Natural Estrogen Replacement After Hysterectomy

Possible Side Effects Of Hormones Therapy After Hysterectomy

Some possible side effects associated with HRT after total hysterectomy include:

• Increased risk of developing heart diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, etc.
• Increased risk of developing different types of cancers including breast cancer and endometrial cancers
• Blood clotting disorders
• Increased density of breast mass , which can cause problems in detection of breast cancer.

Contraception Pregnancy And Hrt

Oestrogen used in HRT is different from oestrogen used in the contraceptive pill, and is not as powerful.

This means its possible to become pregnant if you are taking HRT to control menopausal symptoms. In some cases, a woman can be fertile for up to 2 years after her last period if she is under 50, or for a year if she is over 50.

If you dont want to get pregnant, you can use a non-hormonal method of contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm.

An alternative is the IUS , which is also licensed for heavy periods and as the progestogen part of HRT. You will need to add oestrogen as either a tablet, gel or patch.

Why Is Estrogen Therapy Needed

Following a bilateral oophorectomy , the patient immediately enters surgical menopause, meaning that they become postmenopausal right away. Although there are some similarities between natural and surgical menopause, the needs for estrogen-therapy are far greater in surgical menopause, and typical guidelines for HRT often do not apply in surgical menopause. This is because, relative to natural menopause, surgical menopause causes a faster hormone drop and lower overall levels of hormones in the long term.

The ultra-low levels of estrogen in surgical menopause can cause bothersome menopausal symptoms, but more importantly, they can reduce the length and quality of your lifespan by increasing risk of various serious health conditions. We will address each below.

HRT in surgical menopause reduces or eliminates bothersome menopausal symptoms, including:

• vasomotor symptoms

• musculoskeletal symptoms

• effects on mood or anxiety

• urogenital symptoms

• sexual difficulties .

  For those under the age of 40 entering surgical menopause, using estrogen-therapy also reduces or eliminates the serious long-term health risks associated with surgical menopause, including:

• osteoporosis and broken bones

• higher risk ofdeath by any cause

HRT can be taken quite safely by the vast majority of people in surgical menopause. See this section for a discussion of risks, including potential concerns of those with familial cancer or blood clot risk or hormone-sensitive mood symptoms .

References:

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What Is Known About Hormone Therapy And The Risk Of Breast Cancer

Taking combined hormone therapy can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Here are some important findings:

• Taking combination hormone therapy showed a rare increase of absolute risk of less than one additional case of breast cancer per 1000 person years of use.
• There was a nonsignificant reduction in breast cancer seen in women with hysterectomies on estrogen only therapy.
• If youve been diagnosed with breast cancer you should not take systemic hormone therapy.

Hormone Replacement Therapy And Hysterectomy

Women who go through natural menopause experience a slow decline in hormone production. The symptoms of menopause, if they occur at all, may also happen slowly. That is not the case for women who undergo a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Surgical menopause often starts quickly, bringing with it a host of menopausal symptoms. That is the basis for this report on hormone replacement therapy and hysterectomy.

Now, just because a woman undergoes a hysterectomy does not mean she will enter menopause. If the doctor leaves behind the ovaries, she will continue to produce the hormones progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen. It is only when an oophorectomy removes the ovaries will a female experiences a decline in hormone levels.

There are also differences between the types of hormone replacement therapy for hysterectomy following surgery. The treatment depends on whether ovarian removal occurred, or if just the uterus was removed.

There is also a difference in the use of hormone replacement therapy without hysterectomy. The doctor will determine the type of treatment best suited to each womans needs.

Hormone replacement therapy after a hysterectomy depends on symptoms, and whether the ovaries were removed.

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First Let’s Talk About The Different Types Of Surgery That Are All Referred To As A Hysterectomy

A partial hysterectomy means the upper part of your uterus is removed and the lower part with the cervix is left intact

A complete hysterectomy means the entire uterus including the cervix is removed.

But what makes more of a difference for your hormones after surgery is whether or not your ovaries were removed. If your ovaries are removed it’s called a hysterectomy with an oophorectomy

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• Menopausal symptoms can be managed with education, lifestyle changes, support and hormone replacement therapy , also known as menopausal hormone therapy .
• In the early postmenopausal years, HRT is an effective therapy for menopausal symptoms. In most women with moderate to severe symptoms, the benefits outweigh the small increases in risk.
• The long-term use of HRT has some benefits, but also has some risks.
• The current role of HRT is for menopausal symptom relief, at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration required for the control of bothersome menopausal symptoms.
• The decision to use HRT, and for how long it should be used, must be based on individual assessment and needs.

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Is Low Estrogen Dangerous

As if hot flashes werent reason enough to correct hormonal imbalances, perhaps the following statistic will.

Getting a hysterectomy has the potential for generating serious consequences in terms of health, says this research study. This includes having 2 to 7 times higher rates of heart disease. This is likely disheartening news for the more than 500,000 American women who get a hysterectomy every year.

The good news is there are a few different options of correcting hormonal imbalances.

