Were you told that having a hysterectomy would solve your gynecological problems?
Perhaps you had fibroids. Or endometriosis. Heavy bleeding. Or even cancer. Regardless, surgery probably seemed like the answer. And perhaps it was indeed necessary and/or it resolved your immediate issues.
But now that your surgery is behind you, you’re dealing with symptoms that no one warned you about: fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, mood swings, hot flashes…
Or you may be feeling like you’ve aged ten years overnight.
Here’s what many gynecological surgeons fail to explain to their patients:
A hysterectomy—especially when the ovaries are removed—creates immediate and profound changes in hormone levels that require attention and management.
What Happens Hormonally After a Hysterectomy
The hormonal impact that a woman experiences after having a hysterectomy will depend to some degree on what was removed.
Uterus Only
Contrary to what most women are told, even when the ovaries are not removed hysterectomy will almost always have a negative impact on hormone production. Blood flow to the ovaries is usually compromised when the uterus is removed, causing them to fail earlier than they otherwise would have.
Because women who have had a hysterectomy no longer have periods, there is no obvious monthly signal that indicates a change in hormone production. This can make ovarian failure less apparent—particularly if symptoms are ignored, or if they’re attributed to some other cause.
Uterus Plus One or Both Ovaries
Removing one or both ovaries causes immediate surgical menopause—a sudden and dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone production. Unlike natural menopause, which usually happens gradually over a span of several years, surgical menopause is like flipping a switch. As such, it’s experienced as a shock to the system.
This abrupt decline in hormones can cause severe symptoms that can be more intense than those experienced during a more natural/gradual transition to menopause.
The Symptoms No One Warned You About
Post-hysterectomy hormone deficiency can cause some or all of the following:
- Severe hot flashes and night sweats
- Crushing fatigue and exhaustion
- Rapid weight gain, especially around the midsection
- Brain fog and memory problems
- Depression, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings
- Low sex drive
- Vaginal dryness and atrophy (which can result in sex being painful)
- Joint and muscle pain
- Insomnia
- Accelerated aging of skin and hair
For most women, these aren’t just minor inconveniences. These symptoms can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life.
Why Your Surgeon Didn’t Discussed Any of This with You
Unfortunately, most gynecological surgeons are focused on the immediate surgical problem at hand. Addressing long-term hormonal consequences from hysterectomy is rarely on the radar.
And women are frequently (and erroneously) told that if they keep their ovaries, their hormone production will not be affected by their surgery. As noted above, this is patently false.
Why Hormone Replacement Is Critical
Post-hysterectomy hormone replacement isn’t just something that’s nice to have. It’s essential for the post-surgery health and wellbeing of women having a hysterectomy.
Ideally, a plan for hormone therapy is put into place before surgery.
For Women Under 50
Menopause that is premature (whether surgical or natural) increases risk for the following:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Osteoporosis
- Cognitive decline and dementia
- Metabolic disorders
- Early mortality
Hormone replacement therapy significantly reduces these risks and is considered the standard of care for women who experience surgical menopause before natural menopause has occurred.
For All Ages
Regardless of a woman’s age at the time of surgery, hormone optimization can:
- Relieve symptoms
- Protect bone density
- Support cardiovascular health
- Preserve cognitive function
- Support metabolic health
- Protect quality of life
What Hormone Replacement Should Look Like
Post-hysterectomy hormone needs differ a bit from the hormone needs of women who are experiencing a natural transition to menopause.
You Still Need Progesterone
Many women who have had a hysterectomy are told that because they no longer have a uterus, they no longer need progesterone. This advice is outdated, and it’s 100% false. Women who don’t have a uterus need progesterone just much as much as any other woman. Apart from being breast-protective, progesterone helps to stabilize mood, promote sleep, control body temperature, and more.
Estrogen Is Essential
Bioidentical estrogen replacement should begin soon after surgery, especially if ovaries are removed. Don’t let your surgeon tell you to take a “wait and see” approach to symptoms. Preventing symptoms is preferable to treating them after the fact.
A wait-and-see approach also fails to appreciate the importance of estrogen as it relates to bone, cardiovascular, brain, and pelvic floor health.
Testosterone Matters
Your ovaries don’t just produce estrogen and progesterone. They also produce testosterone. This means that when the ovaries are removed or compromised, testosterone production drops dramatically. As a result, many post-hysterectomy women will need testosterone replacement in conjunction with their estrogen and progesterone replacement.
Individualization Is Essential
Your specific needs will be unique to you. It’s important to work with a provider who understands that a cookie-cutter approach rarely works well.
It’s also important to know that your surgeon is unlikely to have experience with prescribing hormone therapy.
A qualified provider will check all of the following boxes:
- They will have expertise in addressing post-hysterectomy hormone needs.
- They won’t be dismissive with regard to your concerns and any symptoms you might be experiencing.
- They will prescribe bioidentical hormones only, and they will not prescribe synthetic hormones.
- They will test your hormones before prescribing anything and will retest your hormones every 6 months (at a minimum).
- They will adjust your treatment regimen over time based upon your response and based upon fluctuations in your physiology.
- They will address all relevant hormones (to include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone at a minimum.)
You Deserve Better
If you’ve been told not to worry about what will happen to your hormone health post-hysterectomy, insist on better for yourself.
Or if you’ve already had surgery and have been told that your post-hysterectomy symptoms are “normal” or “just part of recovery,” please know that at Renew Youth we consider this to be an unacceptable response. Symptoms are indicative of hormone deficiencies that can and should be treated.
You should not have to choose between resolving a condition that requires surgery and feeling like yourself afterward. With proper hormone optimization, you can continue to feel like yourself—perhaps even better than you did pre-surgery.
Are your ready for comprehensive post-hysterectomy hormone care? Renew Youth specializes in hormone optimization. Call us at (800) 859-7511 or use our easy contact form to schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation.