Induced menopause occurs when menstruation stops usually suddenly after either the surgical removal of the ovaries or by other medical causes such as chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy.

Fertility ends abruptly for those who experience induced menopause from surgery and can oftentimes be very emotional. Ovarian hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and androstenedione) often drop rapidly, which may also exacerbate physical symptoms, especially hot flashes.

Every year, approximately 600,000 women in the U.S. have hysterectomies. One in three women in the U.S. has had one by the age of 60 - and each one of these women has questions, as do their husbands, boyfriends, children and friends. Their concerns may be about recovery -

When will I be able to exercise following the surgery?

Will I have hot flashes?

Or questions about the procedure itself -

What exactly does the surgery entail?

How long will it last, and how will I feel afterward?

Use the following resources to prepare and guide you through your hysterectomy journey:

Hysterectomy Primer for more information about the procedure.

Hysterectomy Recovery

A Personal Account of Hysterectomy by Karen Giblin, Founder and President, Red Hot Mamas