I had mine at 48, January 2013. About 1 week down time. I swear I still get PMS though. Hot flashes are seldom and very mild. I have very high estrogen levels (probably would have been fertile in my 80's)so the operation was the quickest way to bring on menopause. I've heard the shots can be painful and come with many side affects. Either way your body will suddenly be confused and anything can result. I think most women would do the surgery again. Good news is that they do pathology on the ovaries to check for cancer cells. One less worry and no more tampons!

I was 49 years old when I had both ovaries removed and a total hysterectomy. The surgery was perform by robotic assist laprascopic and recovery was approximately 1 week, very little pain at discharge. I don't regret my decision.

I was diagnosed with estrogen positive breast cancer back in '92. I was 45, had three kids ( one in grade school, one in middle school, and one in high school), and was working in our high school as a work coordinator. Yes, it was devastating, and the more I read about the various treatments, side effects, etc., the more stressed I became. So finally I quit reading! I trusted my doctors completely so I let them handle the decisions. I had a modified radical mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy for six months. I was able to work the entire time through chemo. I think I missed one day somewhere in the middle! I would get my chemo on Friday afternoons and felt like I had the flu for about three days, which took me through the weekend and then on Monday's about noon I would feel back to normal! I really believe working helped me tremendously! I didn't have time to sit around and feel bad....and I worked with very supportive people! I too had just started that job six months before my diagnosis and was happily surprised how wonderful everyone was and what good friends I made during that time! After my chemotherapy was over I was put on tamoxifen for five years. ( I had extremely high estrogen counts). Two and a half years after going off tamoxifen I had a metastasis in my sternum. This was treated with anti estrogen pills. I went through several, each working to stabilize the cancer, until I was given faslodex. I received once a month injections of faslodex for ten and a half years. Two years ago the faslodex stopped working and I have been on several therapies since. I am currently waiting to start a clinical trial for HER 3 positive metastatic cancer. It has spread to other bones and we're trying to stop it!!

I didn't really mean to go on and on....but you must have faith that yours will be taken care of! My oncologist told me about 10 years ago that he could finally say that he believed breast cancer could now be treated as a manageable disease like diabetes . I am living proof! All I asked The Lord when I was first diagnosed was that I would be able to see my children grow up! Now I ask that I be allowed to see my grandchildren grow up!! Giving this dreaded disease up to God is difficult. I was hard for me to have peace and just give it to Him...I always liked to be in control and look everything up, etc! I have learned a lot these last 23 years! And have lived a very good life! You are near MD Anderson and that's a great research center which I'm sure your doctors are involved with. The chemo therapies are not pleasant....but they are doable! I wish they had suggested I have my ovaries out back when I was first diagnosed! It may have prevented all the reoccurrences I have had....but never give up the fight and please believe that you CAN do this! Your family will be there to help you too! There is nothing like a child's smile to make you feel wonderful!!

I had an oopherectomy in November, 2013, at the age of 37. Recovery was about a week, and wasn't bad. The worst pain was an air bubble from the laparoscopic surgery, but that too was gone within the week. No hot flashes. I'm achy, but cannot attribute that solely to the surgery.

I had a hysterectomy at the same time as my mastectomy it was done laparoscopic and vaginaly. I was 40 at the time recovery was easy for th hysterectomy mostly because I had chemotherapy first then surgery so I had already gone through menopause and the chemo masked the side effects of menopause. Good luck.