Are There Any Side Effects Of A Hysterectomy?

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Article Title: Are There Any Side Effects Of A Hysterectomy?

Author: Olinda Rola

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It’s a logical and frequently asked question - are there any

hysterectomy side effects?

Absolutely!

Hysterectomy is defined as the surgical removal of the vital

organ called the uterus. Most hysterectomies are performed on

women between the ages of 20 and 49. In the United States, the

rate of hysterectomy is higher among African-American women and

is higher in the Southern states. There are 600,000

hysterectomies performed in the United States every year.

There are two types of hysterectomy, the partial hysterectomy

and the total hysterectomy. In a partial hysterectomy, only the

uterus is removed and the ovaries are left in place. In most

cases, because the circulation of blood to the ovaries is

diminished, the ovarian function will cease all together,

although it’s unknown why this happens. In a total hysterectomy

or " surgical menopause " , the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries

are removed which results in the interruption of the ovarian

hormone production (the term for the removal of the ovaries is

called " oophorectomy " or " ovariectomy " ).

After the surgical procedure called hysterectomy, since hormone

production has been altered, a woman may experience one or more

of the following side effects:

• Anxiety

• Depression, mood swings

• Dizziness and nervousness

• Fatigue

• Hair loss

• Headaches

• Heart palpitations

• Insomnia

• Irritability

• Joint pain

• Low sex drive, painful sexual intercourse

• Memory lapses

• Unexplained weight gain

• Urinary incontinence

• Vaginal dryness

Women who have had a hysterectomy are at increased risk for

developing heart disease, arthritis and osteoporosis.

There ARE conditions for which hysterectomy is advisable or

medically necessary, especially if malignant cancer is

involved. The presence of malignant ovarian, uterine, or

cervical cancer, uncontrollable bleeding, severe endometriosis

(adenomyosis) and complex hyperplasia would justify the

hysterectomy procedure.

However, a large percentage of hysterectomies are performed and

used to remove fibroids and to treat endometriosis and other

conditions that are related to hormone imbalance. Hysterectomy

in these cases is often unnecessary, but women may be unaware

that there are effective alternative and less radical

treatments. And women are frequently mistakenly afraid of

developing cancer if a hysterectomy is not performed and may

decide to have the procedure, according to a study as reported

by the Reuters News Agency.

When a woman undergoes a hysterectomy, she goes into surgically

induced menopause that results in the condition called " hormone

imbalance " , even if the ovaries are left intact. Even with the

ovaries not removed, the blood supply to the ovaries lessens

after the surgery and the ovaries usually cease functioning

within 1-3 years.

The body needs hormones to function normally – and for a woman,

progesterone, testosterone and estrogen are vital. How and when

does a woman’s body produce progesterone? It’s produced in the

regular menstrual cycle when ovulation occurs. No ovulation, no

progesterone!

After a hysterectomy, women will experience a deficiency of two

critical hormones – progesterone and testosterone. If only the

uterus is removed in a partial hysterectomy, progesterone

levels will fall dramatically in one to two months and estrogen

levels will decrease in one or two years. Progesterone

deficiency is related to numerous side effects including the

side effects of a hysterectomy listed above. Progesterone

deficiency is related to increased risk of developing certain

kinds of cancer, including endometrial cancer. Testosterone

deficiency in women causes low sex drive, low energy levels,

thyroid deficiency and depression, for which there is no clear

medical explanation.

Women who enter menopause as a result of hysterectomy should

monitor their estrogen (estridiol), progesterone and

testosterone levels - and natural estrogen alone should not be

taken without natural progesterone. Hormone levels are easily

and accurately measured with the saliva test, which will

indicate the levels of the critical hormones in the body. Since

a hysterectomy creates a deficiency of vital hormones in the

woman’s body, hormone replacement therapy should be considered.

However, using synthetic hormones comes with additional risks

and side effects.

Instead, women considering hysterectomy or already having had

the procedure should seek the help of physicians trained in the

use of natural bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones

are hormones that are identical to what the body makes and what

normally would exist in the body. Synthetic drugs such as

Premarin, Provera and Prempro are not natural nor the same as

the body makes, and these kinds of synthetic drugs have

numerous side effects. Naturopathic physicians, alternative

medicine and holistic physicians are educated and trained in

both conventional medicine and the use of bio-identical

hormones, including bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

Hysterectomy is a permanent, irreversible surgery that will

result in unwanted side effects. Unless malignant cancer or

other life-threatening condition exists, instead of

hysterectomy, consider natural bio-identical hormone

replacement therapy to treat fibroids, endometriosis and other

conditions related to hormone imbalance. And if you or someone

you know has had a hysterectomy, visit

http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com to learn more about what

to expect after a hysterectomy and to find physician-based

recommendations for improving health.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

About The Author: Olinda Rola is the webmaster of

http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of

physician-recommended natural solutions for a variety of health

problems. Visit the website and learn more about ways for

improving your health.

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