Dear C.,
I understand your concern as I had the same dilemma at age 40. After doing much research myself, and consulting friends who are surgeons, I opted for a partial hysterectomy. As long as there is no problem with the ovaries, why have them removed? (You know the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".)Plus, then there is no need for hormone therapy. Taking hormones medically can be tricky. I remember my mother going through it. She was a bear until the found the correct levels.
I can honestly say that having a partial hysterectomy was one of the best choices I ever made - no more periods, no more discharge, and without the tumors I went down 1 pants size.
As far as forced menapause, it only creats that illusion; that being lost periods. If you keep your ovaries, your body still goes through it's regular cycle; you still ovulate, you still experience cramps or bloating, breast tenderness. Your gyn will still ask you when do you THINK your last period would have been? NO clue, I don't pay attention anymore.
You go through menapause when you're supposed to. This past year, at age 51, I experienced hot flashes for about 2 months. I mentioned it to my doctor, and we relented that I have now officially hit menapause.
Just one more thing I'd like to mention. During my hysterectomy surgery, the dr. found a pre-cancerous growth on one of my ovaries, and simply removed it without taking the ovary. As she said, it was not possible to ask my permission at the time to take the ovary. Since then, she keeps a close watch on the health of the ovaries via ultrasound. Fine by me.
I wish you all the best,
W.