If your doctor has recommended a hysterectomy, it's likely that you have a lot of questions. This can be a very emotional time for a woman. Make sure you're getting all the support you need.
In short, a hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman's uterus. It's the second most common surgical procedure among women in the United States. By the age of 60 years, one in 3 women in the US will have had one. A hysterectomy will mean the end of your menstrual periods. And you will no longer be able to get pregnant.
There are several reasons women have hysterectomy, and different procedure types. Depending on the situation, some hysterectomies involve removal of the ovaries and cervix, in addition to the uterus. If your ovaries are removed, you will immediately enter surgical menopause
. This can lead to sudden symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness and atrophy.
If you're scheduled for a hysterectomy, or have already had one, and you're considering estrogen therapy to manage your symptoms, ask your doctor about Vivelle-Dot®—the #1 prescribed brand-name bioidentical estrogen therapy.*†
You may also want to check out HysterSisters.com, the premier woman-to-woman support site for hysterectomy recovery. While you're there, sign-up for the Checkpoints program, a hysterectomy support program designed to provide important information based on your specific surgery timeline.