hyst vs. menopause

Hi All,
I am curious after reading lucilles post about regrets.
I Know surgical menopause has to be a jolt to your body and mind.
But after normal or early menopause the effects are the same essentially, right? wrong?
anyone know?
Helen

I should add that my being ok with hyst, kinda relies on the fact that at 39 I'm not to far from menopause.
But at the same time, if doc says hyst thats what will be so I will be muddling through.

There is no comparison between an early or natural menopause and a surgical menopause. I had the experience of a bit of both as I was less than a year out from my periods stopping and technically was still perimenopausal. I was also incredibly naive. I did not expect my symptoms to worsen. I expected to feel the same. I didn't realize that my ovaries were still doing something. A natural menopause is a long slow process. The ovaries continue to cycle out hormones after the periods have ceased (how long??? probably different for each individual). Just not at levels high enough to be fertile or have a period. (Although it is still possible to become pregnant in this period of life, it has happened!) Symptoms generally appear slowly and peak for most women a few years out and then gradually subside. A surgical menopause is sudden and dramatic. Symptoms may take a few weeks to appear if not on ERT. They can be very dramatic. My hot flashes became very intense after my surgery. My presurgery flashes were easy to cope with. The new ones were not!

A good article to read is: Rational for Ovarian Conservation by Donna Shoupe MD

At the age of 39 I would not call you very close to a natural menopause. The average age of menopause is 51 in US. That is 12 years of your ovaries providing protection against osteoporosis and heart disease. There have been studies that show that ERT in women without ovaries still have higher risk factors for heart disease. Unknown why?? Conclusion of the studies is that more research needs to be done. This will take years to unravel.

If you have a bonefide medical reason to remove your ovaries than you should take heart in knowing that help is out there to help replace what is lost and you can still have a very good quality of life (you may even have a very easy time of it and wonder what all the fuss was about). Having a supportive doctor who is willing to work in partnership with you is an important part of the package. If this is an elective procedure than you should know that in some quarters it is considered controversial. I recommend two or three opinions for any surgery as important as this one is.

Pearle,
Thank you so much for your response. I was told by my gyn/onc a while ago that any pelvic surgery can cause the ovaries to shut down for good. Hence my query.
I'm not giving mine up but do want to be prepared.
PS- current gyn says "surgical menopause does not occur if ovaries are left"
I don't believe him.

I'm really concerned about the sex thing actually.
After all is said and done...do we not want it after menopause?
I know about estrogen somewhat and I'm sure it's better to flow naturally into menopause but well. Are our moms happy with nooky after they are 60 or so?
Personally, I would miss the closeness more than the "O"
Helen

HelenAli, some moms are still very active after 60+++.

See that, good news

From what I have read and experienced surgical menopause vs. natural menopause are two different ball games (so to speak).

The year before I had my hyst I was headed into menopause (peri-menopause). When I had my hyst everything was removed. In hind sight, I sure wish I would have kept my ovaries. It has not been an easy journey without them.

In that regard. I think it is a good thing that you will keep your ovaries if you choose to have this surgery. No reason to remove healthy ovaries..they still trickle out hormones even after menopause...and i would think that helps in the sexuality department.

Just my

Shelley2 - I just read a new medical study a few weeks ago that says that the ovaries do more than trickle after menopause.

It said that the androgen levels that a woman has when she matures are the same as those that she has post-menopause. Women who've had their ovaries removed had the lowest androgen levels measured in the study.

Androgens include testosterone which can not only help with libido but may also help to maintain muscle mass as we age and can balance moods.

Here's the study - link

Helen, I know that ovaries don't always shut down after hysterectomy - mine are still working fine - I've got the mini-periods to prove it.

Take care.