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PMDD, Surgery & Surgical Menopause
Commonly asked questions from those considering, going through, or on the other side of surgery for PMDD.
For surgery for PMDD do both ovaries need to be removed or can they just take one? Does having just one ovary mean that I will have half the hormone levels?
What is surgical menopause?
What are the symptoms of Surgical Menopause?
What is the ‘success/satisfaction’ rate for THBSO/surgery in treatment for PMDD?
How does surgical menopause influence estrogen levels?
How is surgical menopause different from the natural menopause?
My Doctor wants to just do a hysterectomy but leave my ovaries in - will this get rid of PMDD?
Do I still need to have pap smears after the surgery? Does keeping or not keeping my cervix change that?
What are the other reasons that someone might need or want to be in surgical menopause?
I had pre-eclampsia in pregnancy - will it recur in surgical menopause?
How do I know if I am progesterone intolerant? For surgery for PMDD, how does this alter the process/procedure?
Should I take HRT the whole time I am in chemical menopause or start a few months in? What if I was not prescribed HRT by my Dr?
What different options are there for Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy surgery?
What do all the acronyms mean? e.g. BO, BSO, THBO and THBSO?
Where can I find help and support for surgical menopause?
I have PMDD - what is the process for getting approved for surgery?
For the treatment of PMDD can I leave my ovaries in and just have the hysterectomy?
Will having a Total Hysterectomy / BSO affect my other pelvic organs?
Where can I find a glossary of terms to explain Surgical Menopause acronyms?
What other organs produce estrogen, progesterone and testosterone? What happens when the ovaries are removed?
Is Surgical Menopause the same as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)?
How can I find a doctor that is knowledgeable in surgical menopause and hormone sensitivities such as PMDD & PME?
What do I need to consider regarding having my cervix removed?
I have PMDD and adenomyosis - Will having my uterus removed cure adenomyosis?
What happens if GnRHa treatment does not suppress my cycle? I am still ovulating.
What are the risks of chemical menopause?
How do I know if my ovaries have totally ‘switched off’ after the GnRHa injections?
Can GnRHa become ineffective over a period of time? Can it wear off early?
I have PMDD; will I feel the same post-op as I do in medical/chemical menopause (that is, during GnRH analog treatment with Lupron or Zoladex)?
I have PMDD and reacted badly to chemical menopause - would it be the same after surgery?
How effective is GnRHa treatment/chemical menopause for PMDD?
Can you still get pregnant on Gnhra? Can you get pregnant after stopping GnRHa?
Will surgical menopause make me gain weight or change my body shape?
What is the correlation between surgical menopause (oophorectomy) and cardiac disease?
I have PMDD and endometriosis. Will having my uterus removed (hysterectomy) cure both conditions?
Can I still get any of the gynecological cancers after the removal of my ovaries and/or uterus?
I am unsure whether to keep my cervix or not. Does it make any difference to sex/orgasms after surgery?
Will surgical menopause change my bone health?
Is having surgery for PMDD right for me?
What are the known risks of surgical menopause?
Does surgical menopause last forever or does it pass?
Can surgical menopause change desire or enjoyment of sex? Is sex the same after surgery?
Is surgical menopause forever? Are my menopausal symptoms permanent?
Does zoladex injection before surgical treatment of PMDD lessen the severity of symptoms post-surgery and hormonal fluctuation/surges?
What happens in the pre-op appointment? What should I expect?
How long is recovery from surgery?
Can I still have the surgery if I am on my period?
Do I need to shave/remove my pubic hair before surgery?
What can I do for myself to make recovery from surgery easier?
If I am on GnRHa or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) already do I need to stop it to have the surgery?
What do I need to pack for the hospital?
How do I know if my wounds are healing properly?
How long will I be in the hospital after surgery?
How will I feel immediately after the surgery?
What do I do if I don't feel well / have problems after I get home?
Do I need to be on pain medication post op?
Is vaginal bleeding normal after the op?
How soon after surgery can I have a bath/shower?
How soon after surgery can/should I start HRT?
How soon will I be able to urinate or poop normally?
How soon after surgery can I fly?
How soon after surgery can I start having sex?
How soon after surgery can I begin aerobic exercise?
How long do I need off work after the surgery?
How soon after the operation will menopause symptoms, like hot flushes, begin?
How soon after surgery can I masturbate/orgasm?
What is the correlation between oophorectomy and cognitive functioning (memory, thinking)?
Why am I still having PMDD symptoms even after surgery?
What are adhesions, and how might they affect me?
What kind of scarring can I expect?
I have a lump after having an open hysterectomy (laparotomy) - what could this be?
Will I still get a period if I keep my uterus? (i.e. Just have ovaries removed)
Before I have surgery (oophorectomy) should I have my hormone levels tested to see where I feel good level-wise? Or does it not work like that?
What can I show my doctor to educate them about the importance of estrogen therapy in surgical menopause?
Are there side effects of estrogen or progestogens in surgical menopause?
Is testosterone HRT available on the NHS? (UK)
All about Testosterone Therapy in Surgical Menopause
I still have my uterus. What can I show my doctor to educate them about the importance of progestogen therapy in surgical menopause?
What are the risks of taking estrogen in surgical menopause?
What are the benefits of taking a progestogen in surgical menopause?
How long does estrogen take to work? How long should I try out a certain dose before making a change?
How do I know if my progestogen is protecting me against uterine overgrowth?
How much progestogen do I need as add-back if I am using estrogen-therapy?
How long do progestogens take to work? How long should I try out a certain dose before making a change?
What are the risks of taking a progestogen in surgical menopause?
How long does it take for GnRH to work? What causes the surge at the beginning of chemical menopause?
What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
How does surgical menopause influence progesterone levels?
What if I want to avoid hormone replacement therapy (HRT) due to a history of PMDD (e.g. emotional hormone sensitivity)?
Do I need to take hormones while in surgical menopause? I don't really want to.
Are there risks in using HRT if you are overweight/obese?
What are the chances of experiencing blood clots by using estrogen-therapy? Does smoking increase the risk?
Does using estrogen raise the risk of getting cancer for those in surgical menopause? Can I take it if I’m in surgical menopause but BRCA1 or BRCA2 positive?
I am in surgical menopause -should I have blood tests to check my post-op levels? Is so, how often? What are the optimal levels?
What if I can’t take HRT due to genetic risk of cancer or blood clots?
What is the difference between HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and MHT (Menopausal Hormone Therapy)?
Does HRT come from horses' urine? What HRT is suitable for vegans?
I kept my uterus and need progestogen 'add-back' to my estrogen therapy. What are progestogens?
When should I start progestogen therapy? When should I stop taking it?
Will my GP be able to prescribe HRT?
How easy is it to access a menopause specialist?
What is the difference between bioidentical and body identical HRT? Are hormones from a compounding pharmacy safer or more effective? Should I do salivary hormone testing to determine if I have a hormone imbalance?
Should I be examining my breasts whilst on HRT?
Are there any alternatives to estrogen in surgical menopause?
Will drinking alcohol whilst in surgical menopause/on HRT affect my mood?