Hormone Imbalance Symptoms After Hysterectomy

What Is The Most Profound Change You Will Experience

Being told you may need a hysterectomy is a difficult and deeply emotional experience because it means your menstrual periods stop, and you wont be able to get pregnant. Dr. Macey only recommends a hysterectomy when all other treatment options have been considered tried, if possible and failed to improve your symptoms.

The most common health conditions treated with a hysterectomy uterine fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, and uterine prolapse can often be treated with procedures that preserve your uterus, but it depends on the severity of your problem and your overall health. If you have cervical cancer, uterine cancer, or severe uterine hemorrhage, hysterectomy may be the best choice for your health.

Are There Any Alternatives To Estrogen In Surgical Menopause

In the case of breast cancer, studies suggest that estrogen does not increase risk of breast cancer when used in surgical menopause, even among those who are BRCA1 or BRCA2 carriersprovided they do not have a personal history of cancer. In those in surgical menopause who have a Factor V Leiden mutation , the long-term protective effects of hormone therapy may often outweigh the risks posed by the use of hormones.

Nevertheless, if you are concerned about using estrogen due to a family history of estrogen-dependent cancers, blood clots, or other risks, it is wise to discuss this with your doctor to make sure that you are carefully dosed and monitored to avoid adverse effects of hormones in surgical menopause. Alternative medications can also be used in some extreme cases .

Estrogen therapy is the most effective way to prevent all of the symptoms and risks associated with surgical menopause. However, for those who absolutely cannot take estrogens, there are some alternative therapies available:

For osteoporosis, effective alternatives include biphosphenate medications and selective estrogen receptor modulators such as raloxifene, tamoxifen, or bazedoxifene+estrogen.

What You Can Do

If you are planning to have both ovaries removed during a hysterectomy, you may want to discuss hormone therapy with your medical professional. This treatment can help your body slowly adjust to the loss of estrogen so the signs and symptoms of menopause arent so sudden and severe.

In turn, hormone therapy can help reduce your risk of age-related health issues common in people with a hysterectomy and ovary removal, including bone loss and osteoporosis.

Some people may be able to take hormone therapy short term. Others may need to remain on it until they reach the age of natural menopause, or 45 to 55. The average age of menopause is 51.

Likewise, your healthcare professional may recommend lifestyle adjustments that can help prevent health issues related to early menopause and estrogen loss. Exercise and an improved diet may be helpful.

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When Is A Hysterectomy Needed

A hysterectomy is done to alleviate uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic discomfort, gynecologic cancer, abnormal bleeding, and uterine prolapse. A common reason for a hysterectomy is to resolve the issue of uterine fibroids, which is when the uterus produces noncancerous growths that cause low back discomfort and prolonged menstrual cycles.

Learn More About Hormone Replacement Therapy At Revitalize You Md

Hysterectomies and menopause can cause drastic changes to the hormones in the body. These negative side effects can greatly impact the way of living and may even cause severe health problems for a postmenopausal woman. The best way to restore the lost estrogen and maintain the bodys normal functions while minimizing possible health risks from postmenopause is through hormone therapy.

At Revitalize You MD, we give hormone replacement treatments that are tailor-fit according to your needs. Our professional and skilled medical staff take careful measures before administering you with bioidentical hormone products. To ensure a safe procedure, we can formulate a custom dosage for your hormone therapy. Aside from hormone replacements, we also offer other medical and cosmetic procedures to help achieve total wellness living.

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Are You Worried About Being Forced Into Surgical Menopause

Thats a valid concern. Even women who are of age and prepared to go through menopause naturally have concerns and go through a grieving process. For some women, the symptoms of a hormone imbalance can be intense and even debilitating.

As a result, just thinking of having a hysterectomy that adds to hormone changes in this way can bring with it fear and a real sense of losing some of your lifes richness.

But theres good news! Your symptoms are symptoms of a hormone imbalance. And a hormone imbalance can be treated with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy .

Alzheimers Caused By Lack Of Brain

One study found that women who removed their ovaries before 40 and did not receive hormone replacement therapy have double the risk of Alzheimers disease.

This is because the sex hormone, estrogen, binds together with a receptor in your brain reducing the production of the protein amyloid-beta. This causes plaque to form on the brain of those with Alzheimers.

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Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy After Hysterectomy

Because hormone replacement therapy is so effective at relieving symptoms, doctors often prescribe estrogen medications or a combination of estrogen and progesterone/progestin for women to take until the average onset age of menopause unless there is a medical reason not to proceed with treatment. Younger women tend to experience fewer side effects when taking hormone medications than those who begin taking hormones in their later years. Of course, like any pharmaceutical, hormone replacement therapy comes with side effects and risks that youll want to discuss with your doctor and monitor closely.

