Are the Symptoms of Surgical Menopause Stronger than Natural Menopause?
Many people are under the impression that menopause is the same regardless of the cause: natural or surgical. However, recent studies have shown that women who experience surgical menopause may actually experience symptoms that are more intense than women who go through natural menopause.
Surgical menopause occurs when both ovaries are removed surgically, usually in conjunction with a hysterectomy. This term only applies to women who have not yet undergone natural menopause; women who have already experienced natural menopause will not experience further menopause symptoms upon the surgical removal of their ovaries.
Physical and Emotional Trauma
Dealing with surgical menopause can in many ways be more difficult than dealing with natural menopause. The woman who experiences surgical menopause will just be recovering from a major surgery and will be very suddenly hit with menopause symptoms. This is a lot to handle all at once, and symptoms may seem more pronounced because of their suddenness.
Since the body's main source of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are removed, the body goes through something resembling withdrawal, making the symptoms tangibly more severe than in natural menopause. Natural menopause occurs gradually over two to ten years, giving the body and mind time to adjust.
Surgical menopause is very fast and the woman is often much younger than natural menopause age. Since surgical menopause can often follow a severe illness or other traumatic event, the woman has many emotional issues to heal from while her body is healing from the surgery to remove her ovaries.
Treatments for Easing the Transition
Some doctors will place a patient on hormone replacement therapy immediately following the removal of her ovaries. However, this may cause long-term health problems, especially in a younger patient who may be on these treatments for many years.
These days, alternative therapies are gaining popularity. Herbs which can ease the transition of menopause are readily available at nearly any drug store, health food market, or supplement specialist.
One of the best ways to ease the difficult transition from pre- to post-menopause is to have a solid support system of friends, family, and health care practitioners who can offer support and encouragement when the symptoms of your surgical menopause feel overwhelming. Joining a support group through a local therapist or women's group may do wonders for your mood and self-esteem following surgical menopause. You may be surprised just how much it helps to talk to women who have had similar experiences.
