The ESTRONAUT Site
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| Weight Gain After a Hysterectomy
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What causes weight gain after a complete hysterectomy, specifically in the abdomen? It seems the fat gathers mostly in this area. Is there anything beyond specific abdominal exercises and a healthy diet? If a woman's ovaries are removed during a hysterectomy (a complete hysterectomy), her body is instantly pushed into menopause. The ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone, and androstenedione. When they are removed the levels of these hormones drop dramatically and the effects on a woman's body can be varied. One of the frequent complaints of women who have had a hysterectomy, is weight gain, particularly around the waist. This a complaint they share with many women who experience a similar type of weight gain as they grow older and go through menopause. Abdominal weight gain is believed to be tied to an excess of androgens, and a relative decrease in estrogen. Men tend to gain weight in their waists rather than in their hips or thighs, where women more commonly gain weight. Decreased levels of estrogen can lead to a similar effect in women. Androgens are the "male hormones" that are normally present in a woman's body. Menopause or a hysterectomy can skew the balance of these androgens against estrogen. Other elements that may be at work are a slowed metabolism, and water retention. It is yet unclear whether estrogen treatment itself has these effects on women. The best way to manage a weight gain that finds its source in hormonal imbalance is to better address that source. Any woman who is menopausal or has had a hysterectomy and is experiencing discomfort, should ask her doctor about customizing her hormonal treatment. The answer is often found through trial and error. She should try changing doses, and changing hormone combinations. |