The menopause
If you have not already been through the menopause, having your ovaries removed will trigger this to happen very soon after your operation.
This is because your ovaries produce the hormones that cause periods.
What is the menopause?
- The menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing hormones and stop releasing eggs.
- It is usually a gradual process that happens around age 45-55 years.
- If your ovaries are removed before you have gone through the menopause, you'll go through the menopause immediately after the operation. This is known as a surgical menopause.
- Most people experience some symptoms during the menopause, like hot flushes. These are because of the drop in hormones.
- The menopause can also lead to a condition called osteoporosis. This means your bones become thinner – making them more likely to break or crack.
- If you experience a surgical menopause, you should be offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help with these symptoms. This is usually given up until around the average age of natural menopause, but depends on the person.
More information
About 8 in every 10 people will have symptoms for some time before and after their periods stop.
If you experience the menopause suddenly rather than gradually – for example, because of an operation to remove your ovaries – your symptoms may be worse.
These can have a significant impact on daily life for some people.
These are some common symptoms of the menopause. Most people only experience some symptoms, not all of them:
The menopause can also increase your chance of developing certain other problems, such as weak bones, known as osteoporosis, heart disease or dementia.
Taking HRT can prevent these symptoms and lower the chances of health problems.
This information is based on content supplied by the NHS website, edited by the Lynch Choices™ team.