Aug/100
Surgical Menopause
As you may know, menopause is the one day that follows 12 successive months without menstruation. After this day, a woman is considered post-menopausal. Surgical menopause occurs when a still menstruating woman undergoes a surgical procedure that results in the removal of both of her ovaries. Usually this procedure takes place alongside a hysterectomy. Because both her ovaries have been removed, a woman can no longer menstruate, hence the term surgical menopause.
The problem with this procedure is that the removal of the ovaries also directly affects the levels of estrogen, progesterone, and androgens in the body. The sudden drop of sex hormones experienced by these women result in perimenopause type symptoms while the body adjusts to the unexpected loss of estrogen and progesterone.
Reported symptoms include crashing fatigue, depression, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, palpitations, vaginal dryness, and disinterest in sex. While they sound like standard perimenopause symptoms, some women claim that the symptoms experienced following surgical menopause are more intense than with perimenopause. Perhaps it is because of the sudden onslaught of symptoms, whereas during perimenopause symptoms tend to come gradually.
How can women cope?
The first thing a woman who has undergone surgical menopause needs is rest. Usually the symptoms begin while women are still trying to recover from their surgery. They need to heal their bodies and deal with these new symptoms at the same time.
Some doctors recommend taking estrogen pills so as to help the body make the adjustment, but it is often not recommended for women who are at high risk for cardiovascular diseases, which sadly surgical menopause puts women at risk for. It is recommended that women try to find alternative remedies or therapies.
Women are also asked to try perimenopause techniques for dealing with their symptoms such as ice packs for their hot flashes or night sweats, change in diet, and calming exercises.
What else should women look out for?
Apart from the fact that women who’ve undergone this procedure are at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, they are also more likely to suffer from osteoporosis. This is also due to the sudden removal of the sex hormones. Women should take calcium pills as part of their daily vitamins, and should be wary about taking up high impact sports.