Surgical Menopause is a Lie

Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the female sex organs. It may be total or partial. Over a half million women undergo this surgery every year.

While hysterectomy as a treatment for “female problems” is relatively common, removal of male sex organs as a treatment is generally considered when the only other choice is death.

When a man has a similar procedure performed, it is referred to as a castration.

Both hysterectomy and castration have the same results – loss of reproductive organs. For the man it is the last effort. For a woman it is sometimes considered the first thing to do. In the final analysis, hysterectomy is castration.

The difference between men and women is clear but why does this difference in procedures persist to this day? What is there about removing the ovaries and the uterus that is different from removing testicles?

One must wonder how many fewer hysterectomies would be performed if the woman were told she was being castrated.

There is sufficient evidence to support the contention that hysterectomies are often unnecessary. The after effects are comparable to what a man would experience when he is castrated;

Every effect is the direct loss of hormone balance. Efforts to replace the lost hormones are sometimes helpful, but they never equal the condition the person had before the surgery.

The important thing to keep in mind is that hysterectomy is final and probably the first step in a life of losses. Of course, there are situations when, like castration in men, the hysterectomy is indicated when it is that or death. Everything – yes everything – must be evaluated before agreeing to hysterectomy surgery. It is up to the woman to stand her ground, do the research, and insist that other efforts be made before the cutting begins. Hormone replacement is necessary after surgery. The same hormones, in small amounts, may be just as effective when used properly before surgery.

One final note. There is no such thing as “surgical menopause” – as it relates to hysterectomy/castration. Menopause is a fully natural process where the reproductive activity of a woman ceases. It is not the complete cessation of hormone production. While hormone values change, they never fall to zero. After hysterectomy, a woman is not similar to being “post-menopausal”. It is much more severe. Surgical menopause is a phrase that means hysterectomy, which actually means castration. It is a rare procedure for men and it should also be rare for women.