Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which the uterus, ovaries fallopian tubes and/or the womb is removed through an incision in the lower abdomen, according to the website UpToDate. A woman may have hysterectomy surgery as a result of abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroids, pelvic organ relapse, cervical abnormalities, endometrial hyperplasia and/or cancer. Women who have hysterectomy surgery are at risk for a variety of complications such as bleeding, infection and/or early menopause.
Bleeding
A common complication of hysterectomy surgery is constant vaginal bleeding or spotting that occurs approximately four to six weeks after the procedure, according to the MayoClinic.com. Most women experience a small amount of pink vaginal bleeding as the sutures dissolve and the tissue heals, but bleeding that resembles a heavy menstrual period or lasts longer than six weeks may require a blood transfusion or surgery to stop the bleeding.
Infection
People who have hysterectomy surgery are at risk of developing an infection following the procedure. Infections can occur at the incision site or in the vagina, bladder or abdomen. Approximately 10 percent of women who undergo a hysterectomy develop an infection shortly after the surgery, according to the website USA Today. Rarely, infections can progress to an abscess, which is collection of bacteria and pus that must be drained. Treatment typically consists of intravenous antibiotics, but in rare cases a surgical procedure may be needed to drain abscesses.
Early Menopause
A complication of hysterectomy surgery is early menopause. Some women who have undergone hysterectomy surgery may start to have menopause symptoms before the average age of 45 years old, according to the website UpToDate. Early menopause can begin as early as the teens, but most of the time it occurs between the ages of 40 and 45 years old, notes the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health. Early menopause may be triggered by disrupted blood flow to the ovaries once the uterus is removed.
