|
Menopause after a Hysterectomy |
|
|
|
|
Written by Webmaster
|
By Fran Messersmith
 Menopause after a hysterectomy is a concern of many women planning to undergo the procedure. Women electing to undergo a hysterectomy may be doing so due to intolerable menstrual periods, prolapse, or changes of the uterus that are uncontrollable by modern medicine. Often times the prospect of menopause after a hysterectomy is a concern due to the principles of what a hysterectomy involves.
A hysterectomy can either be a total or a sub-total procedure. A total procedure involves removing both the cervix and the uterus, whereas a sub-total procedure removes the uterus leaving the cervix behind. The ovaries may also be conserved or removed. Women decide which type of hysterectomy they require by taking a look at their familys medical history, their individual situation, consulting their doctor, and simply by their own feelings or desires on the procedure.
About Ovaries
If one or both of the ovaries are conserved in the womans body (that is, if they are left behind after a hysterectomy), then menopause will occur normally as the ovaries continue their production until the usual menopausal age. The hormones produced
fluctuate and this might cause pre-menstrual symptoms or PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) in women, even without having a period.
Following a hysterectomy, the ovaries might stop producing hormones entirely, or at least sooner than expected. If they stop producing hormones sooner than expected, symptoms of oestrogen deficiency may be recognizable. At this point, it is highly recommended that the situation is discussed with a medical professional and a medical course of action is put in place. Menopause after a hysterectomy, therefore, can be quite complex.
If the ovaries have been entirely removed during the hysterectomy, menopause after a hysterectomy becomes a different situation once again. A sudden loss of oestrogen production will occur and the symptoms of menopause will essentially take place all at once and within a few days of this procedure. This is often referred to as surgical menopause. The risk factors of osteoporosis are also present in these cases because of the difference in blood and fluid levels in the body.
Depending on the procedure, menopause after a hysterectomy can either occur at quite a normal rate or can fluctuate greatly and produce some undesirable results. Whether you select ovary removal or conservation, it is important to keep in touch with a medical professional at all times in the days and weeks following the hysterectomy procedure.
Fran Messersmith has been studying menopause symptoms for over twenty years. Read more at Menopause Care Info |
