Why would someone have surgical menopause?
-
Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Surgical menopause comes about when a woman who has not gone through menopause naturally has her ovaries removed. Women may have a bilateral oophorectomy that removes both ovaries or a hysterectomy that removes her uterus. These surgeries typically take place when women have cancer of the cervix, uterus, or ovaries. A woman might also choose to have them removed as a preventive measure if she is at extremely risk for these types of cancer due to genetic predisposition (from family history and the presence of one of the abnormal BRCA gene complexes).Surgical menopause comes about when a woman who has not gone through menopause naturally has her ovaries removed. Women may have a bilateral oophorectomy that removes both ovaries or a hysterectomy that removes her uterus. These surgeries typically... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Surgical menopause is a side effect of treatment for certain medical conditions, many of which can be life threatening. Women who haven't yet reached menopause but who develop ovarian cancer or some other cancers of the reproductive organs must have their ovaries surgically removed. This procedure brings on menopause immediately.
Surgical menopause is sometimes called induced menopause. There are other reasons that surgical menopause can occur. For instance, a healthy woman who carries certain gene mutations may choose to have her ovaries removed to lower her risk for breast or ovarian cancer. Ovaries are often removed when a woman has a hysterectomy, or surgical removal of the uterus (or womb). Removal of the ovaries may also be necessary as part of treatment for some non-cancerous conditions, such as uterine fibroids.Surgical menopause is a side effect of treatment for certain medical conditions, many of which can be life threatening. Women who haven't yet reached menopause but who develop ovarian cancer or some other cancers of the reproductive organs must have... More -
Surgical menopause is the result of having to remove both ovaries, or what is called a bilateral oophorectomy. A woman’s ovaries produce female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, and after surgery, the sudden drop in these hormones can produce menopausal symptoms that can be more severe than they might be during natural menopause.
The most common reasons a woman may have her ovaries removed include
- Cancer (including endometrial or ovarian cancer)
- Hysterectomy (although not all hysterectomies result in oophorectomy)
- Endometriosis, a condition when cells from the womb lining grow outside the uterus causing pain at many points during a woman’s cycle
- Myomectomy, the removal of uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumors that grow into the uterine wall and may cause excessive bleeding, pain, or infertility
- Treatment for other infections or conditions
As a result of surgical menopause, it’s likely that the signs and symptoms of menopause may come on quickly and powerfully. Though some doctors still prescribe estrogen to prevent or control these intense changes, the use of synthetic hormones has become controversial during the past decade since studies have shown that hormone replacement causes an increased risk of heart disease and some cancers.
Surgical menopause is the result of having to remove both ovaries, or what is called a bilateral oophorectomy. A woman’s ovaries produce female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, and after surgery, the sudden drop in these hormones can... More
