Menopause commences in a woman's body when the ovaries stop working. When a woman has a total hysterectomy – one that includes the removal of her ovaries – menopause will start immediately after her procedure, no matter how old she is when the hysterectomy takes place. In a woman whose ovaries deteriorate gradually, the symptoms might come on slowly, but when a patient has had an oophorectomy (ovary removal), symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood swings often arrive suddenly. A woman who is having a total hysterectomy should be prepared to explore hormone replacement options that could lessen the severity of their menopause symptoms after hysterectomy.
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