Hysterectomy And Menopause, A Couple Words Which Fit Together Like Salt and Pepper

Hysterectomy and menopause, the words appear to go together like salt and pepper.  In truth, hysterectomy doesn’t necessarily lead to menopause.  Even if the kind of hysterectomy a lady has does initiate menopause, there are many things which can be done to help alleviate its symptoms.  A woman should research the likely outcomes of a hysterectomy before the procedure.  Knowing what should be expected after her surgery will help any woman to be more content before her surgery. 

Hysterectomy obviously is removal of the uterus.  Without a uterus a woman will not menstruate or have the power to carry a child.  Many of us say that when these things occur menopause automatically follows ; that assumption is inaccurate.  Menopause occurs as the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone lessens with age.  Removal of the uterus in and of itself will not cause the beginning of menopause.  The ovaries are the main source of estrogen and progesterone ; if they’re left in place and continue to function menopause comes along at only about the same time as it might have without a hysterectomy. 

Many times doctors try and leave at least one ovary with the desire of circumventing menopause.  Sometimes {, however ,} even when the ovaries aren’t removed menopause symptoms may begin.  Hysterectomy, glaringly, is dire.  The operation can change the blood flow to the ovaries in which case they may not produce hormones in the same quantity as before ; decreased hormone production will result in the beginning of menopause.  In addition, the ovaries may fail, again resulting in the commencement of menopause. 

Sometimes medical circumstances dictate the removal of all of the reproductive organs including both ovaries.  When this happens, so called surgical menopause starts instantly.  For a variety of reasons, the symptoms accompanying surgical menopause many times are way more serious than those which accompany natural menopause.  This severity is partially thanks to the abrupt way in which surgical menopause comes about and also because a lady is working with recovery from a major operation at the same time.  For many girls the months leading in to and after a hysterectomy are confusing and emotional times ; these sensations may exacerbate a woman’s menopause symptoms. 

A woman who enters menopause as a result of her hysterectomy will experience the same menopausal indications as a girl who enters it naturally.  Studies show though the signs related to surgical menopause may hit a woman harder than those of ordinary menopause.  Girls who experience surgical menopause may also be at greater risk for osteoporosis, heart attacks and some forms of cancer.  However, not all of the evidence is in on these areas of doubt. 

Treatments for menopause following hysterectomy are largely the same as those for common menopause.  For some girls hormone replacement care ( HRT ) will be acceptable ; others may treat the symptoms with vitamins and herbal treatments.  Either plan should be discussed with the girl’s doctor and monitored by same on a consistent basis.  Both routes will find advantages in being joined with proper diet and exercise. 

In sum, menopause is not a routine reply to hysterectomy.  When a lady’s ovaries are left in place she may experience menopause on only a little earlier schedule.  Even if menopause does begin as a result of a hysterectomy a girl has many options open to her for working with the symptoms.  Knowing those options and feeling in charge of the situation will help any woman deal with whatever hysterectomy may throw at her.

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