Hysterectomy leads to more health risks, new study reveals

Hysterectomy is surgical removal of a woman’s uterus.

Some of the diseases and conditions that can be resolved through this process include; abnormal bleeding, adenomyosis, dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation, endometriosis, cancers (uterus, ovarian, cervical and endometrium), menorrhagia or heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding and fibroids.

One of the permanent effects of hysterectomy is that once it is done, the woman will no longer be able to become pregnant or menstruate.

While it may be the solution to the aforementioned issues, a recent study has now revealed that this procedure may have long-term effects on the health of women who undergo it.

The findings, published in American Medical Journal Menopause, shows that women whose uteruses are removed have increased risk of several cardiovascular diseases and metabolic conditions, even when both ovaries are conserved.

American researchers from the University of California identified 5,320 women aged over 18 years who had had a hysterectomy without removal of the ovaries for benign disease such as fibroids.

The study was done in 2018 and 2020 and was led by lead researcher, Dr Shannon Laughlin Tommaso. The research controlled for cardiovascular and metabolic conditions prior to surgery and looked only for new onset of disease after hysterectomy.

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“We found that women who had a hysterectomy without ovary removal had a 20 percent increased risk in lipid abnormalities, a 16 percent risk of high blood pressure an 18 percent increased risk of obesity and a 35 percent increased risk of coronary artery disease,” says Dr Tommaso.

Furthermore, notes Tommaso, women under the age of 35 had a five-fold increased risk of congestive heart failure and a three-fold risk of artery disease.

A gynaecologist/obstetrician, Dr Jude Onunga, explains that hysterectomy is the second most common gynaecological surgery, mostly done for benign reasons. It is the surgical removal of uterus and may also involve removal of cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes and other surrounding strictures. It may be total or partial.

Dr Onunga says it takes between six to eight weeks for a full recovery after having abdominal hysterectomy. Recovery time is said to be shorter after vaginal laparoscopy hysterectomy.

Those who have undergone this procedure are advised to rest as much as possible and not to lift heavy objects. This, he observes, is because physicians believe that this surgery has minimal long-term risks.

“With the results of this study, we encourage people/women to consider non-surgical alternative therapies for fibroids, endometriosis and prolapse, which are leading causes of hysterectomy,” says Dr Tommaso.

Experts say exercise can lead to loss of weight.

Smokers should also consider quitting the cigarettes after undergoing the procedure to ensure that such medical conditions are well controlled.