Surgical Menopause Treatments

Surgery to remove the ovaries induces early menopause. Some such surgeries are necessary, as with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer that has spread to both ovaries. Other women may elect to remove both ovaries in order to lower the risk of cancer, usually because of a family history of ovarian cancer and/or testing positive to the mutation of BRCA genes. Either way, putting the body into early menopause can cause the same symptoms facing women who go through natural menopause, such as mood swings and hot flashes. Finding the right treatment can make menopause much easier to live with.

Menopausal Side Effects

• Menopausal side effects include: weight gain, fatigue, changes in mood, insomnia or other sleep issues, changes in memory, bladder problems, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive and hot flashes. Of course, not every woman experiences every side effect, and each woman experiences menopausal symptoms at varying degrees.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

• One widely available treatment for the surgical menopause is hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen, for example, can ease vaginal dryness. After surgically induced menopause, women can replace lost hormones through hormone replacement therapy. Some of these hormones include estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. The amount of hormones received through HRT is usually less than that which the ovaries produced before menopause. HRT may still have its risks, and all of those should be discussed with a doctor to weigh the possible risks and benefits.

  Bio-identical hormones are hormone replacements that are chemically the same as the hormones the body produces. The body cannot determine the difference between these hormone replacement preparations and the body's own hormones.

Calcium

• Surgical menopause can often cause weakening of the bones, so menopausal women should consume adequate amounts of calcium. A recommended dosage is 1200 milligrams of calcium per day. You can get adequate calcium in the form of a calcium supplement or food, or even a combination. To help the body better absorb the calcium, take a vitamin D supplement as well.

Exercise

• Exercise after surgical menopause can improve your mood and lower the risk for developing osteoporosis. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises will strengthen the bones and help prevent calcium loss.

Anti-depressants

• Anti-depressants can improve mood and relieve menopausal side effects such as hot flashes. For example, SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may either make hot flashers occur less often or reduce the intensity of the hot flashes.