Surgical Menopause

Surgical menopause occurs due to surgical removal of the ovaries. This is not natural menopause that is caused by aging. Radiation therapy, medications, and chemotherapy can hamper the functions of the ovaries. As a result, the ovaries need to be removed. Hence, surgical menopause is also called induced menopause.

Natural menopause is the result of decreased production of estrogen from the ovaries. When women complete 12 consecutive months without any menstrual period, it is considered as the end of her menstrual cycle. This marks the beginning of menopause period of a woman.

On the contrary, a sudden break in ovarian hormone production leads to the surgical menopause. The ovaries are removed through Bilateral Oophorectomy process. Women experience similar symptoms of menopause such as hot-flashes, dryness in vagina, difficulty in intercourse, and bleeding after the surgical removal of ovaries.

Why ovaries need to be removed?

In some cases, ovaries must be removed before the natural menopause period occurs. These are the cases in which ovaries are removed:

What is Bilateral Oophorectomy?

Bilateral Oophorectomy process needs to be administered in the cases of breast cancer, endometriosis and ovarian cancer to prevent them from developing. However, the bilateral Oophorectomy is mistakenly considered as the birth-control therapy. Hormone Replacement Therapy is used in this process. This therapy reduces the risks of many diseases, but it also causes symptoms of menopause before the expected age of menopause.

After-effects of Surgical Menopause

The after-effects of surgical menopause are similar to the symptoms faced during natural menopause. However, the after-effects of surgical menopause are more severe and life-threatening. Usually, women feel these effects two days after the surgery is performed. The list of general symptoms is given below:

Physical symptoms

Emotional symptoms

Treatment of Surgical Menopause

Surgical menopause can be treated with the help of herbal medications and natural supplements. Herbal medications can reduce the severity of menopause symptoms. The frustrating experience of surgical menopause can ruin a woman's life. Thus, it becomes necessary to undergo frequent counseling sessions.

Surgical menopause attacks the psychology of women. Hence, positive lifestyle and good health can help to cope with the after-effects of surgical menopause. Women must maintain their health by exercising regularly, proper intake of vitamin supplements and balanced nutritious food. Also, meditation can be helpful in developing the concentration power that is decreased during menopause.

Most of the women feel that herbal treatment is very effective to manage the surgical menopausal after-effects. As herbal supplements don't have any side-effects, this treatment is considered safe in many cases. The severity of after-effects of surgical menopause differs for each woman. Thus, it becomes necessary to consult a physician for a prescribed medication.