Hysterectomy myths abound, causing misinformation and confusion. One of the most common is that a hysterectomy triggers menopause, which is false. Having a hysterectomy will not cause menopause.
However, about 10% to 30% of women have their ovaries removed at the same time as a hysterectomy. Some of these women will immediately begin menopause; others won’t.
In this blog, Chetanna Okasi, MD, at Women’s Wellness MD, explains the different types of hysterectomies and when a procedure may trigger menopause.
During a hysterectomy, the uterus is surgically removed. Losing the uterus is a significant and emotional decision for many women because it means they can’t have children.
You stop having menstrual periods after a hysterectomy, but you will not go into menopause. As long as your ovaries are intact, they continue producing hormones. Your body maintains its hormonal balance until you naturally enter menopause.
There are three types of hysterectomies:
If you have a partial hysterectomy, we remove the uterus but keep the cervix intact. Women with uterine fibroids or prolapse may be good candidates for a partial hysterectomy.
The uterus and cervix get removed during a total hysterectomy. Most women who need a hysterectomy have this procedure.
A radical hysterectomy means we remove the uterus, cervix, and the surrounding tissues, including the upper part of the vagina and tissues surrounding the cervix. You may need this type of hysterectomy if you have or want to prevent cancer.
In some cases, one or both fallopian tubes and/or ovaries get removed during a hysterectomy. The reason for the hysterectomy guides the decision about whether to remove these organs.
Salpingectomy is a procedure to remove one or both fallopian tubes. Women may consider this procedure to prevent ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer often begins in the fallopian tubes and spreads to the ovaries. Removing the tubes can lower the risk of cancer. For this reason, your healthcare provider may suggest removing the fallopian tubes at the same time you have a hysterectomy.
The fallopian tubes carry an egg from the ovary to the uterus. (Sperm can only fertilize the egg in the fallopian tube.) Since the fallopian tubes don't produce hormones, you can have a salpingectomy without beginning menopause.
Oophorectomy refers to removing one or both ovaries. The myth about hysterectomies causing menopause began because decades ago, healthcare providers routinely removed the ovaries during a hysterectomy.
Now, healthcare providers leave the ovaries intact whenever possible because they produce estrogen and other essential hormones. You should only consider an oophorectomy when medically necessary.
Menopause starts right away if you have both ovaries removed. When one ovary is removed, you will not go into menopause. But you probably begin the transition earlier than you would with two ovaries.
This type of surgery removes the fallopian tubes and ovaries. You may need to have one fallopian tube and ovary removed (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) or both (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).
A hysterectomy is often (but not always) the first line of treatment for uterine and ovarian cancer. If you need a hysterectomy to treat cancer, chances are your healthcare provider will also perform a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
Hysterectomy is the last treatment option for other gynecological conditions. We always start treatment with the most appropriate nonsurgical therapies. Even if medication doesn’t improve your symptoms and you eventually need surgery, we can often treat the problem without removing the uterus.
For example, we may remove uterine fibroids and patches of endometriosis without resorting to a hysterectomy.
We use the same approach for your ovaries. Ovarian cancer requires an oophorectomy. Otherwise, we can treat most conditions, like ovarian cysts, without removing the ovaries.
Women who inherit specific genes have a very high risk of ovarian, breast, or uterine cancer. These women may choose to have a hysterectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy to prevent cancer. Removing the organs before the disease develops is called a prophylactic hysterectomy.
Our Women’s Wellness MD team understands your worries and concerns. We’re here to help you navigate treatment decisions and avoid a hysterectomy whenever possible. Schedule an appointment using online booking or by calling the nearest office today.
