The hormone estrogen is essential for functioning of the reproductive and sexual system of a woman. Fluctuating estrogen levels also affect other vital organs like bone, liver, heart and brain. Natural menopause leads to dramatic decrease in the amount of estrogen produced by a woman’s ovaries; this decrease in estrogen levels triggers signs like anxiety, vaginal dryness, osteoporosis and hot flashes. Hysterectomy performed along with bilateral oophorectomy leads to surgical menopause; this condition is marked by similar symptoms to that of natural menopause. ERT or estrogen replacement therapy helps in getting rid of these symptoms.

Women who undergo hysterectomy in combination with oophorectomy after menopause usually do not need to have ERT. Premenopausal women encounter early menopause as a result of hysterectomy in combination with oophorectomy. Early menopause might result in long term health problems in these women. A 2010 study has shown that not undergoing ERT up to the age of 45 has increased the rate of cancer, premature death, neurological diseases, osteoporosis and heart diseases in these women. If there’s no contradiction, having ERT is extremely important for preventing the health problems caused by early menopause. A premenopausal woman will not need to undergo ERT after hysterectomy if the procedure is not conducted along with bilateral oophorectomy. However, there are instances when premenopausal women have suffered from compromised ovarian blood supply following the hysterectomy; in such cases the patient might experience early menopause and the physician might prescribe estrogen replacement therapy.

Hysterectomy is done after administering anesthesia. The patients continue experiencing the aftereffects of anesthesia even after coming back to sense after the surgery. During this phase, doctors do not allow the patients to have anything orally in order to prevent aspirating and chocking. The patients are allowed to consume orally only after their bowel sounds get back to normal. A doctor will be listening to the patient’s stomach using his stethoscope for hearing the bowel sounds.

The first things that a woman is allowed to have orally following her hysterectomy are ice chips, which is then followed by consumption of clear liquids like sports drinks, water, tea etc. If the patient does not experience problems like vomiting, nausea and stomach upset after having these clear liquids, it indicated that she is ready for having the regular liquids. The patient is then advised to follow a liquid diet plan. This diet includes juices, sodas, milk shakes, broths etc. At times, the patient is also allowed to have puddings, ice pops and gelatin.

After continuing with the liquid diet for a day or two the doctor advices the caregivers to offer soft foods to the patient. Soft foods include food items that can be chewed and swallowed easily, for instance rice, pastas, refined breads, tender fishes and meats etc. This step ensures that the patient is gradually becoming ready for returning back to her regular dietary habits. The patient can get back to her regular food habit once she has bowel movement. A patient experiencing problems with her bowel movement even after a week of undergoing hysterectomy should consult his physician. The doctor might ask her to have high fiber food items and stool softeners.

In the United States, around1/3 of all the cases of hysterectomy is done due to occurrence of fibroids. In this article we have discussed some natural remedies for fibroids that can help in avoiding hysterectomy.

• Patients with uterine fibroids must consume a diet full of beans and whole grains. Following this remedy helps in reducing the fibroids’ size. Other than that beans and whole grains act as shield against cancer forms like endometrial and breast cancers.
• Herbs like seeds of milk thistle or Silybum marianum, dandelion or Taraxacum officinale and roots of yellow dock or Rumex crispus are known to strengthen our liver. Having these herbs will improve our liver health, which in turn will help in removing estrogen from the body. Normalizing estrogen levels can help in reducing fibroids.

• Chasteberry tincture affects our pituitary gland directly; this herbal infusion helps in correcting the hormonal balance within our body. A woman with fibroid must consume 25 to 30 drops of this tincture 4 times every day. Following this remedy for a few weeks will make the fibroids much smaller. Herbalists suggest continuing the remedy for 1 or 2 years for eliminating the fibroid completely.
• Applying ginger compresses and warm packs prepared using castor oil are also known to shrink fibroids.
• Women with fibroids are also advised to use Phytolacca Americana or poke root as a remedy for uterine fibroids. This herb can be used both externally and internally. Use the herb to make a soothing belly rub for getting rid of the distress and pain caused by fibroids. For internal use, you will have to buy homeopathic medications containing extracts of the herb.

