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Are There Any Side Effects Of A Hysterectomy?
Olinda Rola


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
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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