Your Ovaries are Talking. Are You Listening?
We’ve come a long way with modern medicine – although admittedly, we have a ways to go. Where once many women were needlessly having their ovaries removed along with their hysterectomy, more and more are now keeping them to retain the numerous health benefits that research now shows. If you opted to keep your ovaries, you have many benefits to be grateful for, but you should also be wary of your risk for ovarian cancer.
While having a hysterectomy does decrease your risk of ovarian cancer, it does not eliminate them. If you kept your ovaries, you need to be especially careful to notice signs of ovarian cancer, such as:
- abdominal bloating and discomfort
- trouble eating, or feeling overly full
- frequent urination, or the need to urinate often
- fatigue
- heartburn, or upset stomach
- back pain
- painful intercourse
- constipation
Now, you may be thinking, “I have (insert symptom here) all the time!” Before you panic, know that these symptoms do not always mean cancer. They can certainly be caused by other health conditions, some minor, others major. If, however, you experience these symptoms and they don’t respond to normal treatment, then you would want to visit your doctor just to stay on the safe side. As with any cancer, the quicker you catch it, the better your prognosis!
If you experience these symptoms and they respond to normal treatment, there is probably no need to worry. If they do not go away with normal treatment, you should definitely contact your doctor.
This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support. Reprinted with permission: Your Ovaries are Talking. Are You Listening?
Bohbeh/Shutterstock.com
