If I Have a Hysterectomy, Can I Have Problems? |

What is a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy procedure is defined as the surgical removal of the vital organ called the uterus, with or without the removal of the ovaries.

Once a hysterectomy is performed, a woman can no longer have children or menstrual periods.

Now that you know what is a hysterectomy…learn some hysterectomy statistics. Most hysterectomies are performed on women between the ages of 20 and 49.

In the United States, the rate of this procedure is higher among African-American women and is higher in the Southern states and Midwest. In Australia, over 30,000 women every year undergo a hysterectomy procedure.

Did you know that according to Dr. Stanley West and Harvard-trained Dr. John R. Lee, more than 90 percent of hysterectomies are unnecessary? And according to Dr. West, about 40% of the time, the ovaries are also unnecessarily removed during this hysterectomy procedure.

Vagina

There are several different types of hysterectomy procedure – the partial, total abdominal, vaginal and the radical hysterectomy.

In a partial, sub-total hysterectomy or supracervical hysterectomy shown in the picture, only the uterus is removed, leaving the cervix in place.

• 1- If everything is removed but the cervix, this hysterectomy procedure is called subtotal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

• 2- When the fallopian tubes and ovaries are not removed, it is called subtotal hysterectomy.

Having a total abdominal hysterectomy means that you will have the uterus removed and the cervix, and it is done through an incision in the abdomen. This procedure can be done with or without the removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

• 1- The medical term for removal of the ovaries is oophorectomy or ovariectomy. Removal of the ovaries is also known as female castration.

• 2- The removal of the fallopian tubes is called salpingectomy.

• 3- Women can also have a total abdominal hysterectomy that is bilateral (two-sided) salpingo-oophorectomy – this means that your uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed.

• 4- Total abdominal hysterectomy with right salpingo-oophorectomy simply means that your right fallopian tube and ovary will be removed, but you will keep the left tube and ovary.

• 5- Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy – this procedure means that your cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes are removed.

Total vaginal hysterectomy – instead of opening the abdomen, the uterus and the cervix are removed through the vagina.

• 1- Total vaginal hysterectomy, salpingectomy the uterus – the cervix and fallopian tubes are removed.
• 2- Total vaginal hysterectomy, oophorectomy – the uterus, cervix and ovaries are removed.
• 3- Total vaginal hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy – the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed.

During a radical hysterectomy or Wertheim’s hysterectomy your uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, upper portion of the vagina and some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes are removed. This type of hysterectomy is frequently used in the treatment of gynaecological cancers.

When a woman undergoes a hysterectomy, she goes into surgically induced menopause which is very hard and abrupt on the body, even if her ovaries are left intact. The blood supply to the ovaries lessens after the surgery.

After a hysterectomy, women experience testosterone deficiency which can cause low sex drive, low energy levels, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, thyroid deficiency and severe depression.

At this point, you should pay attention to the levels of progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. If you are taking estrogen, you must also take progesterone for balance.

This means that you should always use estrogen WITH progesterone to keep your hormones balanced. Progesterone neutralizes the dangers of excess estrogen.

To learn more about hormone testing and how you can test your own hormones, go to the hormone testing section. There are medical conditions for which hysterectomy may be needed such as when malignant cancer is involved.

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.

Most hysterectomy surgeries are generally very safe, but with any major surgery comes the risk of complications.

Such complications include blood clots, infection, excessive bleeding or an adverse reaction to the anesthesia.

If you have endometriosis, uterine fibroids, abnormal vaginal bleeding and your doctor is recommending a hysterectomy, read or order the book by Dr. Stanley West – “The Hysterectomy Hoax” – before you submit yourself to this surgery. And try to get a second opinion.

If you are considering a hysterectomy, have endometriosis, fibroids or have been recommended synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help you with menopause symptoms, think twice…review the women’s health bookstore on this site first before you make your final decision.

Get these books and read for yourself how these physicians have already helped thousands improve their health SAFELY with “bio-identical” hormone replacement therapy and without needing surgery.

Womens Health Bookstore – review the selection of women’s health books about hysterectomy procedure, hysterectomy statistics and what is a hysterectomy.

When Doctor West says in his book that 90% of all hysterectomies done in the U.S. are medically unnecessary, he certainly knows what he’s talking about!

Dr. West was the Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the former St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City.

He gives you all the details and reasons NOT to have a hysterectomy unless you have a malignant cancer. If you accept everything your doctor tells you, you’ve given control of your health to the doctor – when “it” (…YOUR control over YOUR health) should remain YOURS at all times!

