Rochelle McKenry lost 2 close relatives to breast and ovarian cancer and faced a higher genetic risk of developing the diseases. So at 43, she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes surgically removed to lower her cancer risk. Now 2 years on, Rochelle details a major side effect of the surgery she hadn’t fully considered – menopause.
When I decided to have risk management surgery, I didn’t consider what life would be like afterwards. I just knew I wanted to do everything I could to be here for my girls and not leave my husband to handle life without me if I got cancer.
I knew that my type of surgery would lead to early menopause but my mum had risk management surgery at 58 and didn’t really experience menopausal symptoms. I thought I would be just like her and maybe get through this menopause thing unscathed or, at the very least, with minimal symptoms.
I wasn’t so lucky.
About 5 months after surgery, the insomnia kicked in. I started to experience night sweats and got my first hot flush in the supermarket. It felt like I was burning from the inside out.
With natural menopause, the symptoms often emerge gradually. But with medically induced menopause, the sudden changes were like being hit by a freight train.
In Australia, the average age of menopause is 51, but it can happen earlier or later. Medically induced menopause is when menopause happens because of surgery, cancer treatment or medication.
As part of my treatment, my specialist put me on menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to help protect me from heart disease and osteoporosis. The risk of developing these conditions tends to rise after menopause. I thought the hormone therapy might help with my symptoms, but I don’t believe it has. MHT has also been in and out of stock, which has been very stressful.
Menopausal symptoms are something I live with every day. And I struggle.
I have sore joints, bloating, anxiety and self-doubt. My skin is hairier than normal. I also have severe vaginal itchiness that I resort to scratching so much it becomes painful and raw.
Unsurprisingly, intimacy with my husband is a struggle. Sex is painful and boring because I don’t feel the flutters.
My brain fog also makes me feel like I’m losing my mind. I work in aged care where I have to keep progress notes. I was called to the facility manager’s office to discuss why I hadn’t used the correct wording in my notes. When I explained that I couldn’t remember the right word, they told me it was no excuse.
Medically induced menopause has impacted my life in a way I never knew it could. I just wish I had known about these challenges before surgery.
I don't regret my risk management surgery. But I wish I’d had more information on the before, during and the after.
My medical team was very supportive, but their main focus was on reducing my risk of ovarian cancer. There wasn’t much room to think about the impact of menopause.
My advice to women in the same situation is to do your research because the more you know, the more you are equipped to handle. Also, find someone that can help you.
You will never have all the answers, but if you have support and knowledge, it's power.
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health has partnered with Inherited Cancers Australia to ensure that women experiencing medically induced menopause are not overlooked in national health conversations. Together, we have published new information for those navigating medically induced menopause. For updates, follow us on social media.
All reasonable steps have been taken to ensure the information created by Jean Hailes Foundation, and published on this website is accurate as at the time of its creation.
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