After a hysterectomy, you will have a brief recovery time in the hospital. Your recovery time at home -- before you can get back to all your regular activities -- will vary depending on the procedure you had. Abdominal hysterectomy. Most women go home 2-3 days after this surgery, but complete recovery takes from six to eight weeks.
During this time, you need to rest at home. You shouldn't do any tasks until you talk with your doctor about restrictions. Don't do any lifting for the first two weeks. Walking is encouraged, but no heavy lifting. After 6 weeks, you can get back to your regular activities, including having sex. Vaginal or laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). A vaginal hysterectomy is less surgically invasive than an abdominal procedure, and recovery can be as short as two
weeks. Most women come home the same day or the next. Walking is encouraged, but not heavy lifting. You will need to abstain from sex for at least 6 weeks. Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH). This procedure is the least invasive and can have a recovery period as short as six days to two weeks. Walking is encouraged,
but not heavy lifting. Robotic hysterectomy. The surgeon's movements are mimicked by robotic arms that make small incisions to remove the uterus. Most women come home the next day. If the cervix is removed, you will have the same restrictions as you would have for an LAVH. Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms with any type of hysterectomy: For most women, life without a uterus means relief from the symptoms that caused them to have a hysterectomy -- bleeding, pelvic
pain, and abdominal bloating. With relief from those symptoms, women may have better sex -- with greater libido, frequency, and enjoyment. Yet if the ovaries were removed, there are a few more challenges ahead. If you had not gone
through menopause before your hysterectomy, you probably will begin having symptoms of menopause -- hot flashes and mood swings. Your body is adjusting to changes in hormone levels. You may also have some changes in sexual desire and enjoyment, and
vaginal dryness. Most women begin hormone replacement therapy before they leave the hospital, because bodily changes can be so drastic. You may feel a sense of loss. You may grieve over the loss of your uterus and your ability to
have children. If you had surgery because of illness or cancer, you may feel depressed. These feelings are normal. Talk to your doctor and a mental health therapist about them. Most women, however, are happy after their hysterectomy. If your ovaries were removed with the uterus,
you may want to consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to ease some symptoms. Your age and medical history are factors to consider when deciding on HRT. Talk it over with your doctor. There are non-hormonal treatments that can help.
Effexor and other SSRI antidepressants, Clonidine (a
blood pressure medication), and Neurontin (prescribed for seizures and chronic pain), have been found to be effective in treating hot flashes. Some women experience pain during intercourse after a hysterectomy. It helps to try different positions and lubricants and moisturizers (like K-Y oils
or Replens). A low-dose vaginal estrogen cream, suppository or ring can also help relieve vaginal dryness. Pelvic weakness sometimes develops after a hysterectomy. If you had some pelvic weakness before surgery, it may get
worse afterward -- leading to bladder or bowel problems. Kegel exercises can help strengthen pelvic muscles to help control urinary incontinence problems. For some women, corrective surgery is necessary.Your Hysterectomy Recovery
Treating Side Effects of Hysterectomy
Short-term hysterectomy side effects can include pain, bleeding, and hormonal fluctuations. Side effects depend on what type of hysterectomy a person has and whether a surgeon also removes their ovaries.
A hysterectomy is a surgery that removes the uterus. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a doctor may recommend a hysterectomy if a person has:
- endometriosis
- uterine fibroids
- gynecologic cancer
- abnormal bleeding
- chronic pain in the pelvis
A doctor may also perform a hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse, and genetic diseases that make some cancer more likely, such as Lynch syndrome.
In this article, we focus on hysterectomies for gynecological reasons and explain:
- types of hysterectomy
- side effects of each one
- potential risks and complications
- questions to ask a doctor
According to ACOG, there are three broad types of hysterectomy:
- Total hysterectomy: This surgery involves the complete removal of the uterus and cervix.
- Supracervical hysterectomy: During this procedure, surgeons remove the uterus but not the cervix. A doctor may also refer to this procedure as a subtotal or partial hysterectomy.
- Radical hysterectomy: This surgery removes the uterus, cervix, and surrounding support tissue. Doctors often recommend this type of hysterectomy for people with cancer.
Additionally, a hysterectomy with oophorectomy is when surgeons remove the uterus and one or both ovaries during the same surgery.
A hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy involves removing the fallopian tubes.
Also, surgeons can perform a hysterectomy in several different ways. They may remove the organs through the abdomen, or they may remove them through the vagina.
A laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomy involves a surgeon performing part of the surgery through the abdomen but removing the uterus through the vagina, combining both approaches.
It is common for people to experience pain, bleeding, vaginal discharge, and constipation after a hysterectomy. Pain medication and using sanitary pads can help with these side effects.
What other short-term side effects a person may experience depend on the type of hysterectomy they have.
Hysterectomy without oophorectomy
A hysterectomy that does not involve ovary removal may still affect the ovaries.
According to a 2020 review, research studies have found some evidence suggesting that some hysterectomies that spare the ovaries may speed up the onset of menopause.
