Weight Gain after Hysterectomy

Weight gain after hysterectomy is one of the most common complaints women have after undergoing the procedure. Hysterectomy is a major operation that is performed to remove the uterus for the treatment of certain conditions such as cancer, fibroids, uterine bleeding, and others. Aside from the uterus, the cervix, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries may also be removed during a hysterectomy. This is to avoid a disease such as cancer from spreading to the other organs.

There are various types of hysterectomy and various techniques for performing the surgery. A complete Hysterectomy immediately causes menopause to begin. In addition, a woman who has undergone hysterectomy may no longer bear a child. There are other risks and complications that may occur after hysterectomy. However, incidents of these have been low.

Weight gain after hysterectomy can result especially when the ovaries are removed. Weight gain is most noticeable around the waist, and the explanation for this is that if the ovaries are removed during a complete hysterectomy then the body stops producing estrogen and progesterone. As estrogen levels decrease, the androgen (male hormones) levels in the woman’s body increases. While women usually gain weight around the hips and thighs, men usually grow heavy around the waist. With the androgen levels increasing in a woman’s body after undergoing a hysterectomy, she becomes prone to gaining more flab around the waist.

Another reason for the weight gain after hysterectomy is slowed metabolism, and the lack of exercise. A woman who has undergone hysterectomy has restricted movement after the surgery, which in effect can slow down metabolism. In addition, most women who undergo hysterectomy are in their forties and fifties, and with age a woman’s metabolism decreases significantly. Women in these age groups are less active than women in their twenties or thirties, which can further contribute to the weight gain. Still, another possible cause for the weight gain is a hormonal imbalance-too much androgen.

To cope with the weight gain after hysterectomy, it would help to maintain a healthy and low-fat diet. There should also be regular exercise as soon as the body has recovered enough from the hysterectomy. If the cause for the weight gain after hysterectomy is a hormonal imbalance, a doctor can be consulted about undergoing hormone replacement therapy.