First, let us talk about your remaining ovary with "cysts"--did you know that ovulation produces cysts? That having cysts is, in fact, part of the normal menstrual cycle? Yes, there are other types of cysts, too, but keep in mind that cysts are not tumors--benign or otherwise. Now before you allow this surgeon to castrate (the ovaries are gonads)
you need to understand exactly what the ovary's function is. Ovaries are endocrine organs. That is, ovaries secrete substances for use throughout the body throughout a woman's life. Our bodies have receptors for these substances in the bowel, the brain, the lungs, etc. And we're not just talking estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. For example, the ovaries also secrete oxytocin, the hormone of mating and maternal behaviors. Oxytocin also reduces stress and causes muscles to contract. Oxytocin's man made synthetic is pitocin which is used to induce labor. It is nature's plan that we would have sex with our mate and the ovaries then release oxytocin which causes lovely uterine contractions at orgasm. Next, we then look at our mate and our children with love. Stress flees in the heady oxytocin release.
The ovaries are dynamic-- measuring our blood levels and injecting just the substances that we need on a 24/7 basis. No pill, creme, or patch is going to do that for you. Many substances, like oxytocin, are not even available in any form.
In one study, researchers measured testosterone levels of attendees going into a soccer game. The researchers next measured the testosterone levels of the audience as they left. They found that half of their subject's levels had gone up, while half had gone down. Hmm, was it the male half that had risen? No, the half that had gone up were fans, both male and female, of the winning team, while the lowered testosterone levels were fans of the losing team. Terri, if you don't have your ovary, then you can't react like that. It takes a great deal of the joy out of life.
With a history of cancer, even what pitifully crude hrt is available may not be recommended for you.
Moving on to the uterus...The uterus is a foundation to your pelvic floor. Removing the uterus leaves you with a hole in your pelvic floor. A hole that the bowel and bladder tend to fall thru. An intact woman can reach inside and feel the sphincter type muscle of the cervix. Now imagine that muscle, the strongest of human muscles, remember it pushes a baby out, cut from you. The vagina cut and vaginal tissue sewed together to make a scarred pouch that will now largely be what is left of your sex and all that is keeping your insides in. It took a year for my bladder and bowel to prolapse. Gravity isn't always quick but it is sure. Additionally, uterine ligaments help position stool towards the anus.
Your uterus has a huge blood supply. It has to support a baby's growth. Nerves course with the blood supply. The uterine arteries will have to be severed along with supporting ligaments that serve as conduits for blood and nerve supply. This will reduce your pelvic blood flow and innervation. Including the supply to your remaining ovary.
Did you know that quadriplegic women can orgasm with uterine cervical stimulation? Un-huh. And that tells us something very important. The uterus is not just connected to the brain via the spine but also has a rare "direct connect" with the brain. Your brain will miss the uterine stimulation as well as suffer from the endocrine deprivation.
Going back to the uterine blood supply...Consider what happens to the circulatory system when such a huge piece of it is taken out and no longer circulates? The risk of heart disease increases greatly with hysterectomy and ovary removal.
One other thing, Terri, fibroids are encapsulated. I read a text where it described removing them in like two sentences! It was open the capsule and apply gentle pressure for the fibroid to pop out. Unfortunately, removing them doesn't tend to pay as much as removing the uterus and it can take much longer. Surgeons and hospitals frown deeply upon the less money/more OR time combo.
I say, let us play this in a man's world. Tell a guy that you want to remove his testicles, prostate, and part of his penis because he has a cyst and a benign, encapsulated growth (that could be treated conservatively). My belief is that if it wouldn't even be suggested in Manville, then it shouldn't be a part of a woman's world, either. The medical profession routinely treats men conservatively while women are routinely, unnecessarily treated destructively. This disparity of treatment is nothing short of gender predjudice. Don't allow it.
Now one last thing, a word of caution. There will probably be those around you who will tell you that it "was the best thing that they ever did!" To that I say, "misery loves company". That and sometimes women can't face the truth--even if only to themselves. Sex is involved in most everything and no one wants to be seen as not being a part of that.
No one wants to be viewed as being different. Also, there are women who have never experienced orgasm so they have no idea of what they are missing and they never relate their health issues to their surgery. It is not as if the medical profession is forthcoming on the issue.
Terri, please don't be afraid, be empowered! You are blessed to have found the HERS site in time--so many less fortunate than you haven't.
It is hard to explain the value of being intact to one who is intact and, quite naturally, takes their normal state for granted. It is only after you lose these precious organs that the reality of intact becomes painfully apparent. Call Nora and let her help you find a true medical advocate that will treat you conservatively. You deserve that much.
It is more important than you can know. (sigh) My husband and I have thiry years of house payments tied up in our home, but, we would both willingly leave tonight, and not look back, if I could be intact again.