A small, older study from 2006 found that hysterectomies may affect blood supply to the ovaries, which is one theory for why this could happen.
However, the evidence for this is still very mixed and dependent on the type of hysterectomy and what organs and surrounding tissues the surgeon removes.
Scientists are still investigating the long-term effects of hysterectomies and need to do further studies on the impact hysterectomies on ovarian function.
Hysterectomy with oophorectomy
If a person has undergone a hysterectomy with oophorectomy, this means they no longer have ovaries.
The ovaries produce the hormone estrogen. Without these organs, a person who had not undergone menopause already will experience menopause symptoms.
These side effects of hysterectomy with oophorectomy include:
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- vaginal dryness
- difficulty sleeping
- mood swings and irritability
- weight gain
- hair loss
- dry skin
- incontinence
- loss of bone density
- rapid heartbeat
The duration of these symptoms will vary from person to person. Due to the sudden drop in estrogen, people who have had an oophorectomy may experience exaggerated symptoms.
A doctor can prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to reduce menopause symptoms for people who are premenopausal.
According to the Office on Women’s Health, it typically takes 3–4 weeks to recover from a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy.
It may take 4–6 weeks to recover from an abdominal hysterectomy.
A person’s age and overall health also influence their recovery time.
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute say that after a hysterectomy, an individual:
- cannot drive for 2 weeks
- cannot lift objects heavier than a bag of groceries for 6 weeks
- may experience fatigue for the first 6 weeks
- may see spotting and vaginal discharge for 8 weeks
- cannot insert anything into the vagina for 8 weeks
A person can aid their recovery by:
- doing light exercise, such as walking
- getting plenty of rest
- keeping any surgical incisions clean and dry
- avoiding tight clothing
- checking incisions regularly for signs of infection
- avoiding water directly hitting an incision in the shower
- gently cleaning the area
- taking prescribed medications correctly
A person will typically stay in the hospital for 1–2 days following the procedure before returning home to recover. This time can vary depending on the type of hysterectomy. Abdominal surgery may require a stay of 2–3 days.
If someone has a hysterectomy due to cancer, they may need to stay for longer.
According to ACOG, the risks of an abdominal hysterectomy include:
- infection
- wound bleeding
- blood clots
- nerve or tissue damage
Vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomies typically have a lower risk for complications. However, any type of hysterectomy can potentially cause these problems.
According to a 2018 study, having a hysterectomy before 35 years of age also increases a person’s risk factor for several medical conditions, including:
- 14% increased risk of lipid abnormalities
- 13% increased risk of high blood pressure
- 18% increased risk of obesity
- 33% increased risk of coronary artery disease
- 4.6-fold increased risk of congestive heart failure
- 2.5-fold increased risk of coronary artery disease
In addition to physical changes, a person who undergoes a hysterectomy may also experience changes in their mental health.
Hysterectomies mean a person can no longer get pregnant. For some, this causes grief and sadness, particularly if they had hoped to have more children.
A person will also not have periods anymore, which can make a female feel they have lost part of their identity or womanhood.
For others, losing their periods can be a relief. If someone has a painful or difficult health condition, their symptoms may improve, along with their quality of life.
People who do not want children may also feel relieved that they cannot become pregnant.
A study of females who underwent hysterectomies without ovary removal from 1980–2002 found that they had a 6.6% higher risk for new depression diagnoses and a 4.7% higher risk for anxiety diagnoses in the 20 years following their surgery.
The researchers are not sure why this occurred, so scientists need to carry out more research to understand this trend.
Hysterectomies are not reversible, so it is a good idea for people to ask for as much information as they need to feel confident with their decision.
Questions to ask could include:
- Will the procedure cure a condition or just treat the symptoms?
- Are there any alternatives to a hysterectomy that may help with symptoms?
- Will natural menopause improve the symptoms, and, if so, is a hysterectomy necessary?
- Could symptoms return after the procedure, and if so, what happens then?
- Is there a way to preserve eggs if I want a child in the future, via a surrogate, for example?
- What type of hysterectomy would you recommend?
- Will you remove the cervix, fallopian tubes, or surrounding tissue?
- What can I expect during and after the procedure?
According to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a person should contact their doctor or healthcare provider if they experience any of the following symptoms after their surgery:
- heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks a pad in less than 1 hour
- foul vaginal odor
- changes in urinary frequency or inability to urinate
- fever at or above 100.4oF
- continuous constipation
- diarrhea
- vomiting or nausea
- swelling, pain, or tenderness around the incision
- any openings at the incision site
- chest pains or trouble breathing
- severe pain that does not improve with pain relief
Short-term hysterectomy side effects can include pain, bleeding, discharge, and constipation. A person may also temporarily experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes. These will resolve as a person recovers.
In the long term, a person may feel a sense of loss or sadness, or possibly relief following the procedure. People who have also had ovaries removed will experience menopause and may benefit from HRT.
Hysterectomies have some risks, and they also mean a person cannot become pregnant. The individual can talk to their doctor about all their options before undergoing surgery.