Pelvic discomfort:
The benign ovarian tumors are medically explained as slow growing masses in a woman’s ovary. As often, these tumors don’t show up any symptom, when they are actually discovered they already become quite large in size. In some the tumors become so large that they start causing pelvic and abdominal discomfort; this happens as the large tumors invade the nearby structures. According to a 2006 study, 44% of the women with stromal tumors experience pelvic pain as the sign of the condition. The pain occurring due to benign ovarian tumor is generally of low intensity and dull. However, severe pain may occur in the abdomen if the tumors get twisted.

Increased abdominal size:
As the benign ovarian tumors tend to grow extremely slowly, most of them are relatively small in size. However, there are some who develop large benign tumors in their ovaries; presence of large benign tumors in the ovary is usually indicated by increased abdominal girth.

Facial hair and pimples:
There are certain ovarian tumors that produce androgens. Increased levels of androgen in a woman’s body might result in appearance of pimples and facial hair. Thus often the doctors suggest women to undergo hormonal tests along with imaging tests during diagnosis of benign ovarian tumor.

Abnormal bleeding:
The estrogen producing benign ovarian tumors might result in abnormal bleeding from the patient’s uterus. If the affected woman is still menstruating, she might get abnormal bleeding during periods; menstruating women with benign ovarian tumors often get unusually frequent or heavy uterine bleeding due to increased levels of estrogen. Benign tumors in the ovary might cause sudden uterine bleeding in postmenopausal women. If the benign ovarian tumors do not cause production of estrogen, the patient is likely to experience irregular menstruation; in some cases there might also be temporary stoppage of menstruation.

1. Endometriosis
2. Ovarian cancer
3. Benign (non-cancerous) ovarian cysts an tumors
4. Reducing the chances of occurrence of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in women who are at higher risk of getting these diseases
5. Twisting of ovaries or ovarian torsion
6. Tubo-ovarian abscesses i.e. pus filled pockets involving fallopian tubes and ovaries of a woman.

The process of oophorectomy may result in some minor complications, for instance:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Damage to the adjacent organs
• Retention of the ovary cells, due to which the patient may continue experiencing symptoms like pelvic pain (this is more common in the premenopausal women)
• Rupturing of tumors resulting in spreading of the potential cancer cells

If bilateral oophorectomy is done to women who are still menstruating, they may get premature menopause. As a result of this, these women get deprived of hormones secreted by the ovaries. This hormonal deficiency might result in complications like:

• Osteoporosis
• Reduction in sex drive
• Memory loss
• Heart diseases
• Signs of menopause like vaginal dryness, hot flashes etc
• Anxiety and depression

These complications however can be controlled up to a certain extent by administering hormone replacement drugs. Gynecologists generally recommend intake of these drugs in low doses till the age of 50 years. However, hormone replacement therapies might also lead to certain side effects.

For people not familiar about uterine fibroma (fibroid), it is basically a benignant tumor lining the uterine wall. Research findings indicate that Negro females have thrice greater risk of getting them as compared to whites. Regrettably, I wasn’t the pick of the litter in regards to such astounding piece of data; I am part of the masses. Moreover, due to the poor positioning of the fibroids in my uterus (at my cervical base), the physician put forth a shocking ultimata to me – getting riddance of these fibroids or else sterility & incapability of bearing children. Oh Dear!

I have made numerous attempts at postponing such an electively done surgical procedure for quite a while & on myriad grounds. Firstly, I’m non-symptomatic which is truly fortunate. Several females with uterine fibroids suffer from intense discomforting sensations, bloated feeling or agonizing menses.

At the outset, I had taken my fibroid detection nothing short of an execution, bawling in the physician’s clinic no sooner did the news dawn upon me that I would have to undergo surgical procedure at some instant.. then I came to the decision that ‘Livin’ the Crazy Life’ at least dietetically will be my way of dealing with it. Even as I cancelled meats out of my dietetic intake, largely I was yet guzzling down sodas & downing milk products (each of which has been associated with fibroids development). For myself, caffeine definitely calmed me more as compared to sex – I was a Vanilla lattes lass.

