Episode 107 – What Happens to Your Hormones After a Hysterectomy?
If you’ve been told you need a hysterectomy or you’ve already had one, you may be wondering what happens to your hormones afterward. Does a hysterectomy cause menopause? Should you keep your ovaries? And if your ovaries are removed, do you need hormone replacement therapy?
In this episode of the HealthiHer Podcast, Dr. Amy Brenner breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in women’s health: the difference between a hysterectomy and an oophorectomy. She explains what current research says about ovarian function after hysterectomy, why some women experience menopause earlier than expected, and the health effects of removing the ovaries before natural menopause.
You’ll also learn how estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone influence your heart, bones, brain, metabolism, and overall longevity, along with the latest evidence on hormone replacement therapy and how it may help reduce the long-term risks associated with surgical menopause.
Whether you’re considering a hysterectomy, recovering from one, navigating menopause, or simply want to better understand your hormones, this episode provides an evidence-based overview to help you make informed decisions and have more productive conversations with your healthcare provider.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The difference between a hysterectomy and an oophorectomy
- Whether a hysterectomy affects hormone production
- What happens when your ovaries are removed
- The symptoms and health risks of surgical menopause
- When hormone replacement therapy may be beneficial
- Current research on hysterectomy, menopause, and long-term women’s health
This episode references research from the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, The BMJ, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Mayo Clinic, and other peer-reviewed sources. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22067716/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11061502/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37364803/ https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-067528 https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/04/opportunistic-salpingectomy-as-a-strategy-for-epithelial-ovarian-cancer-prevention https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41619758/
The HealthiHer Podcast provides educational information and is not intended to replace individualized medical advice from your healthcare provider.
