Surgical Menopause

Abstract

In addition to the common symptoms that occur after natural menopause, special considerations apply to women who have had their ovaries removed, particularly when oophorectomy occurs before age 45 years. Women with premenopausal oophorectomy have more severe and prolonged menopausal symptoms. Their risks of adverse mood, heart disease, excessive bone resorption, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive disorders are increased compared with the general population. Retention of the ovaries carries a survival benefit for women at low risk of ovarian malignancy. Women facing oophorectomy should understand the balance of risks and benefits in order to make an informed decision.

Associations among menopausal symptoms, sleep and fatigue in Taiwanese women with endometrial cancer

“…Moreover, our participants who experienced surgical menopause had significantly lower endocrine‐symptom subscale scores than those who had natural menopause, meaning that women in the former group had worse menopausal symptoms than those in the latter group. Our finding is supported by a review that found women who underwent surgical menopause had more severe and prolonged menopausal symptoms than women after natural menopause (Rodriguez & Shoupe, ) because surgical menopause does not allow women's bodies to adjust gradually to changes in oestrogen levels (Clemons et al., ), causing menopausal symptoms to be more profound (Ganz, Rowland, Meyerowitz, & Desmond, ). In addition, the majority of Turkish women who underwent natural menopause viewed it as a natural process in women's lives, whereas the majority of women who underwent surgical menopause viewed menopause as causing a loss of femininity and the end of fertility and sexuality (Topatan & Yildiz, ).…”

“…In addition, the majority of Turkish women who underwent natural menopause viewed it as a natural process in women's lives, whereas the majority of women who underwent surgical menopause viewed menopause as causing a loss of femininity and the end of fertility and sexuality (Topatan & Yildiz, 2012). Moreover, experiencing surgical menopausal before age 45 not only increases menopausal symptoms, but also the risks of cardiometabolic disorders, osteoporosis, and emotional and cognitive diseases (Rodriguez & Shoupe, 2015). Therefore, women who experience sudden menopause due to cancer treatment should receive appropriate and timely counselling and follow-up assessment of menopausal symptoms.…”

European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) and International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) position statement on managing the menopause after gynecological cancer: focus on menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis

“…These can result in loss of ovarian function and, in women under the age of 45 years, early menopause, which increases the risk not only of osteoporosis but also of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline 2 3. Surgically induced menopause often leads to the immediate onset of vasomotor symptoms, which may be more severe than after natural menopause 4. Vasomotor symptoms may last for many years after natural or surgical menopause 5–7.…”

Ovarian Sex Hormones Modulate Compulsive, Affective and Cognitive Functions in A Non-Induced Mouse Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

“…Such dysfunction in mood and cognitive functions has also been reported in women with surgical menopause (Chen et al, 2013; Faubion et al, 2015). Physiological challenges during surgical menopause are much more drastic due to a sudden depletion of ovarian sex steroids as compared to progressive menopause which follows fluctuating patterns of steroid levels (Bachmann, 2001; Rodriguez and Shoupe, 2015; Rodríguez-Landa et al, 2015). This results in greater predisposition to mood and anxiety disorders when compared to natural menopause (Rodríguez-Landa et al, 2015).…”