Alternatives To Hormone Therapy

Some women choose to use alternatives to hormone replacement therapy to alleviate the symptoms of menopause after a hysterectomy. One alternative is to increase the fiber, protein, iron and calcium levels in the diet simply by adding peas, beans, and legumes. Some nutritional experts believe that the phytoestrogens in these foods can eliminate symptoms such as hot flashes as well as prevent osteoporosis and heart disease. Taking vitamin E has been shown not only to reduce hot flashes but also to prevent vaginal dryness and to reduce the risk of heart attack. Black cohosh is an herb used widely by Native Americans. This herb may help to restore hormonal balance.

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Dietary Estrogen Supplement Alternatives

Certified nutritionist Phyllis Balch reports that essential fatty acids, vitamin E and melatonin are used as alternatives. They help the body produce estrogen, possibly decreasing menopause symptoms such as:

• incontinence

Take essential fatty acids in unheated, liquid form. Do not exceed 200 IUs of vitamin E if you take a blood thinner. Take the recommended daily dosage if you have rheumatic heart disease, an overactive thyroid or diabetes. Slowly increase a 100 IU dose to the desired amount, if you have high blood pressure. Take melatonin supplements not more than 2 hours before bedtime, if you do not have a weakened immune system.

• Certified nutritionist Phyllis Balch reports that essential fatty acids, vitamin E and melatonin are used as alternatives.
• Take melatonin supplements not more than 2 hours before bedtime, if you do not have a weakened immune system.

Natural Hormone Replacement After Hysterectomy

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Does Hormone Replacement Cause Weight Gain

Another question that worries menopausal individuals is does hormone therapy cause weight gain? Scientific researches and clinical studies prove that hormone therapy for menopause weight gain is possible.

Hormone therapy for weight loss has its pros and cons. In most cases, women manage to get rid of the excessive fluid accumulation which is an inevitable part of fat-burning fitness programs. The increase of hormones that are responsible for the fat-to-energy transformation help to reduce belly fat and control the situation with floating. If a woman or a man relies only on hormone therapy weight loss, the outcome can be unsatisfying.

Weight management is a process that demands a complex approach. Hormone therapy weight loss involves specialists who understand what the transition period is, its impact on the human body, and can find and delete barriers that prevent midlife people from normal life. Hormone replacement for weight loss needs a specific program that navigates a patient telling what and how to do and to take to achieve the desired results. Hormone replacement therapy and weight loss cannot exist separately without dieting, workload, variety of physical activities, and stress management programs.

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Taking Estrogen With A Progestin Vs Estrogen Alone

Treating menopausal symptoms with estrogen and progestin together is known as estrogen-progestin therapy or combined hormone therapy. Although estrogen alone improves the symptoms of menopause, it increases the risk of cancer of the uterus . Adding a progestin to the estrogen lowers the risk of endometrial cancer back to normal. Because of this, EPT is given to women who still have a uterus . EPT can be given 2 ways:

• Continuous EPT means the same dose of estrogen and progestin is taken each day. Women often prefer continuous EPT because it rarely leads to menstrual-like bleeding.
• Sequential EPT means different amounts of each hormone are taken on specific days. There are different ways to do this. For example, estrogen can be taken by itself for 14 days, then estrogen plus progestin for 11 days, then neither hormone for 3 to 5 days. Other schedules involve taking progestin only every few months. This lowers the amount of progestin that you are exposed to. Monthly regimens are also thought to result in hormone levels that are more like the natural menstrual cycle. Cyclical EPT can produce bleeding like a menstrual period, but it can occur less often than monthly.

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Use Caution With Soy And Other Phytoestrogens

Theres a tentative link between menopause symptoms and a high consumption of soy and other plant estrogens. But the research on this

Exercise can stabilize your blood sugar levels, give you more energy, and boost your mood.

And if you exercise regularly, the benefits increase.

For example, regular exercise can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis and improve your sleep quality in the long term. It aid in weight management. That may reduce hot flashes.

For maximum benefit, your exercise routine should include each of these four types of exercise:

What Are The Risks Of Taking Hormone Therapy

While hormone therapy helps many women get through menopause, the treatment is not risk-free. Known health risks include:

• An increased risk of endometrial cancer .
• Increased risk of blood clots and stroke.
• Increased chance of gallbladder/gallstone problems.
• Increased risk of dementia if hormone therapy is started after midlife. HT started during midlife is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimers disease and dementia.
• Increased risk of breast cancer with long-term use.

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Getting The Right Post

As with most things in medicine, the decision to use progesterone treatment after hysterectomy comes down to the individual patient: you. Whether you choose estrogen-only or combination hormone replacement therapy depends on your unique needs. Thats why any hormonal treatment needs to be entered into with as much information as possible and should be guided by a practitioner who understands your symptoms, preferences, and risk factors. By working with the best hormone replacement practitioners, you create a plan that makes sense for you.

