Menopause

Menopause is one of the most significant natural stages in a woman’s life. It’s when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels and usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. Fluctuating hormonal levels can lead to emotional, mental, and physical changes in a woman’s body.

Although it can be a challenging time, it’s also an opportunity to put your needs first. This is a time when many women choose to make changes in their lifestyle to help maintain their physical and emotional equilibrium. Also to support their body in adapting to the changing rhythms of this natural mid-life transition.

Our users tell us LaBalance has helped women who have undergone a hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy & Surgical Menopause

Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy before menopause will usually result in a woman becoming menopausal at an earlier age than she would have done without the surgery.

The Surgery

Broadly speaking the surgery will be either a hysterectomy or an oophorectomy (a hysterectomy including the removal of the ovaries). In all cases periods will stop and you will no longer be able to become pregnant.

In the case of an oophorectomy, where the ovaries are removed, you will immediately become menopausal post-surgery. If the ovaries have not been removed as part of the hysterectomy, you will become menopausal any time up to 5 years following the surgery.

This early menopause will give you the same symptoms as any normally occurring menopause.

What causes Menopause Symptons?

Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

There are two divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), the Sympathetic Nervous system (SNS) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS).

Menopausal symptoms are the result of a natural reduction of hormones, primarily progesterone and oestrogens. These reductions are believed to be the cause an imbalance to the ANS, which is responsible for controlling bodily functions, including stress reactions such as sweating, body temperature, circulation, heart rate, bowel and bladder function, and more.

Symptoms such as sweating and anxiety, which are commonly associated with menopause, are under the control of the Sympathetic division, which is our body’s fight-flight stress reactor system. For example, when we perceive a threat, this is the system that causes our heart to beat faster for more blood flow for faster reactions.

Parasympathetic division (PNS)

In contrast, the Parasympathetic division (PNS) is responsible for REST and DIGESTION. This is the body’s repair and regulatory system, and it tends to have the opposite effect to the SNS. For example, the SNS speeds the heart rate while the PNS slows it down. The two systems work together to regulate all our organ systems.