Hi, I'm new here. I'm just being diagnosed now - I'm 35. I have a 3 year old and just had twin girls last November...I never had fertility problems or any PCOS symptoms before. Now 6 months after the birth of my twins, my ovaries are loaded with cysts and I just got all the bloodwork back and I for sure have PCOS. I've got a lot of other symptoms including facial hair and I had gestational diabeties during both pregnancies.
Anyway - to cut to the point - since I'm done having kids, would removing one or both of my ovaries help? My right one is far worse than my left. I imagine if that helped then people would do that more often, but I can't find any information on the subject.
Any help or comments would be appreciated. I'm new at this and I'm kind of freaking out because it really took me by surprise. I am having a meeting with my doctor tomorrow morning but would love some feedback today.
In the past, ovarian wedge resection, a procedure whereby a portion of the ovary is removed and the ovary sewn back together, resulted in a significant reduction in LH and androgen production, reestablishment of regular menses in over 75% of patients and a pregnancy rate of about 60%. However, pelvic adhesive disease, which was often severe, occurred in about 30% of patients. There is probably no longer an indication for wedge resection by laparotomy, although electrosurgical incisions, or ‘ovarian drilling,’ has become relatively common place. Success rates of microcautery vary by operator and, while adhesion formation may be considerably less, it is still common. A fine cautery needle is used to make 4-20 punctures on each ovary. Alternatively, lasers have been used for the same effect with the possible disadvantage of greater surface injury and scar tissue formation. Laparoscopic outcomes seem somewhat less effective than traditional wedge resection. Usually ovarian drilling is reserved for fertility therapy and may be especially useful when there has been an exaggerated response to fertility drugs.
The mechanism by which surgical therapy works is not known. It is unclear whether it is surface destruction and thinning of the cortex or reduction of ovarian mass which causes the procedure to be effective. Long term effects are largely unknown. Earlier menopause due to partial destruction of the oocyte pool is a theoretical risk. Surgical intervention should not be considered first line therapy in treatment PCOS. If hysterectomy is performed for other reasons, it may be justified to remove the ovaries as well. The value of removal of ovaries has not been studied in enough detail to make a comment on the usefulness of this procedure.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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I had a hysterectomy in March, keeping both of my ovaries. With my history with estrogen based BCPs, I didn't want to take the chance of my body rejecting HRT, and sending me into premature menopause (I'm also 35), which would just add to my long list of ailments caused by the PCOS.
I know from experience that hysterectomies and oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) isn't an elective surgery anymore. It's the last resort. And you are probably on a different page then your dr, who will probably want to monitor the cysts to see if you need any surgical intervention.
I know with mine, they come and go. I don't get the typical 'string of pearls'. Just 1-3 cysts per month. Most of the time, I know when they are there. And I can definitely feel them when they pop. For the past 8 years, I don't think that I've had an US that didn't show either cyst(s) or fluid on the ovary from a ruptured cyst.
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~35 ~ PCOS/IR ~ LAVH due to fibroid, kept ovaries ~
Can ovaries be removed? 
