Impact of Loss of Hormones on Wine Tasting Abilities???

A good friend is going to be having a hysterectomy next month. She's a very accomplished wine taster. She and her doctor are debating removal of her ovaries at the same time. She's asked her doctor about the effect of the sudden lack of hormones on her sense of taste. His reply was that no one has ever asked him that question before. He has no idea of the impact. Does anyone in this news group have any information or experience about wine tasting for a woman after ovarian removal surgery (or menopause)?

Thanks in advance

Reply to
BFSON
Loading thread data ...

Bob, I have no scientific data for you, but I highly doubt that estrogens are at all implicated in olfaction. On an anecdotal level, I have tasted with several post-menopausal women who were still quite acute tasters. Take from that what you will.

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

month. She's a very

removal of her

effect of the sudden

no one has ever

impact. Does anyone in

wine tasting for a

Sorry BFSON - I replied direct to you when I meant to reply to the group - hit the wrong button - too much wine maybe.. Here it is again

Not specifically re hormones but I know of two people who permanently lost their taste for wine (but not their sense of taste) after hospital treatment. One male after radio and chemotherapy. And one female after major leg surgery. Martin

Reply to
Martin Field

] ] ] BFSON wrote: ] ] > A good friend is going to be having a hysterectomy next month. She's a very ] > accomplished wine taster. She and her doctor are debating removal of her ] > ovaries at the same time. She's asked her doctor about the effect of the sudden ] > lack of hormones on her sense of taste. His reply was that no one has ever ] > asked him that question before. He has no idea of the impact. Does anyone in ] > this news group have any information or experience about wine tasting for a ] > woman after ovarian removal surgery (or menopause)? ] ] Bob, ] I have no scientific data for you, but I highly doubt that estrogens are at all ] implicated in olfaction. On an anecdotal level, I have tasted with several ] post-menopausal women who were still quite acute tasters. Take from that what you ] will. ]

My qualitative experience jibes with Mark's. A friend who just underwent this operation, and with whom I shared a glass last week, reported no lack of taste. Also when my wife began hormone therapy (which simulates menopause) she didn't report a change, but obviously her taste apparatus was already off kilter. HTH.

-E

Reply to
Emery Davis

My wife had a hysterectomy more than ten years ago. Still enjoys wine and we discuss the various nuances. No problems.

I took a severe hit in taste after 6 1/2 weeks of radiation therapy last year. Taste has recovered to about 75% of what it had been previously. Salivary glands operate at about 20% and that, I'm told doesnt' recover. Still enjoying wine, but find I need to concentrate more on the task to really tell what is going on in the glass.

Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN #1-58834-103-8

Reply to
Ed Rasimus

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.