Ovaries matter…
…but that doesn’t prevent surgeons from removing them in nearly 600,000 women every year…
Did you know…
1. Approximately two-thirds of all hysterectomies are done unnecessarily for benign conditions which can be treated more conservatively.
2. One in every four women aren’t informed of non-surgical options before their hysterectomy.
3. 30% of women who choose to have only their uterus removed are convinced by their doctors to also have their ovaries removed ‘just in case’ to prevent ovarian cancer (…and by the way, the risk is only 1.3%)
Here’s what doctors aren’t telling their patients…
Ovaries matter because they produce key hormones which perform hundreds of health sustaining functions in a woman’s body...even after menopause…
…In fact, women who undergo premenopausal hysterectomies have earlier onset and higher rates of high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases…
…AND they die from these diseases earlier than women who still have their ovaries.
The good news is…
Women can avoid having an unnecessary hysterectomy…
...by educating themselves about the numerous preventative and non-surgical treatment options available to them.
The top conditions for which hysterectomies are performed include uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, and heavy/dysfunctional uterine bleeding. There are two key factors that fuel the development and persistence of these conditions:
Ø Estrogen dominance (too much estrogen in relation to progesterone)
Ø Generalized inflammation throughout the body, especially in the intestinal tract
…There are numerous ways women can proactively reverse these problems to prevent the most common causes of unnecessary hysterectomies.
Here are just a few ways to lower inflammation and balance estrogen levels:
1. Reducing Stress. Stress raises estrogen levels. It also reduces your body’s ability to clear toxic estrogen metabolites, increases inflammation, and makes the body resistant to other which balance estrogen. Studies have shown increased stress levels promote the development and growth of uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and other gynecologic problems.
2. Eat a healthy diet. Alcohol and foods that are high in fat or sugar raise estrogen levels, increase inflammation, and reduce the ability of the gut, kidney and liver to get rid of toxic estrogen metabolites In fact, intestinal inflammation is one of the key triggers for endometriosis.
3. Avoid or stop smoking. Women who smoke have higher levels of estrogen and inflammation.
4. Maintain regular bowel function. Bowels movements are one of the major ways the body eliminates estrogen metabolites. Furthermore, the bacterial inhabitants of the colon play a major role in healthy estrogen processing. Taking a probiotic daily can greatly improve bowel health and immune system function.
5. Maintain a healthy body weight. Estrogen is produced by multiple tissues, especially body fat. So, excess body fat results in more estrogen production which increases estrogen dominance. Fat cells also release at least 24 different substances which create significant inflammation in the body. Numerous studies have associated excess body fat with all of the benign uterine conditions mentioned above.
6. Optimize thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormone interacts with cortisol, estrogen, and the immune system to affect female hormone balance. Menstrual problems, especially heavy uterine bleeding, are commonly seen in women with thyroid hormone dysfunction.
7. Take nutritional supplements.
· Vitamin D3 reduces the symptoms of uterine fibroids and endometriosis by reducing estrogen dominance and inflammation.
· Diindolylmethane (DIM) is an enzyme found in cruciferous vegetables which promotes healthy estrogen metabolism.
· Melatonin reduces inflammation and prevents the growth and spread of endometriosis.
· Phytonutrients: Curcumin, Quercetin, ECGC (from Green Tea), and others have been shown to be beneficial in both preventing and treating uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and other conditions fueled by estrogen dominance and inflammation.
· Ayurvedic herbs have also been shown to be beneficial for the management of uterine fibroids, uterine prolapse,
· Omega-3 reduces inflammation; supplementation has been shown to be especially beneficial for endometriosis.
Education from reliable sources and self-advocacy are the keys…
The most important thing a woman can do is to educate herself. In many cases, a hysterectomy can be avoided by implementing lifestyle, dietary, and nutritional supplement changes…especially if initiated early.
In addition, if a woman is considering undergoing a hysterectomy, she should consider getting at least three different gynecologists’ opinions…including one from someone who is familiar with the scientific evidence on non-surgical treatment approaches, including those listed above.