Surgical Menopause

Menopause is a disorder when the ovaries of a woman stop producing an important hormone by the name of estrogen. Pre menopause is a phase in a woman in her mid thirties or early forties when the body's capacity to produce estrogen goes on declining. As a result the symptoms experienced by women range from irregular menstrual cycles, irritation in the vagina, hot flashes at night and sleeplessness, psychological problems like depression and mood swings. The sugar levels in the body also increase and so does the blood pressure. Doctors often recommend hormone replacement therapy to replace the hormones in the body and bring to a certain level. However if the menopause has reached a later stage then there is no other way but to go for surgery. Surgical menopause involves the removal of ovaries prior top natural menopause. Surgical menopause causes a permanent drop in the ovarian hormones, oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Surgical menopause may also include the removal of the uterus and this type of surgery is called hysterectomy. After the surgery the symptoms of post surgery may start immediately. Hence treatment should be given immediately to the patient after the surgery. There are about 10-20% women who have a hysterectomy but still retain their ovaries and may experience menopause slightly earlier than the average period of menopause. Before going for menopause surgery the doctor will tell the patient to have certain medications few days before the surgery. The surgery lasts normally for half hour and the patient has to rest at the hospital for a day. The next day the patient may go home. The doctor will give a lost of medications to betaken for a few days after the surgery. These medications help to reduce the symptoms that women may face after surgery. Women who have undergone menopause surgery should be well supported emotionally by her family members and specially her spouse. This is because she has gone through a painful and an uncomfortable period in the last few months and hence the support of the family members is extremely essential. Post menopause surgery the patient should take rest for a few days and the slowly return to her normal schedule. She has to take the medications prescribed to her regularly and on time. The patient will have no further symptoms of menopause after the menopause surgery and she can now relax.