Surgery can correct these issues. Most women do not experience prolapse after hysterectomy. To prevent prolapse problems, if you know you are going to have a hysterectomy, consider doing pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your internal organs. Kegel exercises can be done anytime and anywhere. If you have your ovaries removed during the procedure, your menopause symptoms can last for several years.
If you have your ovaries removed and go into menopause, some of your symptoms may impact your sex life. Sexual side effects of menopause can include:. These are all due to the change in estrogen produced by your body.
There are several things you can consider to counteract these effects, such as hormone replacement therapy. However, many women who have a hysterectomy do not experience a negative impact on their sex life. In some cases, relief from chronic pain and bleeding improves sex drive. Learn more about sex after a hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is a major surgery. Like all surgeries, it comes with a number of immediate risks.
These risks include:. A hysterectomy can be a life-changing procedure with major benefits and some potential risks.
A good doctor will set aside time to listen to your questions and concerns before surgery. While you should bring up any questions on your mind, here are some specific questions to consider asking:. Hysterectomies can cause several short- and long-term side effects. You will also get instructions about taking any new medicines.
If you take aspirin or some other blood thinner, ask your doctor if and when to start taking it again. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed. If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine. If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed.
Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics. If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach: Take your medicine after meals unless your doctor has told you not to.
Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine. If you have strips of tape on the cut incision the doctor made, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off. Or follow your doctor's instructions for removing the tape.
Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing.
Change the bandage every day. Keep the area clean and dry. You may have some light vaginal bleeding. Wear sanitary pads if needed. Do not douche or use tampons. For example, call if: You passed out lost consciousness.
You have chest pain, are short of breath, or cough up blood. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine. These will also include pelvic floor exercises. Begin with low-impact exercise, such as walking. You can also swim after your surgical wounds have healed sufficiently and vaginal bleeding has stopped. You can gradually begin to increase the intensity of exercise as you recover.
However, avoid things like rigorous exercise or heavy lifting until your doctor gives the OK. While instructions from your doctor may vary, heavy lifting is considered to be any object over 20 pounds.
If you need to lift a lighter object during your recovery period, do so with bent knees and a straight back. Ask a family member or close friend to help you with household activities — like cleaning, laundry, and meals — in the first week or so of your recovery.
While resting is important, you can start gradually doing household activities when you feel able to. Break up household activities into more manageable chunks. Additionally, you can modify certain types of household tasks, like sitting instead of standing to fold clothes. This may be between 3 to 8 weeks after your hysterectomy.
When you do begin driving again, take a friend or family member along with you the first time you go out. That way, if you experience discomfort, they can take over for you. When you return to work depends on the type of job that you have. For example, if you work from home, you may be able to return to work earlier than if you have a job that involves manual labor or heavy lifting. Wait to have sex until your surgical wounds have healed and vaginal discharge has stopped. This typically improves as your recovery continues.
Vaginal dryness is also common after a hysterectomy. If this affects you, use a lubricant during sex. When in doubt, speak with your doctor before traveling during your recovery period.
They can tell you about risks associated with travel and steps you can take to travel safely. However, there are signs that you should seek medical attention sooner. Contact your doctor if you experience:. The tiredness may last for several weeks after surgery.
You will probably notice that your belly is swollen and puffy. This is common. The swelling will take several weeks to go down. You may take about 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover. It's important to avoid lifting while you are recovering so that you can heal. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.
But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call anytime you think you may need emergency care.
For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems.
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