As we mentioned in previous articles during the last stage of the menstrual cycle normally a layer of endometriosis lining in the inside of the uterus is expelled, known as menstruation blood but instead some of the endometriosis tissues grow somewhere in the body causing endometriosis. Endometriosis also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle, building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Sometime, because of the advance state of endometriosis that may danger to the women life, hysterectomy may be the last resource. In this article, we will discuss what is hysterectomy??

I. Definition

A hysterectomy is the second most common surgery among women in the United States. For women with endometriosis in the advance state, hysterectomy may be suggested if your health doctor think that the endometriosis may post danger to your life. Hysterectomy is an operation to remove of a woman’s uterus. There are three types of surgery approach

1. Abdominal hysterectomy

Hysterectomies are done through a cut in the abdomen.

2. Vagina hysterectomy

Hysterectomies are done through a cut in vagina.

3. Laparoscopic hysterectomy

Laparoscopic is a medical instrument that help the doctor see inside the abdomen during abdomen and vaginal hysterectomy.

II. Types of hysterectomy

The four types of hysterectomy are all involved in the removing of the uterus.

a) Total hysterectomy

Total hysterectomy is the operation that remove the uterus along with the cervix.

b) Subtotal hysterectomy

Subtotal hysterectomy is the operation that remove only the uterus.

c) Simple hysterectomy

It is the operation that remove the uterus without removal of adjacent tissue or lymph nodes.

d) Radical hysterectomy

Radical hysterectomy is the most lengthy operation, it not only remove the uterus but also the cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and all supporting tissues. This type of surgery is rarely used in endometrial operation but usually done to treat cervical cancer.

III. Risks

a) Heavy blood loss during and after surgery

b) Bow and bladder damage caused by medical instrument used to perform the surgery

c) Anesthesia risk always exist.

d) Incision required further attention

I hope this information will help. If you need more information or insurance advices, please follow my article series of the above subject at my home page at:

http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com

http://lifeanddisabitityinsuranceunderwriter.blogspot.com/



Thanks to Kyle J. Norton for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Bleeding After Menopause

Estrogen is one of the most powerful of female hormones. It binds to tissue in the uterus and breasts by attaching to estrogen receptor sites. It is then transported into the cytoplasm of the cell and on to genetic material to work its estrogenic effect by stimulating specific protein syntheses.

Compounds in plants that mimic estrogen are called phytoestrogens and can competitively bind to estrogen receptor sites. By usurping the estrogen receptor cite they exclude the more powerful estrogen produced by the body. But once attached they exert a more mild estrogenic effect. Phytoestrogens are normally 40 times weaker than estrogens. They can also lower luteinizing hormone levels, which tend to rise at menopause causing symptoms such as hot flashes.

Phytoestrogens include triterpines (actein, cimici-fugicide, 27-desoxyacetylacteol), isoflavones (daidzein, genestein, biochanin, formononetin), aromatic acids (isoferulic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid) and others. They are found naturally in seeds, nuts, legumes (such as soy) and vegetables.

The oral use of phytoestrogens as isolated nutrients or as a part of natural foods has been shown in scientific studies to decrease hormone-related problems associated with menstruation, menopause and oncogene (tumor) expression.

Clinical studies have demonstrated the following impressive effects with these plant based nutrients:

1. In a study of 625 menopausal female patients, results from 131 doctors showed 80% measured improvements in associated ailments;

2. Comparisons to estrogen therapy and Valium in 60 patients showed a superior response to the Kupperman Menopausal Index;

3. Compared to estrogen and placebo, better results were obtained on the Kupperman Index, the Hamilton Anxiety test and vaginal lining testing;

4. A double-blind study of 110 females showed improvement in blood hormone levels;

5. In 60 women who had partial hysterectomies and were experiencing surgical menopause, symptoms were relieved;

6. Epidemiological studies of Eastern societies that consume much higher levels of natural dietary phytoestrogens show them to be far more free of menopausal or menstrual problems and to have a much lower incidence of estrogen sensitive cancers.

Estrolog-type phytoestrogens have been used since the 1950’s in Europe and are highly successful and safe. The only possible contraindications would be in the presence of pregnancy, lactation, estrogen-dependent tumors and heart disease.

Phytoestrogens will not result in the more immediate and more powerful effects characteristic of pharmaceuticals… nor do they have the attendant dangerous side effects. On the other hand, problems that may have developed in the body over decades cannot be expected to be resolved in a day or two. Restoring healthy balances takes time and usually several weeks must pass before results can be seen. Patience and commitment to an ideal of safe, natural nutrition and supplementation combined with a healthy life-style is critical to long-term results.

Zeneca Pharaceuticals. Tamoxifen Patient Insert. Zeneca, Inc. Wilmington, DE. 1998.

For further reading, or for more information about, Dr Wysong and the Wysong Corporation please visit www.wysong.net or write to wysong@wysong.net. For resources on healthier foods for people including snacks, and breakfast cereals please visit www.cerealwysong.com.



Thanks to Dr. Randy Wysong for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Premature Menopause

Hysterectomy Surgery is when the uterus (womb) is removed and it may or may not include the removal of the fallopian tubes also as well as one or both of the ovaries. Whilst just the removal of a tube and ovary is known as a salpingo-oophorectomy, the removal of both tubes and ovaries is called bi-lateral salpingo-oophorectomies (BSO).

Also there are different types of hysterectomy surgery that can take and this all depends on which of the organs are removed.

1. Total Hysterectomy. This is the most common of these surgical operations and involves the removal of the uterus and cervix (neck of the womb).

