Hysterectomy (Full/Partial)

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Which Hormones Do I Test For If I Have Had A Hysterectomy?

Due to the fact that a hysterectomy affects the production of all sex hormones TestMyHormones.com recommends the following tests.

Basic Hysterectomy Hormone Test (Click To Buy) -Measures the main sex hormones Estradiol and Progesterone.  The cost of the kit is $60 and includes and explanation of your results and a recommendation for therapy by our hormone specialist.

Advanced Hysterectomy Hormone Test (Click To Buy) -Measures all of the sex hormones (Estradiol, Progesterone, DHEA, Testosterone, and Cortisol) and is the most comprehensive and recommended test available for patients that have had a hysterectomy.  The cost of the kit is $150 and includes and explanation of your results and a recommendation for therapy by our hormone specialist.

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of a woman's uterus. Depending on a patient’s medical condition, the surgery may involve removal of additional organs and tissue.  For example, sometimes the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and cervix are removed at the same time the uterus is removed. The following is a list of different hysterectomy procedures and a description of the organ involvement:

·Total hysterectomy. Involves the surgical removal of the uterus, including the cervix. Fallopian tubes and ovaries remain intact.

·Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Involves surgical removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Removal of the ovaries will induce early menopause.

·Radical hysterectomy. This is the most extensive form of hysterectomy. Surgery involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding vaginal tissue and lymph nodes. 

What surgery involves

There are two main ways to perform a hysterectomy. The more common method of the two is to remove the uterus though an incision in the lower abdomen. The incision can be made horizontally or vertically.  This procedure may result in scarring. The second, less common method is a removal of the uterus through a cut in the top of the vagina. This method avoids an abdominal incision. Each operation lasts approximately one to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. Following surgery, most patients will require four to six weeks to recover. It is recommend that patients refrain from performing heavy tasks during this time.

How will your hysterectomy affect you?

            Physically. Regardless of the medical condition necessitating a hysterectomy, all

women having undergone this procedure will no longer have periods or be able   to bare children. However, depending on the extent of the surgery, some women will enter menopause immediately while others may do so later. Removal of the ovaries is the determining factor  for immediate surgical menopause. It should noted that among those women who do not have their ovaries removed, there is still a 50% chance that they will enter menopause within five years of the operation.

Sexually. Following a hysterectomy, sexual intercourse may resume after six weeks. Depending on the extent of the surgery, sex may feel different. Some women report that their sex life improved after a hysterectomy because they were no longer experiencing pain during intercourse. Others report that there is a difference in the intensity of orgasm. It is believed that in addition to the clitoris’ role in orgasms, the uterus and cervix are also involved in the climatic contractions. Therefore, following a hysterectomy, some women may feel that orgasms are less intense.  Similarly, women who enter menopause following surgery may experience a decrease in sexual interest and frequency of orgasm. The nature of this change is a result of a dramatic decrease in hormone levels. Recall, the hormones estrogen and testosterone are vital in a woman’s sexuality and libido.

Emotionally. A woman’s emotional state will vary from individual following a hysterectomy. Some women will feel liberated. They are free from pain, tampons, and pads. On the other hand, there are others that may fell depressed and “less womanly”. It has been suggested that these negative feelings are partially associated with a decrease in hormone levels. In addition to seeking the advice of their healthcare practitioner, it is recommended that these women contact local support groups in order to share their experiences with other people in that same position.

Hormone replacement after a hysterectomy

As stated early, some women may enter menopause immediately following a hysterectomy while others may do so later. The determining factor is the nature of the surgical procedure. The ovaries, as most of us know, are major organs responsible for the synthesis and release of female hormones. In its absence, a woman will experience a sharp drop in hormone levels. Therefore, patients who have had a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy (ovaries are removed) will make up the majority of the surgical menopausal population

Surgical menopause. Symptoms of surgical menopause are exactly the same as symptoms of “natural menopause”. The main difference may be intensity in which a woman may experience the symptoms. Most women enter natural menopause between the ages of 45-60. The process is gradual and the onset of symptoms is likewise gradual. A woman typically does not wake up one morning and find out that her once normal level of hormones is now significantly diminished. However, that is how some women with untreated surgical menopause may feel. Their symptoms are sudden and full blown. The following are symptoms of menopause:

 Therefore, as one can see, like natural menopause, alleviation of surgical menopausal symptoms will require hormone replacement. Hormone blood levels will determine the type supplementation and dose an individual requires.

 Progesterone after a hysterectomy

Modern medical thought is that taking estrogen and progesterone together is only necessary to protect a woman against endometrial cancer. Estrogen, as you may know, promotes growth of the endometrial lining found in the uterus. Progesterone, acts to oppose this growth, thus protecting against endometrial overgrowth and ultimately, cancer. Therefore, if a woman does not have a uterus, then current medical practice indicates that only estrogen supplementation is necessary. However, this assumes that progesterone has no other beneficial roles outside of the uterus---which is, false. The following are key functions of progesterone:

            ·Precursor for other sex hormones

            ·Prepare the uterus for implantation and development of a fertilized egg

            ·Natural diuretic (prevent water retention)

            ·Restore libido

            ·Enhance mood (calming)

            ·Normalize blood sugar

            ·Help protect against breast cancer

            ·Stimulate bone building

            ·Increase good cholesterol

            ·Cancer prevention

So as you can see, progesterone affects nearly every tissue in our bodies. Throughout the cells in our bodies, progesterone receptors can be found. It wouls be unwise to recognize that the receptors are present without also recognizing that progesterone serves a necessary function. As Wright, the author of “Natural Hormone Replacement for Women Over 45” states: “when the uterus was removed, did they remove the rest of a woman’s body?” Supplementing estrogen only and not progesterone in surgically induced menopausal women would imply that the previous statement is true.

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