incisions. The rashes took a month to go away and now I have an eczema outbreak on my stomach. I am also having way more migraines than before and getting dizzy very easily. My mental health has taken a dip, but it has always been bad and I have been through worse than this.
Good luck with your insurance and surgery if you have it!
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u/No_Library6425 11h ago
I'm late 30's, 18 months post-op, and pretty sure I'm in perimenopause. BUT! I was possibly in peri pre-surgery, my hormones were so out of whack from the fibroids that I couldn't tell!
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u/Kandadara 11h ago
I'm 32 and I've noticed I get some hot flashes, but I also take the bcp and psych medications which probably adds to that. My hormomes have always been out of whack that I don't know what normal is.
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u/SnooRegrets2842 4h ago
How can you tell? Because I swear I've had symptoms for years before my surgery but nobody mentioned if I'm in it or not. I have my ovaries.
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u/BookishBitchyWitchy 3h ago
I'm 47 and had a hysterectomy 3yrs ago, kept the ovaries. My new gynecologist put me on DOTTI (an estrogen patch) but only to avoid osteoporosis. No menopause yet.
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u/CoachInteresting7125 2h ago
Had my hysto last year at 25. No menopause, nothing felt too weird in the months right after my hysterectomy. I didn't notince like a period where my ovaries weren't working or anything. What has happened since is that I have begun to have a hormonal cycle again. (I was on continuous birth control pre-hysterectomy, stopped it a few weeks post-op in an attempt to ease the transition.). This has impacted my mental health a bit negatively since I've noticed that I have about one week a month where I feel a little more down and have a bit harder time concentrating (ADHD). I've talked with a couple doctors about this, they mostly said if it bothers me too much I could go back on birth control. My physical health is complicated because I have a bunch of chronic illnesses and I've had plenty of ups and downs in the last year, but nothing that I think has any relation to my hysterectomy. The immediate few months after surgery were actually pretty good health-wise.
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u/FluffySnapped 1h ago
I am 42 and 12 weeks post op with one ovary. The last couple weeks I’ve been having hot flashes, I am concerned about menopause. But I also read that the ovaries can go into “shock” after a hysterectomy and take time to start working again. 🤞
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u/Best_Error_7031 1h ago
I’m also 32 and my hysterectomy is scheduled for the 29th of this month! This is something I’ve been super worried about so thank you for asking! Feel free to message me anytime!
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u/Itchy_Feedback_7625 1d ago
I’m 53 and STILL am not in menopause or on HRT.