Does Having the Fallopian Tubes Removed Cause Menopause?

Menopause is one year with out your menstrual period. The average age women go through menopause is 51. Removal of the fallopian tubes, also known as salpingectomy, can put a woman into menopause only if it affects the production of the female hormones.

Function

• All of the female eggs that a woman has are stored in her ovaries, which are at the top of her fallopian tubes. Each month an egg travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus to be fertilized and become an embryo. In addition, the female hormone estrogen is produced in the ovaries, which control menstruation.

Considerations

• If your doctor performs the salpingectomy and keeps at least one of your ovaries, your body will still make the hormone estrogen and you will most likely be able to have your periods as normal.

Potential

• When the fallopian tubes are removed, the egg will not be able to travel down the tubes on its own to the uterus. Having the fallopian tubes removed is, in effect, similar to a tubal ligation that prevents pregnancy but still allows you to have your periods. With fallopian tubes removed, as long as you have one ovary left you will still potentially be able to become pregnant. You may have to undergo expensive procedures to remove your eggs and have them placed in the uterus for invitro fertilization.

Surgical Menopuase

• If your fallopian tubes are removed and both ovaries are removed at the same time, you will stop making the female hormone estrogen. This will put you into "surgical menopause," as you will no longer produce the hormones necessary for menstruation.

Symptoms of Menopause

• Without your fallopian tubes and ovaries, you may experience symptoms of menopause, but since you are not having regular periods you are considered to be menopausal. Some side effects of surgical menopause are a drier genital area, as the vaginal membranes become thinner due to the change in estrogen levels being produced, losing muscle and gaining fat, osteoporosis and heart disease risks.