Information on Natural
vs. Surgical Menopause |
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Natural Menopause
For most women the natural process of
menopause begins around age 40 when periods may become less regular.
Declining levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone cause changes in
your periods. These hormones keep the vagina and uterus healthy and create
menstrual cycles. Estrogen also helps retain healthy bone mass.
Surgical Menopause/Hysterectomy
Some women enter menopause as a result of surgery. Removal of your uterus
(hysterectomy) and ovaries (oophorectomy) will initiate menopause at any age.
Women who have their uterus, cervix and ovaries removed before they reach menopause
will go into menopause right away instead of gradually. Their periods will stop, and they
may experience more severe, more frequent and longer-lasting hot flashes.
Depending on your age, removal of the uterus alone, although stopping
menstruation, does not cause menopause because the ovaries produce hormones,
not the uterus. However, women who have only the uterus removed may experience
menopause sooner, depending on ovarian function before the hysterectomy.
Natural Menopause vs. Surgical Menopause
Both natural and surgical-induced menopause increase your risk of osteoporosis
(thinning of the bones). However, estrogen therapy can
help prevent bone loss for women with either type of
menopause.
Women have debated which type of menopause has worse symptoms. This would be
impossible to evaluate because 85% - 90% of women undergoing surgical menopause
receive estrogen therapy versus only about 50% of women with natural menopause. And it's
important to note that the experience of menopause is different for every
woman.
There does appear to be a higher incidence of hot flashes with surgical
menopause than with natural menopause. However, in appropriate patients,
moderate to severe hot flashes can be controlled with
estrogen therapy.
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