Ask Emily — hormone replacement therapy

QUESTION:

If I’ve had a hysterectomy, do I need HRT?

ANSWER:

It depends on what kind of hysterectomy you had, how you feel and how old you are. With a partial hysterectomy (when only part of the uterus is removed) your ovaries remain intact, so you may not feel the need for any hormonal supplementation. A complete or total hysterectomy refers to the removal of the cervix and uterus, while the ovaries may or may not be removed. Sometimes even if the ovaries are not removed, they cease working as they did prior to the hysterectomy. In this case and in women who have had their ovaries removed, they are usually in what is called “surgical menopause”. This oftentimes requires some hormonal supplementation. If you have a hysterectomy at a young age (younger than age 45), we recommend supplementation with bioidentical estrogen until your body would normally taper estrogen production, which is typically around 45-50-years-old.

Learn more

More questions on hormone replacement therapy

The Personal Program is a great place to start

The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse–Educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we recommend to all our patients at the clinic.

• To learn more about the Program, go to How the Personal Program works.
• To select the Program that’s right for your symptoms, go to Choose the plan that works for you.
• To assess your symptoms, take our on-line Hormonal Health Profile.
• If you’re ready to get started, learn about our risk-free trial.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-800-798-7902. We’re here to listen and help.

Last Modified: 08/17/2009