Before discussing hysterectomy side effects, here’s the definition of hysterectomy.
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that requires the taking away of your uterus, the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes may or may not be included depending on the procedure and the type of illness.
When women experience this operation they go through surgically-induced menopause, undergo physical side effects and sexual difficulties, even if the ovaries are left in place.
After the surgery, the quantity of blood supply sent to the ovaries diminishes, another of the hysterectomy side effects would be a slow down of ovarian activity and that includes stopping the production of progesterone.
There are three types of surgical approaches to hysterectomies:
• 1- Vaginal
• 2- Abdominal
• 3- Laparoscopic – assisted vaginal hysterectomy
Total Hysterectomy is referred to as the entire removal of the uterus.
Removal of the ovaries during this procedure is also known as female castration and it is called oophorectomy or ovariectomy. Salpingo-oophorectomy means removing the ovaries and the fallopian tubes.
For a woman who is premenopausal, having a complete hysterectomy will result in changes in hormonal balance since the ovaries are no longer able to provide any hormone production.
Even having a partial hysterectomy can result in hormone imbalance since the hormone functions of the ovaries will decline over 1-2 years due to reduced circulation.
The abdominal hysterectomy is the most common surgical procedure, according to Dr. Stanley West, and is done through an incision in the abdomen. This hysterectomy involves detaching the uterus from the ligaments that support it and the blood vessels that supply it.
This surgery requires the surgeon to peel the vagina away from the cervix. If the surgeon does a lousy job, another of the hysterectomy side effects could be ending up with a shorter vagina, which could make sex become very uncomfortable.
This procedure can have several other hysterectomy side effects or surgical complications:
Adhesion to other organs, bowel injury, bladder injury, injury to the ureter (tube connecting the kidney to the bladder) and bleeding.
Women’s Health Bookstore – review the selection of hysterectomy books for you.
Dr. Stanley West in his book discusses all the different types of hysterectomies, surgical complications and how to protect yourself against medically unnecessary hysterectomy!
Dr. West was the Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the former St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City.
He gives you the explanations and reasons NOT to have a hysterectomy unless you have something complicated or a malignant cancer. And he discusses all possible hysterectomy side effects and emotional consequences after the procedure.
If you have endometriosis, fibroid tumors, abnormal uterine bleeding and your doctor is suggesting a hysterectomy, make sure you read or order the book by Dr. Stanley West – The Hysterectomy Hoax – before you submit yourself to this operation. For your benefit, please consider getting a second opinion.
If you are between the ages of 30 and 50 and are experiencing PMS, weight gain, memory loss, fibroids, endometriosis, irritability, and tender or lumpy breasts – you may be suffering premenopause symptoms and need to do something about it.
This book describes in detail how premenopause symptoms are caused by “hormone imbalance”.
Hormone imbalance is caused by the incorrect relationship of progesterone and estrogen levels in the body. These two hormones no longer balance each other, making it difficult to maintain your body healthy.
Important recommendation for women who are considering having a hysterectomy:
If all you have is a few hormone imbalance symptoms, you should consider using bio-identical progesterone supplementation INSTEAD of a hysterectomy, unless malignant cancer or very severe endometriosis is clearly involved.
Dr. John R. Lee says that the hysterectomy side effects that follow a unnecessary hysterectomy may be worse than the symptoms you had before the hysterectomy!
The Vaginal Hysterectomy is done through the vagina instead of opening the abdomen. The four ligaments supporting the uterus are cut, sutured, and the uterus is taken out through the vagina.
The hysterectomy side effects in this procedure could be:
Fever and infection, bladder injuries and some adhesions.
The Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy is where the surgeon does a small abdominal incision to insert the laparoscope.
This method is not appropriate for all hysterectomies. If you have cancer of the uterus or ovaries, Dr. West says that this is not the surest and safest surgical route.
With this method (which is relatively new), there are no meaningful statistics yet about complications and hysterectomy side effects.
One of the possible hysterectomy side effects could be hemorrhage, because sometimes the arteries do not get properly secured during this procedure.
Surgeons need better training and experienced in this procedure, according to Dr. West. He also recommends finding out how long your doctor has been using this method and any information available on side effects of hysterectomy.