2. Sub-Total Hysterectomy. This is when the body of the uterus is removed but the cervix is not.

3. Radical Hysterectomy. This type of surgery involves removal of the uterus, cervix and small portion of the woman’s upper vagina along with some soft tissue from within the pelvis. Such surgery is only performed when the patient is suffering from cancer of the cervix and the gynecologist has received special training for this type of operation.

It has been found that up to 1 in 5 women will need to undergo a hysterectomy during their life time and it is therefore a relatively common operation, but is nearly always necessary when a women has been diagnosed with cancer of the cervix or uterus. Hysterectomies will also be recommended to those women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

But in fact most hysterectomies will be performed not because a woman is suffering from cancer but because they are suffering from severe bleeding or pain from the uterus and which is making their lives very difficult. These type of hysterectomy operations are only carried out on women who do not wish to have children in the future.

Women who suffer from fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or heavy periods can choose to have a hysterectomy, whilst women who have a prolapse of the uterus will have an hysterectomy performed on them as part of the prolapse repair operation.

Any woman undergoing a hysterectomy surgery will be put fully to sleep using general anesthesia. As well as their being different types of hysterectomies a woman can have there are different ways in which the surgery can be performed.

1. Abdominal Hysterectomy. This is the most common of the operation and is performed through a six inch scar cut across the woman’s lower abdomen.

2. Vaginal Hysterectomy. This is performed through the vagina and thus leaves the patient with no visible scars that an operation has taken place.

3. Laparoscopically assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH). This is where the surgeon uses keyhole surgery in combination with surgery through the vagina in order to complete the operation. Again this type of surgery leaves the patient with no visible scars of an operation being carried out.



Thanks to Lee Dobbins for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Alternative Hormone Treatment

One of the most radical operations a woman can undergo is a hysterectomy. Every year up to 73,000 British women have their womb removed and also sometimes the cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

The number of women having the surgery has dropped over the past five years. The figure used to be nearer 90,000 but Robin Parsons a specialist menopause nurse for the Amarant Trust - a research centre for women’s health issues - says times are changing. In the Eighties there were huge numbers of hysterectomies done in hospitals around the UK. Women today have more options.

Sometimes a woman may decide that a hysterectomy is the best way to solve problems such as heavy periods, endometriosis, fibroids and PMT. In some situations with cancer of the uterus for example - there’s little choice.

But its not an operation that can be undertaken lightly. You won’t be able to have any more children, You’ll need about 12 weeks off work and a full recovery can take up to two years. Some women experience depression or a reduced libido. If the ovaries are removed, it will result in the onset of the menopause, and women will usually need to go on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. One in 50 women experiences complications such as wound infections and there’s a death rate of 1 in 2000 - so its no surprise that many seek other surgical and drug based options. Linda Parkinson-Hardman, Director of The Hysterectomy Association says “there are alternatives - many women just aren’t aware of them”.

DIET

Linda suggests cutting down on meat to see if that helps relieve pain. “Meat tends to be full of hormones, antibiotics and some oestrogens which could make you more likely to suffer from endometriosis and fibroids”, she says.

DRUGS

* A low dose contraceptive pill can reduce bleeding in half of the women who try it.

* Tranexamic acid which is used to promote blood clotting can cut bleeding in 60% of cases, although pain is not reduced.

* Mefanamic acid, an inflammatory drug can reduce bleeding by 20% and ease period pain. But side effects include nausea, vomiting and kidney problems. These drug treatments will not affect your long term fertility.

* A new treatment called uterine artery embolisation can be used to treat fibroids. Small particles of a grainy type substance are passed into the arteries to block off the blood supply to the fibroids so they die or are reduced in size. The fibroids can shrink by 50% in three months.

Mirena Coil

Designed as a contraceptive, the Mirena Intrauterine System (IUS) or coil can also reduce heavy bleeding. It’s fitted by your GP and left in place. After three months use average blood loss is reduced by 85% and by 12 months the flow is reduced by 97% every cycle. About one third of women will have no periods at all, as the progesterone in the IUS prevents the lining of the womb from building up.

One study looked at 54 women with heavy periods who were awaiting a hysterectomy. After being fitted with the Mirena IUS, just under 70% were taken off the waiting list because they were so happy with the treatment.

Possible side effects include headache, water retention and breast tenderness. Pregnancy is rare, but if it does occur it is advisable to remove the contraceptive as soon as possible to reduce the risk of bleeding, infection or miscarriage.

SURGERY

Endometrial ablation - the womb lining is removed with lasers, electro-surgery or cryotherapy (freezing). It can be used to treat heavy bleeding, fibroids and polyps with a success rate of about 85%.

Balloon thermo ablation - a latex balloon containing a heating element is passed into the uterus and inflated with fluid. It then heats up, destroying the uterus lining. It reduces heavy periods in 85% of cases.

Myomectomy - the surgical removal of fibroids, leaving the uterus intact. This is best suited for small fibroids.

Laparoscopically assisted hysterectomy - a relatively new procedure the uses keyhole surgery to insert a small viewing instrument into the abdomen. The surgeon can then remove the uterus or ovaries if required through the vagina. The small incisions leave the woman with minimal scarring which should reduce recovery time to 6-8 weeks. But the operation takes longer to perform and there is a greater risk of complications. This method is not suitable for women with large fibroids or ovarian tumours.

You can find out more about all the alternatives to hysterectomy on The Hysterectomy Association’s website at: www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk



Thanks to Linda Parkinson-Hardman for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Herbal Remedies For Hot Flashes