Surgical menopause like a 'hormonal cliff edge'

""Honestly it was like falling off a hormonal cliff edge," she told BBC Radio Sussex. "Within hours of the surgery I was home the same day. I was experiencing hot flushes, confusion, and the first night I woke up in the morning and I was absolutely dripping with sweat," she said. Ms Dyson says she found the aftercare galling, and says this is commonplace for many women. She said: "We are discharged without hormones, without warning, and without support. In my discharge notes it simply read, 'can try combined HRT [hormone replacement therapy] if she wishes', as if it were suggesting a glass of wine at the weekend.""

""We're calling for every woman facing ovary removal to receive clear information about the impact of surgical menopause pre-surgery, supportive information about hormone therapy and automatic access to HRT where it's safe, and proper follow-up care that responds to the severity of symptoms experienced by women in surgical menopause.""

"According to research by Newson Health and Dr Ceri Cashell, only 4.8% of 126 pre-menopausal women at three NHS hospitals who underwent surgery to remove both ovaries received HRT afterwards."

Kate Dyson, 44 from Hastings, underwent removal of both ovaries six months after a subtotal hysterectomy, triggering sudden surgical menopause. Within hours of surgery she experienced hot flushes, confusion and severe night sweats and was discharged the same day without immediate hormone treatment. Discharge notes tersely suggested she "can try combined HRT if she wishes" and aftercare was described as inadequate. Dyson founded Surge Menopause to press the Department of Health and Social Care for mandatory pre-surgery information, automatic access to HRT where safe, and appropriate follow-up care. Research found only 4.8% received post-operative HRT despite NICE and British Menopause Society recommendations.

Read at www.bbc.com