Comment Reply
First, let us talk about your remaining ovary with "cysts"--did you know that ovulation produces cysts? That having cysts is, in fact, part of the normal menstrual cycle? Yes, there are other types of cysts, too, but keep in mind that cysts are not tumors--benign or otherwise. Now before you allow this surgeon to castrate (the ovaries are gonads)
April 6, 2009 - 10:13pmyou need to understand exactly what the ovary's function is. Ovaries are endocrine organs. That is, ovaries secrete substances for use throughout the body throughout a woman's life. Our bodies have receptors for these substances in the bowel, the brain, the lungs, etc. And we're not just talking estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. For example, the ovaries also secrete oxytocin, the hormone of mating and maternal behaviors. Oxytocin also reduces stress and causes muscles to contract. Oxytocin's man made synthetic is pitocin which is used to induce labor. It is nature's plan that we would have sex with our mate and the ovaries then release oxytocin which causes lovely uterine contractions at orgasm. Next, we then look at our mate and our children with love. Stress flees in the heady oxytocin release.
The ovaries are dynamic-- measuring our blood levels and injecting just the substances that we need on a 24/7 basis. No pill, creme, or patch is going to do that for you. Many substances, like oxytocin, are not even available in any form.
In one study, researchers measured testosterone levels of attendees going into a soccer game. The researchers next measured the testosterone levels of the audience as they left. They found that half of their subject's levels had gone up, while half had gone down. Hmm, was it the male half that had risen? No, the half that had gone up were fans, both male and female, of the winning team, while the lowered testosterone levels were fans of the losing team. Terri, if you don't have your ovary, then you can't react like that. It takes a great deal of the joy out of life.
With a history of cancer, even what pitifully crude hrt is available may not be recommended for you.
Moving on to the uterus...The uterus is a foundation to your pelvic floor. Removing the uterus leaves you with a hole in your pelvic floor. A hole that the bowel and bladder tend to fall thru. An intact woman can reach inside and feel the sphincter type muscle of the cervix. Now imagine that muscle, the strongest of human muscles, remember it pushes a baby out, cut from you. The vagina cut and vaginal tissue sewed together to make a scarred pouch that will now largely be what is left of your sex and all that is keeping your insides in. It took a year for my bladder and bowel to prolapse. Gravity isn't always quick but it is sure. Additionally, uterine ligaments help position stool towards the anus.
Your uterus has a huge blood supply. It has to support a baby's growth. Nerves course with the blood supply. The uterine arteries will have to be severed along with supporting ligaments that serve as conduits for blood and nerve supply. This will reduce your pelvic blood flow and innervation. Including the supply to your remaining ovary.
Did you know that quadriplegic women can orgasm with uterine cervical stimulation? Un-huh. And that tells us something very important. The uterus is not just connected to the brain via the spine but also has a rare "direct connect" with the brain. Your brain will miss the uterine stimulation as well as suffer from the endocrine deprivation.
Going back to the uterine blood supply...Consider what happens to the circulatory system when such a huge piece of it is taken out and no longer circulates? The risk of heart disease increases greatly with hysterectomy and ovary removal.
One other thing, Terri, fibroids are encapsulated. I read a text where it described removing them in like two sentences! It was open the capsule and apply gentle pressure for the fibroid to pop out. Unfortunately, removing them doesn't tend to pay as much as removing the uterus and it can take much longer. Surgeons and hospitals frown deeply upon the less money/more OR time combo.
I say, let us play this in a man's world. Tell a guy that you want to remove his testicles, prostate, and part of his penis because he has a cyst and a benign, encapsulated growth (that could be treated conservatively). My belief is that if it wouldn't even be suggested in Manville, then it shouldn't be a part of a woman's world, either. The medical profession routinely treats men conservatively while women are routinely, unnecessarily treated destructively. This disparity of treatment is nothing short of gender predjudice. Don't allow it.
Now one last thing, a word of caution. There will probably be those around you who will tell you that it "was the best thing that they ever did!" To that I say, "misery loves company". That and sometimes women can't face the truth--even if only to themselves. Sex is involved in most everything and no one wants to be seen as not being a part of that.
No one wants to be viewed as being different. Also, there are women who have never experienced orgasm so they have no idea of what they are missing and they never relate their health issues to their surgery. It is not as if the medical profession is forthcoming on the issue.
Terri, please don't be afraid, be empowered! You are blessed to have found the HERS site in time--so many less fortunate than you haven't.
It is hard to explain the value of being intact to one who is intact and, quite naturally, takes their normal state for granted. It is only after you lose these precious organs that the reality of intact becomes painfully apparent. Call Nora and let her help you find a true medical advocate that will treat you conservatively. You deserve that much.
It is more important than you can know. (sigh) My husband and I have thiry years of house payments tied up in our home, but, we would both willingly leave tonight, and not look back, if I could be intact again.
This Comment
Reply