And to do so is to become one of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States every year.

Dr. John R. Lee and Dr. West have several recommendations for women who are considering having a hysterectomy:

First, they should consider the use of natural progesterone supplementation instead of a hysterectomy, unless malignant cancer is clearly involved.

As explained in the “Natural Progesterone” page on this website, progesterone comes in a cream form, and all you have to do is apply it to your skin to get the benefits. Very Simple and Painless!

It’s also important to weigh the consequences of a life after the hysterectomy. The loss of hormonal balance can create myriad symptoms, including premature aging, weight gain, loss of immune function and so on. There are also other complications, including heightened incidence of yeast infections and urinary incontinence.

The estrogen made by the ovaries plays a protective role in a woman’s health, so a complete hysterectomy in a premenopausal woman increases the risk of heart disease and other problems.

The testosterone made by the ovaries (yes, women have testosterone too, just as men have estrogen) plays an important role in sexual desire and response, so after a hysterectomy women often suffer a loss of libido and sexual enjoyment.

Women who enter menopause as a result of hysterectomy face years of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to restore their hormonal balance.

The synthetic hormones commonly used in HRT have been shown to have significant health risks.

While the bioidentical hormones known as BHRT recommended have not been shown to have the same risks and have been well-studied in Europe, more study is needed of their long-term use.

If you have already had a hysterectomy and are having problems with the side effects of synthetic hormone replacement therapy, ask your doctor to give you natural hormones. And learn more about what to do naturally to reduce or eliminate the side effects hysterectomy.

If you decide that to have a hysterectomy is your only option, go to the hysterectomy recovery section to learn more.

Use this safe and effective natural solution at home to eliminate hormone imbalance and perhaps avoid a hysterectomy.

Your first step should be to make sure that you take the hormone test to identify your hormone imbalance symptoms and how mild, moderate or severe they are.

See what is recommended for you to begin giving your body the support that it’s been missing.

The causes of hormone imbalance, fibroids and health issues related to hysterectomy can be signs that your body isn’t getting the support it needs. Many women may not need a hysterectomy or synthetic drugs to regain their health.

Take the online women’s hormone test to find what is appropriate for your symptoms. Many pelvic problems in women come from hormone imbalance, and this imbalance is caused by progesterone deficiency. Before you make a decision about having a hysterectomy, read more about hormone imbalance.

You have the option to take the herbal formulation orally in capsule form – this product has been formulated into a reliable, inexpensive capsule with no known side effects and it is made from herbs.

Lifestyle changes that correct hormone imbalance!

• 1- Consider taking a high-quality multiple vitamins/supplement. Taking vitamins can give you the extra health insurance you need today to stay one step ahead.

Pesticides, additives, preservatives and environmental pollutants are major factors that will take a toll on our health and we need help.

In industrialized countries where pollution, toxins and stress are inevitable you will need anti-oxidants daily to counteract and neutralize substances that cause oxidation in the body.

Total Balance Premium vitamins can give both men and women improved energy, more sleep, sharper and clearer mental health, improved sex drive, less allergies and improved sense of well-being.

• 2- Increase your consumption of cold-water fish like wild salmon, sardines and cod to 3 times a week (salmon, tuna, mackerel, cod). Cold-water fish (not farmed raised)…is a good source of protein and of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Fish oils are good for arthritis symptoms, depression and they help lower cholesterol and thin the blood. Taking omega-3 fatty acids protect you against heart disease by lowering blood triglycerides and reducing blood clotting.

• 3- Nutrition is a key factor in the health of women. Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables and especially green leafy vegetables in your diet. If you do not like vegetables, make vegetable juices. They’re delicious!

Fresh vegetables or vegetable juices, eaten on a daily basis, are one of our best protections against coronary heart disease. Vegetables help control your appetite, lower the cancer risk, lower cholesterol, help you lose weight and improve bowel function.

• 4- It’s strongly recommended that you exercise. A regular daily regimen of at least 30–45 minutes of brisk walking, bicycling, using your treadmill or any other fitness equipment would be ideal. Drink plenty of water and turn your body into a fat-burning machine that incinerates fat 24 hours a day!

Review the list of benefits of weight loss and exercise here! The human body was designed to consume foods and to convert those foods into energy. When more food than needed is consumed, the body stores the “extra energy” as fat and puts it away for later.

To be physically active is crucial for women of all ages, because it helps you sleep better, it improves your immune system and it enhances your sex life.

Exercise increases your bone mineral density which helps prevent osteoporosis, helps you stay hormone balance and reduces the risk of a heart attack and cancer.