I was not being disregardful of consequences. The reality is that I was plain simple petrified. I’ve lost my mother to ovarian carcinoma & although they do not have a direct link, the fibroids could be masking it. The sheer thought of cutting through my stomach & possibly uncovering something graver was frightening to state in the very least; hence I came to the decision of avoiding it. Furthermore, I was even slyly on the lookout for a reason to do it. Being a female in her thirties (kid-less, hubby-less and pet-less) I truly did not wish to be coming out of anesthesia to be greeted back to the planet of the animate by hugs & kisses from my kin (short of my mother) & buddies – I was hopeful for my notable better-half. Finally, I was fanatical about locating the apt time. Being the femme-on-the-go, hence to stay put for two to four weeks frightened me more as compared to ducking traffic on a bustling street. Yet, in the middle of several ‘why not’, I unearth an important ‘why’ – myself.

I realized that I owe this surgery to myself for recouping sound health, I needed facing my fears of having to deal with susceptibility physically sans the female I highly adore (my momma) & a man whom I am yet on the lookout for meeting (those mystic things dubbed ‘hubbies’ – laugh out loud). Most significantly, I required figuring out the reason for myself being fearful of being still.

Presently I have learnt to balance my dreads (of not salvaging my life, fertility & freedom) with my belief in ‘happily-ever-after’; it is the most opportune time for hacking out that deceased weight.

I Finally Did It

I got my fibroids excised & I am in the midst of the recuperative process. For a person like me who has never been admitted to a hospital & simply adores being on the go, the process of undergoing such a major surgical procedure did numb me. While lying on the hospital bed I kept pondering the manner in which I would be sharing this incident with all whom I know.

Dread. Playing chilled out at the onset, I was joking, chatting continuously regarding what a superlative means of starting a novel life with a novel body. I also did not spare making wise-cracks regarding the mega suitcases & unwieldy ugg boots I carried to the hospital. Then as the scheduled time came, I treaded down the lengthy way to the operation theatre – something I had solely watched on television, & the sheer thought of being confined, anesthetized & positioned with legs & arms outstretched got me pondering regarding life post-demise. On being fastened down & offered oxygen – I slowly slipped out, lying supine with earful of tearing & simply placing my life totally in the hands of the operating doctor. On shutting my eyes, I said my prayers to the Almighty, my forefathers & believed that this is all for the best.

Pains were the foremost aspect I recollect after the surgery while lying in the recuperation section in the hospital. The feeling of being thumped in the tummy repeatedly accurately describes what I felt on coming out of anesthesia and although the pains were excruciating – the sense of helplessness was most awful part of it and all I wished doing was resting.

Sleeping became my finest buddy the initial couple of hours post-myomectomy. My lower trunk was so de-sensitized that I foolishly felt that my system was a-okay. As my operation was at dawn, & I was yet sensing no pains due to being anesthetized- I erroneously believed that my body was comparatively well as I messaged buddies & also replied to job mails in the night. Huge folly!

‘What-the-hell’ – was precisely the foremost thought flooding my mind on awakening the subsequent day. Sitting up, rolling or lifting my feet – none of these were possible – however the hospital team were simply the best at taking care of me.

I was all teary on many instances when hospitalized. Several downbeat thoughts rushed my mind – was I having cancer similar to my mother or was I fertile – could a complication surface? To urinate, pass gas & have a bowel motion needed greater efforts for me than high-level Algebra & Trignometry. It was too excruciating – I had zero craving for food, my nasal prowess was better than that of a dog & eating was simply not possible for me – thus translating to the drugs making me ill. However, in spite of this all, there was solely one favourable thing – I wasn’t on my own – I had the love & support of my kin, buddies & the fabulous hospital staff that assisted me in tiding through this tribulation.

Presently I am balancing the recuperative process & I am well aware that patience is important for me to ascertain that I am in good health; however, I am so habituated to being the ‘busy-bee’. Providentially, my best friend was by my side for seven days to help me get better and in chilling out. I am aware of the fact that being stressed out & pitiable dietetic intakes are contributory to fibroid development. Moreover, a number of females would require undergoing several operations over a span of many years. But, I am steadfast to make only the finest decisions in regards to my health – physically & emotionally.

What is Endometriosis?

