What You Should Expect After Your Hysterectomy And Oophorectomy

When you have scheduled an appointment for a hysterectomy and an oophorectomy, procedures to remove your uterus and your ovaries/Fallopian tubes respectively, you find yourself wondering about the recovery process and the possible long-term effects of such a surgery. Whether you are having the surgery done because of menorrhagia (extremely heavy menstrual periods) or because you have cancer in those organs (or the genetic predisposition for ovarian or uterine cancer), there are many changes that you can expect following your surgery. Get to know what you should expect after your hysterectomy and oophorectomy so that you can be prepared going forward.

Do Not Be Surprised If Your Emotions Are All Over The Place

Removing your reproductive organs, no matter what the reason, can have a major impact on your emotional state. Some women may worry or feel that they are less of a "woman" without their ability to bear children. Other women may feel the opposite and feel freedom. And some may fluctuate back and forth between the two.

This is not a surprising reaction to such a major change and should not worry you. However, if you begin to feel constant depression or anxiety after surgery or your mood swings do not level out shortly thereafter, you will want to contact your doctor and possibly a counselor as soon as possible. This may be due to the changes in your hormones after your sex organs have been removed and may be controllable through hormone therapy or even dietary changes. Or, it may be a mental health issue that requires counseling and therapy.

You May Go Into Early Menopause

Another common effect of having a hysterectomy as well as an oophorectomy is the fact that you may go into early menopause as a result. Your body is made up of several systems that work together to maintain balance and health. As such, when organs are removed, especially the major sex organs, it can have an impact on the balance in your body.

Removing the ovaries and the uterus cuts down dramatically on the amounts of estrogen and progesterone created in the body. These drops in hormone levels are similar to those that occur during menopause and can cause you to go into menopause no matter how old or young you are. This means you may experience the headaches, mood swings (previously mentioned), hot flashes, and even weight fluctuations that can occur during menopause.

Luckily, hormone therapy to replace the estrogen and/or the progesterone in your body may help to stave off early menopause or at least help you through the transition for your body. Hormone replacement therapy can help you avoid severe menopause symptoms and better maintain your overall health.

Now that you know some of what you can expect after your hysterectomy and oophorectomy, you can be sure to prepare yourself for life after your surgery. Pop over to this website for more information.