HysterSisters Articles for Hysterectomy

SHARING IS CARING

6 Tips to Help You Prepare for Surgical Menopause

From the Menopause and Hormones Articles List

How can I prepare for surgical menopause?


If you will be having a bilateral oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries), then you are facing surgical menopause. Surgical menopause often occurs years before you would have dealt with natural menopause, and it occurs instantly rather than gradually as natural menopause does. As a result, symptoms may be more intense and your body may have a tough time adjusting to the sudden change.

Being aware of what surgical menopause is and your options for coping with it can help you get ready for this new phase of your life. Below are 6 tips to help you understand and prepare for the coming changes you could experience.

1. Learn about common menopause symptoms.

Knowing what common menopause symptoms are can allow you to prepare for them. You can purchase products in advance that can help you manage them, and you can prepare yourself mentally so you aren’t blindsided by them. If you know in advance what to expect, you can take charge and even make some changes now.

2. Learn about your HRT options.

There are a number of different hormone replacement therapy (HRT) options which can help you manage your surgical menopause symptoms and health risks. There are several different hormone delivery systems to choose from, as well as a variety of doses depending on what your body needs. You can also choose pre-made HRTs or have specially formulated ones created at a compounding pharmacy. If you and your doctor discuss your options in advance, when the time comes you can more easily obtain a prescription for the choice you feel is right for you. You can also make more logical decisions when you are not trying to cope with hot flashes, anxiety, and brain fog!

3. If HRT is not an option, learn about alternative choices.

If HRT is not right for you, talk to your doctor about alternatives for minimizing menopause symptoms and health risks. There are prescription and over-the-counter options which may help with hot flashes, osteoporosis concerns, and more. Whether you use HRT or not, you may also need to consider supplements and lifestyle changes.

4. Choose a knowledgeable doctor.

Whether you will use HRT or alternatives, it is important to have a doctor who understands menopause and will work with you. Your menopause experience will be unique to you, so you need a doctor who will partner with you and help you feel your best. Your current gynecologist or general practitioner may be a good choice, or you may need to find a new doctor to help with this part of your health.

5. Talk to female relatives.

Though surgical menopause can be more intense than natural menopause, knowing how the other women in your family were affected by menopause can give you a heads up regarding the symptoms you may experience. You can also ask them what remedies they found helpful for their menopause symptoms. If any of them underwent surgical menopause, you can ask about what they chose for their HRT.

6. Be as healthy as you can be.

Eating well, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly can help you cope with the symptoms and changes that can occur with surgical menopause. You can start today to make healthy changes to your lifestyle that you can follow throughout menopause.

7. Talk to your doctor.

Before putting yourself into surgical menopause, it's wise to get a second opinion to be sure that it is the right decision for you. Once your decision is confirmed, partner with your doctor to prepare for the coming menopause issues. Your doctor can help you understand what your body will be going through and what you can expect, as well as monitor your overall health as you journey through surgical menopause.


This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.



SHARING IS CARING

Do you have a question?

If you have a medical support question related to this article, come JOIN US in our HysterSisters Community Forums. You will receive helpful replies to your questions from our members. See you there!

HysterSisters Free Hysterectomy Booklet What 350,000 Women Know About Hysterectomy with pages of information, helpful tips and hints to prepare and recover from hysterectomy. Free download for members.

HysterSisters Articles

Diagnosis
Options to Hysterectomy
Treatment Alternatives
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Separate Surgeries
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Pelvic Floor
Separate Surgeries
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Breast Health
Grief and Loss
Endometriosis
Uterine Fibroids
GYN Genetics
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

Find a Surgeon

Ted Lee, M.D. Magee Womens Hospital 300 Halket Street Pittsburgh PA 15213 412 641 6412	Lauren Pinkard, M.D. 4225 W 95th Street Oak Lawn IL 60453 708-423-2300	Debra Richardson, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673
Susan D. Hunter, M.D. 626 Ed Carey Dr Harlingen TX 78550 956-428-4868	James Kondrup, M.D. 161 Riverside Drive Suite 109 Binghamton NY 13905 607-770-7074	Joseph S. Valenti, M.D. 2805 S. Mayhill Road Denton TX 76208 940 591-6700
Ken Sinervo, M.D. 1140 Hammond Dr., Ste. F6220 Atlanta GA 30328 770-913-0001	Jonas Wilson-Leedy, M.D. 71 Prospect Avenue Hudson NY 24016 518-828-1400	Mayra J. Thompson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd Dept OBGYN Dallas TX 75290 214-645-3888