Question about hysterectomy - please help!

[Molotov]

I'm asking here rather as well as on _chat.

Basically, I know a lady who needed a complete hysterectomy almost 30y ago (she's in her 60s).

The thing is, she's been on HRT on and off ever since and says that she aches/has mood swings/hot flushes, etc, if she does not have HRT.

Apologies if I appear ignorant but I don't really understand how someone could need HRT after this long. Isn't it dangerous if taken long term? Doesn't rhe body adjust to this lack of hormones? Are there long term differences between a natural menopause and surgically induced one?

Looking for some information because I just don't understand and would very much like to.

Thanks

[Thymeout]

I had a hysterectomy plus ovaries (and extras) in the summer. The main purpose of the op was to remove a large ovarian tumour - non malignant.

I took HRT from the age of 50-60, so am not sure exactly when my menopause was complete. I stopped taking the pills when a link was found to ovarian cancer. No symptoms at all when I stopped taking them.

After losing my ovaries plus uterus, however, I have been having menopausal symptoms - hot flushes, insomnia, although they said I wouldn't notice. So obviously you do go on producing hormones after the menopause.

Or I did. There's a huge variation between individual women. I wouldn't go back on HRT, given my history. But if this woman is being prescribed it, I assume her doctor knows what he is doing.