Why can removal of the ovaries cause menopause to begin suddenly?

The removal of the ovaries, a procedure that can be performed during a hysterectomy or for the treatment of conditions such as ovarian cancer, causes menopause to begin suddenly because it results in the immediate loss of ovarian function.1

Under normal circumstances, menopause is a gradual process of aging where the ovaries slowly decline in function and produce decreasing amounts of estrogen and progesterone over several years. However, the ovaries are the primary endocrine glands responsible for secreting these hormones. When they are surgically removed, the body experiences an abrupt and significant drop in hormone levels rather than the slow, natural decline associated with perimenopause. This sudden hormonal shift triggers the immediate onset of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, rather than the gradual transition typically experienced by women.213