There are many hormone treatments available on the market, but many women prefer to pursue bioidentical hormone replacement therapy a plant-based alternative to conventional hormonesin order to treat their symptoms after hysterectomy. BHRT works by administering hormones that are chemically identical to those produced by the female body, in a ratio thats fully customized to your needs. These medications are typically well-tolerated and often provide powerful relief for menopause symptoms.

If youve recently had a hysterectomy and youre struggling with difficult symptoms of surgical menopause, its time to consult with an expert hormone health practitioner to achieve balance once again. With the right treatment, you can optimize both your health and your comfort as you enter this new stage of life.

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Hysterectomy And Memory Loss

A large percentage of women complain of difficulty recalling names and memory lapses after hysterectomy. For the brain to function properly, it requires sufficient estrogen.

Estrogen levels may affect a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps process and retrieve memory. It also turns short-term memories into long-term memories, which then are stored somewhere else in the brain.

Read more:10 tips to get rid of menopausal brain fog and boost your memory after hysterectomy

This is why menopausal women and women after a hysterectomy may have memory lapses or find it hard to concentrate and absorb information. You may be glad to learn that this so-called brain fog appears to be a temporary phase, just like many other menopause symptoms.

Mini Periods After A Partial Hysterectomy

It is not uncommon that women with a supracervical hysterectomy and their ovaries in place have mini periods after a hysterectomy. During a supracervical or partial hysterectomy, they remove only a part of the uterus and leave the cervix in place. Because this has the same lining as the uterus, women can still have small amounts of monthly bleeding.

Normally, during surgery, they will cauterize the cervix’s inner lining to prevent this from happening. But some endometrial tissue can remain. When can you expect mini periods to stop? They will usually stop when the ovaries stop producing hormones. If the mini periods are really bothering you, talk to your physician. He can check if it is necessary to cauterize the cervix again with silver nitrate or laser.

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Do I Need Progesterone After A Hysterectomy

People undergo a hysterectomy for many reasons. Our clinic knows that the years or months leading up to the decision to have your uterus removed can be a challenging time. We also understand the transition can be challenging and the treatment suggestions overwhelming.

Many people wonder whether they need progesterone after a hysterectomy. Although the answer is not always black and white, Dr. Edward Jacobson may be able to help clear up some of the confusion surrounding post-hysterectomy hormone treatment.

What Conditions Are Caused By Hormonal Imbalances

Dozens of medical conditions are caused by hormone issues. For most hormones, having too much or too little of them causes symptoms and issues with your health. While many of these imbalances require treatment, some can be temporary and may go away on their own. Some of the most common hormone-related conditions include:

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Will It Take Long

Remember that any type of invasive procedure does result in trauma to the body. You will need time to heal from the hysterectomy, and that may or may not mean putting off treatments for hormonal imbalance for a time. A lot depends on how quickly you heal and your general state of health. Typically, the replacement therapy can begin soon after the procedure.

In the best case scenario, you’ll begin to notice positive changes that provide you with a more positive outlook, restore your ability to concentrate, and in general help you feel in control of yourself.

The fact that the therapy used to correct the hormonal imbalance does not make you feel better immediately is not a sign that it isnt working. As with most types of therapy, it will take a little time for your body to respond to the presence of those balanced hormones. Dont expect to wake up one morning and feel like you did before all the madness started. The more likely scenario is that you will notice things getting a little better over a period of weeks.

Remember that even after the right approach to the replacement therapy is identified, your needs may change over time. That makes it all the more important to communicate with your doctor if you notice any reversals in your health, including your emotions. Adjusting the therapy may be all it takes to get things back on the right track.

Sore Breasts After Hysterectomy

Breast pain is one of the unexpected side effects of hysterectomy that some women experience. When they leave the ovaries, you will continue to cycle after the hysterectomy. You wont have monthly menstrual bleeding because you have no uterus. But you will still have ovaries that are producing hormones. Thats why you still may have premenstrual symptoms such as tender, swollen and painful breasts, also known as cyclical mastalgia.

A woman who has her ovaries removed at the time of the hysterectomy may also experience breast soreness if she takes HRT.

There are many more reasons women can experience breast pain. They can be innocent, like off consuming too much caffeine, chocolate, or other things in her diet. Our first thought usually is that it may be a sign of breast cancer. So if it worries you or when you can feel a lump, a mass, or see any skin changes in your breast, you need to get it examined by a doctor.

Read more in our post: Are painful breasts after hysterectomy a cause for concern?

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Hot Flashes And Night Sweats

One of the most common symptoms of perimenopause is hot flashes, which often coexists with night sweats. Almost 80 percent of people who are in perimenopause or transitioning into menopause have hot flashes. Also, most women who receive chemotherapy or undergo surgery to remove their ovaries will experience hot flashes.

