Why Menopause Symptoms Could Be More Severe Following
Hysterectomy?
Dean Caporella
What is the connection between hysterectomy and menopause? Statistics
suggests about one in three women can expect an early menopause
following an hysterectomy while overall, the odds suggest it can come
on up to five years earlier than normal.
Hysterectomy is the removal of the woman's uterus. Women have the
option of full or partial hysterectomy. The full version which is the
most common, will include the removal of the uterus and the cervix
while a partial procedure will involve the removal of the uterus but
not the cervix.
When both the ovaries are removed in women at the pre-menopausal stage,
then it's likely to induce the onset of early menopause. Symptoms such
as hot flashes may be experienced following the procedure. Other common
symptoms such as vaginal dryness and insomnia can occur and generally,
they are much stronger than they normally would be during the natural
process of menopause.
When either one or both of the ovaries are left intact then hormone
production is still possible. While menstruation ceases following a
hysterectomy, hormones can still be produced by the ovaries until
menopause becomes a factor.
Why Hysterectomy?
There are several reasons why women need to undergo full or partial
hysterectomy. These are just some:
- fibroids
- endometriosis
- uncontrolled periods
- problems with the uterus, cervix and ovaries such as malignant issues
Weight Gain
While menopause doesn't contribute to weight gain in most cases, the
chances of gaining weight following hysterectomy are high. One of the
reasons is because of the recovery period involved. Total recovery can
take up to six months and by continuing to eat normally without the
associated exercise, restricted because of recovery following surgical
procedure, weight gain is common.
HRT Treatment
Every woman's situation should be assessed individually. Symptoms due
to the deficiency of estrogen are common in women who have their
ovaries removed. This can occur as quickly as a few days following the
operation and bring on typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes
and night sweats. This is the time to discuss HRT treatment with your
doctor.
Several factors will determine whether the treatment may be suitable
however, because of estrogen deficiency, the risk of osteoporosis is
enhanced, particularly for women in the forties. Your doctor will
determine what course of treatment to pursue. Estrogen treatment can be
given in several forms with the most common being via tablets.
Estrogen taken orally can have the side effect of causing the retention
of salt which in turn leads to fluid storage thus also contributing to
possible weight gain.
HRT treatment following menopause after hysterectomy can continue for
several years, particularly if a woman begins treatment in her early to
mid forties. However, it's rare that this treatment will continue past
the age of 50 unless recommended by a medical physician in cooperation
with the patient.
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. There is a correlation
between hysterectomy and menopause. Will it affect you? Get the latest
as we explain the connection. Plus, read the latest menopause related
news and reviews at:
http://www.infomenopause.com
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