Hysterectomy
• A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes your uterus. After
surgery, you can’t become pregnant and no longer menstruate. Reasons
for this surgery include abnormal bleeding, uterine prolapse, fibroids and
cancer. Recovery usually takes four to six weeks, depending on the type of
surgery you have.
• Overview
• Different types of hysterectomy surgery.
• A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus and possibly the cervix,
ovaries and fallopian tubes.
• What is a hysterectomy?
• A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, and most likely, the cervix. Depending on
the reason for the surgery, a hysterectomy may involve removing surrounding organs and
tissues, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries. The uterus is where a fetus grows during
pregnancy. Its lining is the blood you shed during your menstrual period. You won’t be able to
get pregnant and you won’t get your period after a hysterectomy.
• What are the different kinds of hysterectomy?
• Your healthcare provider will discuss which type of hysterectomy is needed depending on your
condition. This will determine if your fallopian tubes and/or ovaries need to be removed.
• Total hysterectomy: Removing your uterus and cervix, but leaving your ovaries.
• Supracervical hysterectomy: Removing just the upper part of your uterus while leaving
your cervix.
• Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: Removing your uterus,
cervix, fallopian tubes (salpingectomy) and ovaries (oophorectomy). If you haven't
experienced menopause, removing your ovaries will start menopausal symptoms.
• Radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: The removal of your
uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, the upper portion of your vagina and some
surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. This type of hysterectomy is performed when
cancer is involved.
• Why is a hysterectomy performed?
• Healthcare providers perform hysterectomies to treat:
• Abnormal or heavy vaginal bleeding that isn’t managed by other
treatment methods.
• Severe pain with menses that isn’t managed by other treatment methods
• Leiomyomas or uterine fibroids (noncancerous tumors).
• Increased pelvic pain related to your uterus but not managed by other
treatments.
• Uterine prolapse (uterus that has “dropped” into your vaginal canal
due to weakened support muscles) that can lead to urinary
incontinence or difficulty with bowel movements.
• Cervical or uterine cancer or abnormalities that may lead to cancer for
cancer prevention.
• Conditions with the lining of your uterus, like hyperplasia, recurrent
uterine polyps or adenomyosis.
• Different types of hysterectomy surgery.
• A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus and possibly the cervix, ovaries
and fallopian tubes.
• What is a hysterectomy?
• A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, and most likely, the cervix.
Depending on the reason for the surgery, a hysterectomy may involve removing
surrounding organs and tissues, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries. The uterus
is where a fetus grows during pregnancy. Its lining is the blood you shed during
your menstrual period. You won’t be able to get pregnant and you won’t get your
period after a hysterectomy.
What are the different kinds of hysterectomy?
Your healthcare provider will discuss which type of hysterectomy is needed depending on your
condition. This will determine if your fallopian tubes and/or ovaries need to be removed.
Total hysterectomy: Removing your uterus and cervix, but leaving your ovaries.
Supracervical hysterectomy: Removing just the upper part of your uterus while leaving your cervix.
• Why is a hysterectomy performed?
• Healthcare providers perform hysterectomies to treat:
• Abnormal or heavy vaginal bleeding that isn’t managed by other
treatment methods.
• Severe pain with menses that isn’t managed by other treatment
methods
• Leiomyomas or uterine fibroids (noncancerous tumors).
• Increased pelvic pain related to your uterus but not managed by
other treatments.
• Procedure Details
• How do I prepare for a hysterectomy?
• A healthcare provider will explain the procedure in detail, including possible complications and
side effects. Talk to them about any concerns you have. You may be asked to provide blood
and urine samples.
• What happens during a hysterectomy?
• Your healthcare provider will determine the type of hysterectomy you need and the best
surgical method to perform that procedure. You’ll change into a hospital gown and get hooked
up to monitors that track your heart rate. An intravenous (IV) line is placed in a vein in your
arm to deliver medications and fluids.
• How long does a hysterectomy procedure last?
• The procedure lasts one to three hours. The time can vary depending
on the size of your uterus and the need to take down scarring from
previous surgeries, as well as if other tissue, such as endometrial
tissue, and other organs are being removed with your uterus (like
your fallopian tubes or ovaries).
• What happens after a hysterectomy?
• The amount of time you spend in the hospital following a hysterectomy
varies depending on what kind of surgery you had. Your healthcare
provider will want to monitor you and ensure there aren’t any signs of
complications like blood clots or bleeding. You’ll walk around as soon as
possible after your surgery to prevent blood clots in your legs.
• If you had an abdominal hysterectomy, you might stay in the hospital for
a few days. Vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies are less invasive and
typically don’t require an overnight stay in the hospital.
• How will I feel after a hysterectomy?
• Physically
• After a hysterectomy, your periods will stop. Occasionally, you may feel
bloated and have symptoms similar to when you were menstruating. It’s
normal to have light vaginal bleeding or a dark brown discharge for about
four to six weeks after surgery.
• You may feel discomfort at the incision site for about four weeks, and any
redness, bruising or swelling will disappear in four to six weeks. Feeling
burning or itching around the incision is normal. You may also experience
a numb feeling around the incision and down your leg. This is normal and,
if present, usually lasts about two months. It’s normal to have scarring,
both internally and externally. Laparoscopic surgeries will cause smaller,
less visible scars as opposed to abdominal hysterectomies.
References
• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Hysterectomy
(https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/hysterectomy). Accessed
10/16/2021.
• National Women's Health Network. Hysterectomy
(https://nwhn.org/hysterectomy/). Accessed 10/16/2021.
• Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. Hysterectomy
(https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/hysterectomy). Accessed
10/16/2021.
