Symptoms:
Depression, urinary tract problems, joint pain, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, loss of bone mass, and increased likelihood of heart disease.

Cause:
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, and is done to remove fibroids (30% of the time), endometriosis (20%), or uterine prolapse (18%).

There are three types of hysterectomies, each more complete than the preceding one:

1 - Partial hysterectomy: The uterus is removed, but the cervix and other female reproductive organs remain.

2 - Total hysterectomy: Both the uterus and cervix are removed.

3 - Panhysterectomy: The uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are removed.

There are problems which led to the decision to have a hysterectomy. These may include urinary tract problems, lengthy and heavy periods, a heavy and bloated feeling, abdominal swelling due to fibroids, infertility resulting from fibroids or endometriosis, or reactions to drugs given for endometriosis.

But the problems resulting from a hysterectomy are, if anything, more significant:

The hormones are suddenly stopped. This sends shock waves throughout the entire system.

Lack of those hormones can result in immense bone mass loss, osteoporosis, and greater likelihood of heart disease, depression, urinary tract problems, dizziness, insomnia, headaches, and general fatigue.

Even those women who do not have their ovaries cut out still experience a drastic lessening of estrogen output. In addition, menopause begins years earlier for half the women who are spared their ovaries.

Depression may also occur, and reduced sexual desire frequently does. There is a 50% chance of a minor post-operative complication, such as fever, bleeding, or wound healing. One in a 1,000 die and 10% require a blood transfusion.

It has been estimated that many of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed in America each year are totally unnecessary. No foreign country has even half that per capita amount.

Once the operation has been performed, you are permanently sterile, and it cannot be reversed.

It is often recommended that the ovaries be taken out also, because they might later become cancerous. Yet statistics reveal that ovarian cancer is rare.

It is frequently recommended that a hysterectomy be performed, to eliminate fibroids, since they might be malignant. But modern technology permits them to be examined, by ultrasound, for abnormalities. A myomectomy should be performed to remove problematic fibroids, not a hysterectomy. (Also see "Fibroids.")

Women who have hysterectomies have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease.

If you decide to have a hysterectomy, ask that a horizontal incision be made, not a vertical one. The scar will thus be less noticeable afterward.

Treatment:
• If you have had a hysterectomy, eat a nutritious diet, with vitamin/mineral supplementation. This will reduce the amount of estrogen deprivation, especially if you still have your ovaries.

• If you do use hormonal replacement, take the lowest dosage possible. Ask for a combined hormone containing both estrogen and progesterone. That will help reduce the risk of cancer. Progesterone, not estrogen, is the hormone most needed in replacement therapy.