Scientists know that hot flashes occur as a result of low estrogen levels. Each hot flash involves a sensation of heat that starts in the chest area and travels to the neck and the head. It can last for a few minutes and may cause sweating. Some women also develop a faster heart rate during hot flashes.

If a hot flash happens during sleep, they are called night sweats. Women who have night sweats often wake up in the morning feeling tired.

Some people experience redness along their neck and face during a hot flash. This is called a hot flush.

On average, each hot flash lasts for about three to four minutes. Hot flashes can occur for a few months to several years. In a few rare cases, some people had hot flashes for 10 years.

Other signs of hormonal imbalance include:

• Heavy or irregular periods, missed periods, frequent periods, or stopped periods
• Vaginal dryness and itching
• Weakened muscles
• Pain in the muscles, tenderness, and stiffness
• Pain and swelling in the joints

• Cancer treatments

Getting Estrogen Therapy After Hysterectomy

If youve had both your uterus and ovaries removed, estrogen replacement therapy with estrogen alone is the most common medical intervention. However, according to WebMD, if youve had your ovaries but not your uterus removed, you may need both estrogen and progestin. This is because just getting estrogen hormone replacement alone can increase the risk of cancer in the uterus. Progestin balances out the estrogen to remove the cancer risk.

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Surgical Menopause Hysterectomy And Hormone Changes

If you have a total or radical hysterectomy that removes your ovaries, your menopause will occur immediately after your operation, no matter what your age.

If, however, youre left with one or both of your ovaries intact, you may experience menopause within five years of having the hysterectomy.

On the other hand, when you go through menopause naturally, your ovaries continue producing testosterone for up to 20 years.

Hrt Alleviates Surgically Induced Menopause Symptoms

Hormone replacement therapy has been identified as the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms and is routinely recommended to help women recover hormone balance after hysterectomy. In particular, these medications are effective at relieving the following symptoms:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Vaginal atrophy
• Insomnia and other sleep problems
• Urinary tract infections and incontinence
• Dry skin and hair loss

A hysterectomy also has the potential to cause troubling feelings of grief or loss for some women, and these emotions can be profoundly difficult to deal with. Hormone replacement therapy often helps alleviate the mood swings that normally occur with menopause, which may make dealing with these emotions easier. HRT may also reduce the uncomfortable and frustrating physical menopause symptoms that can make daily life more difficult.

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Its All About Balance

Testosterone therapy for women is one option in a range of hormone replacement strategies to manage negative symptoms associated with aging and hormone imbalance. The benefits of hormone therapy can be enhanced with nutraceutical therapy, aimed at achieving optimal nutrient balance in your body. With ideal hormonal and nutrient balance, women and men can build more lean muscle, improve energy, feel more positive, and counteract hot flashes and more associated with imbalances common with age.

Call the biostation today at 888-754-1852 or contact us online to schedule your private, personal consultation.

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Removal Of The Ovaries

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that a woman’s ovaries should only be removed if there’s a significant risk of associated disease, such as ovarian cancer.

If you have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, removing your ovaries may be recommended to prevent you getting cancer in the future.

Your surgeon can discuss the pros and cons of removing your ovaries with you. If your ovaries are removed, your fallopian tubes will also be removed.

If you have already gone through the menopause or you’re close to it, removing your ovaries may be recommended regardless of the reason for having a hysterectomy.

This is to protect against the possibility of ovarian cancer developing.

Some surgeons feel it’s best to leave healthy ovaries in place if the risk of ovarian cancer is small for example, if there’s no family history of the condition.

This is because the ovaries produce several female hormones that can help protect against health problems such as weak bones . They also play a part in feelings of sexual desire and pleasure.

If you’d prefer to keep your ovaries, make sure you have made this clear to your surgeon before your operation.

You may still be asked to give consent to treatment for having your ovaries removed if an abnormality is found during the operation.

Think carefully about this and discuss any fears or concerns you have with your surgeon.

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Vaginal Discharge And Bleeding

It is quite common for a woman to experience a vaginal discharge and some bleeding after a hysterectomy. Fortunately, the discharge tends to become less over time, although you may experience it for about two to three months after the procedure. If your discharge has a smell, please see your healthcare provider as soon as possible as it could indicate an infection.

Bleeding should also clear up quite quickly. If it persists, becomes heavy, or you notice clots, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Treatments For Hormonal Imbalance After Partial Hysterectomy

If a hormonal imbalance is detected, you might be prescribed hormone therapy to help replace your bodys natural estrogen. Treatment is commonly available as a pill, skin patch, vaginal ring, or skin cream.

Receiving estrogen therapy also comes with some risks, such as stroke, blood clot , and gallstones . Be sure to talk to your doctor about the best options available for you.

Medically Reviewed on 3/11/2021

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