Some Facts On Hysterectomy And Menopause

Hysterectomy and menopause; is there a correlation between the two. Hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure to remove the woman's uterus. Other reproductive organs including the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the cervix may also be removed at the same time.

Hysterectomy

If a woman has not yet reached menopause, a hysterectomy will stop all periods and associated issues and will make pregnancy impossible. A complete hysterectomy is the type of hysterectomy that removes the cervix as well as the uterus. This is also the most common type of this procedure.

A partial or sub-total hysterectomy, on the other hand, removes the upper part of the uterus and leaves the cervix in the body. Also possible, mainly in some cases of cancer and other illnesses, is a radical hysterectomy in which part of the vagina is removed along with everything else. This is only done in, as the name would suggest, cases with which no other methods are possible to curb the illness.

In women where the ovaries are retained, they will no longer experience menopausal symptoms although they no longer have monthly periods. However, non menopausal symptoms won't occur provided the ovaries continue functioning normally. The downside to this is the ovaries become dysfunctional at least 50-60% of the time within 2-3 years after surgery even if they are preserved.

In women where both ovaries are removed then the source of estrogen and testosterone are lost. With the drop in hormone levels the effects could be severe. Without the benefits of HRT, menopause can be difficult to live with with quality of life affected.

Menopause

Menopause occurs in all women. It is known as the ceasing of all production of menstrual cycles and all that entails. Menopause is often referred to as “change of life” or climacteric because it signals the “end of an era” in women and the end of the ability to become pregnant. Essentially, menopause is the act of the ovaries ceasing estrogen production. The reproductive system gradually shuts down and the body begins to adapt to changing hormone levels, causing some unpleasant results.

Normally menopause comes around at around the age of 50 or so. There are cases of menopause occurring earlier in women, however, for a variety of reasons. Hysterectomy and menopause are closely linked because of the removal of the ovaries. Often this combination is referred to as “surgical menopause” because of the fact that the menopausal cycle was originated through the surgical procedure as oppose to the natural act of the body’s changing.

The link between hysterectomy and menopause depends on the level of surgical procedure. There is quite a bit of information to absorb yet a discussion with your physician would help clear up any misconceptions.