Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States.
Approximately 20 million American women have had a hysterectomy.
Hysterectomy is the 2nd most frequently performed surgical procedure (after cesarean section) for U.S. women who are of reproductive age. (1)
A hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed on women. I am sure you know someone who has had one, and maybe you have even had one yourself. I often get one of two questions from women about a hysterectomy: whether or not they should have one, or what to do after they have had one.
Whether or not to have a hysterectomy is a big decision in a woman’s life, because it involves major surgery and it can completely change how she feels. Did you know that most hysterectomies are not necessary? Many doctors recommend this surgery for symptoms of hormone decline when what you really need to do is replace and balance your hormones, not have major surgery.
Granted, there are certain medical reasons, such as cancer, when this type of surgery can’t be avoided, however today I am going to address hormone decline and imbalance, and why a hysterectomy may not be the best solution in this case.
First, what is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. There are four different types of hysterectomy surgeries:
Total hysterectomy – removal of the entire uterus and cervix
Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy – removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries
Partial hysterectomy – removal of the upper part of the uterus leaving the cervix in place
Radical hysterectomy – a total hysterectomy, including removal of structures around the uterus
Premenopausal Symptoms in Women
If your doctor has recommended that you have a hysterectomy, this is the first question you should ask him: Why do I need to have a hysterectomy? This is very important, because if your symptoms are caused by hormone decline, then there is a natural solution that can spare you the pain and suffering of going under the knife.
In premenopausal women, take a look at the list of symptoms women experience that are caused by low progesterone, or estrogen dominance (too much estrogen in relation to progesterone). While these symptoms are common, they are not normal.
Perimenopause Symptoms
- irregular menstrual cycles
- heavy periods without clotting
- menstrual cramps
- ovarian cysts
- uterine fibroids
- endometriosis
- premenstrual breast tenderness
- fluid retention and weight gain
- anxiety
- panic attacks
- depression
- mood swings
- migraines
- decreased libido
Some of these symptoms would be reasons your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy, such as abnormal or heavy bleeding, painful periods, and uterine fibroids (the most common reason for a hysterectomy). Why take the risk of having surgery when all you may need to do is restore your hormone levels back to normal to resolve your symptoms
Hormones After a Hysterectomy
If your doctor told you that a hysterectomy would solve all your hormone-related health symptoms, then you may have been disappointed to find out that was not the case after all. Many women experience a rude awakening after this surgery because they don’t feel like themselves anymore. They feel tired, can’t sleep, have hot flashes and night sweats, headaches, anxiety and just plain feel awful. Many women tell me that they feel like a completely different person.
Having a hysterectomy puts a woman into what is called “surgical menopause” and can cause the following symptoms:
Symptoms after a Hysterectomy
Hot Flashes Night Sweats
Weight Gain Depression
Anxiety Vaginal dryness
Low Libido Insomnia
Brain fog Mood swings
Fatigue Migraines
Frequent urination Urinary incontinence
If you have had a hysterectomy, don’t lose hope. You still have the chance to feel better with natural solutions.
Help Before and After a Hysterectomy
Whether or not you have had a hysterectomy, if you are experiencing symptoms of hormone decline, we can help. It only makes sense to replace what is missing and restore your hormones back to normal levels with bioidentical hormones that are identical to those made by your body. At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, we’ve had great success in helping women resolve their symptoms and get their lives back with bioidentical hormones.
To schedule a Free Wellness Consultation—via telemedicine or at the Hotze Health & Wellness Center—call us at 281-698-8698 or visit hotzehwc.com. Click here to take the symptom checker to find out if you could be experiencing symptoms of hormone decline.
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