In the United States, hysterectomy or removal of the uterus is one of the most frequently performed surgeries for women, according to the Mayo Clinic. A woman might need a hysterectomy because of uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic pain or endometriosis. Whatever the cause, women can expect to follow a similar path to recovery after the hysterectomy.
Time Frame
The time for total recovery after a hysterectomy depends to a great extent on the type of procedure performed. Typically, after a traditional abdominal approach to hysterectomy, in which the surgeon makes a single large incision in the abdomen, women require about one to four days in the hospital and six to eight weeks for full recovery. With a vaginal approach or a laparoscopic abdominal approach, healing time can be much shorter---with a hospital stay of one or two days and full recovery in as little as two weeks.
Complications
After the surgery, hospital staff monitor the patient for pain and signs of infection or blood clots. The Mayo Clinic says that some vaginal bleeding and discharge for several days after either an abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy is to be expected. It is normal to need a sanitary pad, but a doctor should be consulted if the bleeding is heavier than a normal period.
Physical Changes
With the uterus removed, a woman will no longer have menstrual periods, and she cannot get pregnant. Pre-menopausal women who also have their ovaries removed experience menopause abruptly, because the source of estrogen is gone. Doctors usually prescribe hormone replacement therapy for at least a short time to ease the transition. Pre-menopausal women who keep their ovaries can expect to experience menopause at a younger age than normal.
Emotional Changes
According to the Mayo Clinic, some women experience loss, grief or depression after a hysterectomy because of the link between the uterus and feelings of femininity. Young women might experience intense feelings of loss because they cannot get pregnant. Other women experience an upswing in mood following a hysterectomy if it frees them from chronic pain.
Sexual Changes
Women must wait until they have fully healed from the surgery to resume sexual activity. This takes about six weeks after a traditional abdominal hysterectomy or a vaginal hysterectomy.
In itself, removal of the uterus does not alter sex drive or the sexual response. The Mayo Clinic states the some women enjoy sex more after hysterectomy because there is no fear of getting pregnant, and women who had chronic pelvic pain are free to enjoy sex again.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Abdominal Hysterectomy
- Mayo Clinic: Vaginal Hysterectomy
- "Primary Care for Women"; Phyllis Leppert and Jeffrey Peipert; 2004
