Hysterectomy Scheduled June 12, Questions about Hormone Swings Post Menopause

Hello. I am very happy/nervous/scared for my hysterectomy almost a month from now.

I had my last period 12/2012. FSH after that showed pre-mature menopause and it has stayed that way for the last two years until January of this year when I began bleeding. I had a D&C and leiomyomectomy for a big fibroid. There are three others in there but not as big as the one removed (golf ball.) The TVU showed two cysts on the left ovary and one on the right and adenomysis was discovered as well. I also had bladder problems

I've been in pain for while and for about a month after the surgery I was much relieved. Then symptoms began again and the pain got worse. More bleeding so a hysterectomy has been scheduled. It is DaVinci, uterus, fallopian tubes and possibly one ovary depending on what is seen. She hopes I can keep both ovaries. My CA was 29.7 which is normal.

I have two questions. I am post-meno so I am not expecting any huge hormone swings. Is that correct? Also, I have never had kids. Does that matter?

I asked my doctor a lot of questions and will follow-up with these when I see her for pre-op on the fourth but was wondering if anyone had any comments here.

Mostly I am looking forward to relief from the pain. Vanity makes me worry about weight gain but that I can deal with.
The pain has been very bad in the last six months.

Great forum!

I was almost four years past menopause when I had a hysterectomy, including the removal of both ovaries. I never noticed any hormone swings afterwards, but then I had a really easy time going through menopause the first time. My experience may have been affected by the fact that I was already on an SSRI, as SSRIs have a history of off-label use for hot flashes and night sweats.

I was surprised to learn from this site that some post-menopausal women *do* experience hormone swings after their ovaries are removed. Even after menopause, your ovaries continue to produce a low level of estrogen. Losing that abruptly can sometimes cause hormone swings, but not necessarily.

I didn't have kids either, but I don't think that makes any difference either way.

I didn't experience any weight gain after surgery. I was physically active before surgery and continue to be so. :-)

Welcome and best of luck on your upcoming surgery. I would suggest making sure your doctor knows that it is very important to keep one or both ovaries if at all possible.

There is sometimes a misunderstanding that after a woman's period stops, that the ovaries have no function. That is not true at all. They secrete less hormones, but they continue to secrete hormones, often into a woman's 80's. These hormones can be important to a woman's health and well-being.