Ultimately, your treatment decisions must takeinto account your own evaluation of the risk/reward balance. After all, ahysterectomy is neither an end nor a beginning. Its part of your life, and theright hormone treatment can help you keep living it the way you want to.

If you are considering progesterone treatment after your hysterectomy, BodyLogicMD can help. The BodyLogicMD network is comprised of top medical professionals specializing in womens hormonal health and extensively trained in hormone replacement therapy. A BodyLogicMD-affiliated practitioner can evaluate your symptoms, listen to your concerns, and design a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your health goals using the best therapies available today. Contact a local practitioner to schedule your first appointment, or take the BodyLogicMD Hormone Balance Quiz to learn more about the everyday impact of hormones.

Hysterectomy And Bilateral Oophorectomy

• There are many reasons to have a hysterectomy. These include:

• Heavy periods and intense, long bleeding

• Uterine fibroids

• Pain in pelvic area by endometriosis, other inflammatory diseases like adenomyosis

• Uterus, ovaries, or cervix cancer

• Uterine prolapsed

Naturally, an instant hysterectomy doesnt mean a heavy period. Nothing else is included on the list. The effectiveness of other treatment options, lifestyle and individual preferences must be measured. Your life quality must be measured. Thats why all the information and the possible effects on the physical and emotional well-being are important to understand.

With uterine removal alone, you do not enter menopause straight away. But this often means you are in a premature period of peri-menopause and menopause and may want to begin hormone replacement therapy to alleviate the symptoms and minimize longer-term risk for health. Hormone replacement therapy is often desired, although not always necessary.

However, a woman enters menopause immediately when a hysterectomy is combined with a bilateral Oophorectomy the removal of the two ovaries. In such cases, symptoms could be sufficiently severe to increase the appeal of HRT. Reach at Longevity for HRT and other bone and spine treatment.

**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.

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Hormone Replacement For Hysterectomy

Reviewed By:Dr. Douglas Lord

Hysterectomies are a common procedure for women experiencing certain types of conditions, including uterine fibroids, endometriosis, vaginal bleeding, chronic pelvic pain and other problems. Removal of the uterus is a major procedure that can have a big impact on a womans life, including her comfort and health.

This is especially true if the hysterectomy is combined with removal of the ovaries . When these two procedures are combined, the womans estrogen production nearly stops, and the woman enters a phase called surgical menopause. Surgical menopause is a condition that occurs when the body is forced to begin menopause because the main source of estrogen, the ovaries, has been removed.

Using hormone replacement after a hysterectomy can help alleviate the symptoms of surgical menopause. Understanding what surgical menopause is, how it affects the body and what can be done to lessen the symptoms of surgical menopause can help you stay healthy in the event that this type of procedure is recommended for you.Heres what you need to know.

Now For The Third Part Of This Blog I’m Going To Get You Started On How To Use Natural Remedies To Support Your Hormones In Different Ways:

So how do you support your hormones after a hysterectomy?

A hormone-friendly diet

A hormone-friendly diet means including the basic hormonal building blocks and most important hormonal detox nutrients in your diet every day. We’re talking the right percentage of vegetables, healthy fats, protein, and menopause superfoods. You can get the details of this basic hormone-friendly diet by or by watching this blog post video.

A hormone-friendly lifestyle

A hormone friendly lifestyle means your managing your stress hormone levels, blood sugar hormone levels, and avoiding the worst of the hormone-disrupting chemicals we’re often exposed to in our environment – in our food, water, personal care, and cleaning products. Browse my blogs on a hormone-friendly lifestyle here.

Hormone-supportive supplements

Ready to learn more?

I don’t recommend just grabbing an herb off the shelf and giving it a try. It’s worth it to get customized herbs that are updated every few months as your body and your hormones are change. That’s how the herbs work best. Learn all about it in the free mini-course below.

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Natural Alternatives To Hormone Therapy

Protection against uterine cancer vs. the risk of breast cancer. The decision to take estrogen and progesterone supplements can be daunting. In the world of women’s health, it could be the decision of decisions: Should I take hormone replacement therapy? The considerations can be so deep, and the scientific debates so confusing, many women are turning to herbal and food supplements, hoping they will calm the symptoms of menopause while staving off heart disease and osteoporosis.

Though the science is still young, research offers some encouragement for women seeking non-pharmaceutical ways to cut down on mood swings and hot flashes.

Benefits Of Hormone Replacement Therapy After Hysterectomy

While menopause is often a natural byproduct for women going through the aging process, it occurs at different intervals and varies in severity for each individual. For many , this can lead to early menopause. The resulting fluctuation in the ratio of an individuals sex hormones often leads to that person experiencing the familiar menopause symptoms.

HRT has the potential to mitigate the negative symptoms of menopause by correcting the hormonal imbalance that develops as a result of menopause. In addition to allaying these menopausal symptoms, HRT may also reduce the risk of diabetes, tooth loss, and cataracts. By addressing these symptoms, HRT may also be vital in helping an individual reduce their stress level. Diminishing overall stress levels can be vital in avoiding a host of medical issues, especially heart disease.

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