After a hysterectomy, you may experience the following hysterectomy side effects:
• Night sweats and hot flashes
• Low energy levels, very tired
• Problems sleeping or insomnia
• Depression, anxiety
• Urinary track infections and overactive bladder
• Unexpected weight gain and water retention
• Headaches and migraines
• Irritability and nervousness
• Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat
• Cardiovascular problems and blood pressure problems
• Vaginal dryness
• Pain in the joints
• Memory loss and foggy thinking
• Osteoporosis
• Hair loss and thinning hair
• Painful sexual intercourse
• No desire in having sex or no sex drive
• Dizziness and loss of balance
If you have decided that to have a hysterectomy is your best and only choice, go here to review hysterectomy recovery section. There you’ll find suggestions on what to do to prepare for your surgery and how to handle your hysterectomy recovery.
Safe and effective natural solution to eliminate hysterectomy side effects!
Natural Progesterone plus herbal supplements for menopause can restore balance by raising your levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone has no side effects and is beneficial in treating or preventing:
• Thyroid problems,
• Light or heavy – irregular menstrual flow,
• Painful cramping around the abdomen,
• Water retention and bloating,
• Depression, feelings of sadness and despair, anxiety and irritability,
• Migraines and headaches,
• Difficulty sleeping and insomnia
• Hot flashes and/or night sweats,
• Vaginal dryness,
• Infertility,
• Incontinence,
• Endometrium growth or endometriosis,
• Bone loss and osteoporosis,
• Raises sex drive,
• Protects against breast cancer,
• Endometrial cancer,
• Improves blood sugar levels,
• Progesterone is a natural diuretic,
• Returns blood clotting to normal conditions,
• Uses fat for energy
Besides natural progesterone supplementation, one of the best things a woman can do is to regularly take a clinically proven multi-vitamin/mineral formula, essential fatty acids and a calcium – magnesium formula.
These nutrients are a high-quality antioxidant, they contain ingredients that improve your allergies, maintain your body in healthy condition and will help prevent diseases.
The most important step is to balance your hormones with natural progesterone supplementation, take the recommended vitamins and minerals plus Omega-3 fatty acids with ubiquinol.
Resolve hormone imbalance with a natural approach by giving it vital support on all fronts:
Nutritional supplements and an enriched eating plan. You should expect to feel improvement in just a few weeks.
Increase your consumption of cold-water fish to 3 times a week (salmon, tuna, mackerel, cod). Cold-water fish is a good source of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
Most fish oils are good for arthritis symptoms, improve mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, they help lower cholesterol and thin the blood.
Omega-3 fatty acids help protect against heart disease by lowering blood triglycerides, improving mental illnesses and reducing blood clots. Another good way to gain the benefits that come with regular consumption of omega-3’s is to take a fish oil supplementation.
If you are experiencing hysterectomy side effects, consider taking this women’s hormone health test. It will give you some of the answers you are looking for. Read more about the hormone health test here.
Lifestyle changes that correct hormone imbalance and hysterectomy side effects!
If you have had a hysterectomy and you are experiencing menopausal symptoms and hysterectomy side effects, you should also be doing the following:
Make exercise part of your daily life. Physical activity reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes and helps you maintain a healthier weight.
A regular daily regimen of at least 30–45 minutes of brisk walking, bicycling, using your treadmill or any other fitness equipment will improve your sleep quality, also your sex life. Exercise is also a natural appetite suppressant.
Reduce stress in your life! Stress stimulates your body to produce more cortisol, androgen, epinephrine and adrenaline. Too much stress will affect your productivity, it will bring premature disease into your life and it will be financially expensive.
Drink plenty of filtered water every day so you don’t get dehydrated. It is best to drink water or green tea than sodas or commercial juices. Drinking filtered water can improve allergies, clear your body of some toxins and improve inflammation.
Drinking filtered water is your best option because, most tap water is quite polluted. A good osmosis water filter is what to consider to eliminate bacteria, chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals and other toxic substances commonly found in tap water today.
Nutrition is also a key factor for the health of women that have had a hysterectomy or are experiencing hormone imbalance or hysterectomy side effects. Increase consumption of all fruits, vegetables and also green leafy vegetables in your diet.
If you do not like vegetables, make vegetable juices. They are delicious!
Fresh vegetables or vegetable juices, consumed on a daily basis, are one of the best protections against coronary heart disease, it also controls your appetite, lowers the cancer risk, lowers cholesterol, helps you lose weight and improves bowel function.
Hysterectomy side effects related articles:
Post Hysterectomy – how to take care of yourself!
What should I expect – and do – during my hysterectomy recovery?
Alternatives to hysterectomy and symptoms after hysterectomy.
Learn about exercise for hysterectomy.
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