When probed about ‘what is endometriosis?’ it is a perplexing hormonal, immune condition afflicting females in ages from 8 onwards till post-menopausal phase. It is a widespread gynaecological problem which is acute, agonizing and mostly advancing condition among females.

Usually the tissue lining the uterus called as endometrium is present solely inside it and is discarded from the body during the monthly period cycle. But due to endometriosis, infinitesimal parts of this tissue manages to break away from the uterus backward into the abdominal area, adhering and growing on the organs located in the abdomen or pelvis. Implantation of such endometrial cells generally occurs all through the pelvis and mostly involves other reproductive organs like outer uterine wall, ovaries, ligament forms supporting the uterus and the gap in-between the rectum and uterus. Rarely, these might reach past the abdominal region and affecting other organ types like lung.

Similar to the endometrium, the tissue after transplantation would respond to progesterone, estrogen hormones and thickens and bleeds monthly. However as the relocated tissue embeds on to other tissues thus blood production fails to break away thereby causing irritation to the adjoining tissues that would cause cyst, scar and the fusing in together of body tissues. It could finally cause binding together of reproductive organ forms and resemble a single mass formation when medically examined. It could cause acute distortion to the usual pelvic structure and as a result cause an enormously unfavourable effect on fertility.

Endometriosis which is a non-malignant condition has been categorized as: mild, minimal, moderate or severe based on lesion extent and the depth of penetration within other organs in the body. These are additionally referred to as stage I to IV.

Endometriosis Causes:

Scientists have not yet been able to identify precisely the manner in which the endometrial tissue manages to reach other body areas or why it occurs. One possible explanation would involve a disorder known as backward/retrograde menstruation wherein instead of the normal process of parts of discarded uterine lining exiting via the cervical and vaginal region it would travel backward via the fallopian tubes and might then be carted into the abdominal cavity thus causing endometriosis. Physicians have observed that females having physical disorders like vaginal or cervical obstructions are more likely to develop retrograde menstruation.

Atypically, endometriosis could affect the lungs or other tissues distantly placed from the uterus. Scientists conjecture that the wandering endometrial pieces chart their course via the blood or lymphatic system, though the reason for this occurring is still unclear.

When they grow to a large extent or become symptomatic, the fibroids need to be removed by surgical intervention. HIFU or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is the only top-of-the-line, non-invasive treatment for fibroids. Ultrasound waves comprising of high frequency sound waves inaudible to the human ear are focused on the offending tissue that heats it up, much alike the operation of a magnifying glass. Employing this principle, well-focused ultrasound waves are concentrated into the body and at the central point the ultrasound waves heave the temperature of the fibroid tissue causing its annihilation. Continual imaging of the targeted aberrant tissue during treatment aids in ascertaining a favourable therapy result. This is a non-invasive outpatient method.

Advantages of HIFU

• Effectual adjunct to surgical intervention and hormonal treatment.
• Totally non-invasive – without the need for surgery, anaesthesia or loss of blood.
• No hospitalisation required.
• Aids in preservation of the uterus and cervix.
• Majorly enhances the quality of life and swifter return to normal functioning.

Type of Fibroids being treated using HIFU

HIFU could be employed on all fibroid forms namely, submucosal, subserosal and intramural. These terminologies depict the site of the fibroids within the uterus. Fibroids located in unreachable locations by the concentrated ultrasound, might not be treated.

The Treatment Procedure

The complete procedure is conducted on a task-specific treatment table wherein the doctor captures images to spot the uterus and the presence of one or more fibroids. These images are then employed for development of a treatment plan-of-action.

When the treatment commences, a small ray of concentrated ultrasound is aimed at the target for a short duration of time and aids in raising the temperature leading to heating up of the tissue. The images of the offending tissue are taken during the phase.

The system then transcends into the subsequent treatment plan and the process is continued till the total volume has been treated. HIFU is conducted on an outpatient basis in the absence of any anaesthetic procedure and takes close to half an hour following which the patient can be discharged. The number of sittings needed would vary in accordance to the type of each fibroid.

Due to any particular reason the patient does not experience respite from her niggling symptoms, then laparoscopic fibroid removal is conducted as the penultimate line of treatment.