Life After Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is a last-resort treatment for many women’s health problems. In this procedure, the doctor removes your uterus (and sometimes other organs like your ovaries and fallopian tubes), which permanently ends your ability to get pregnant. However, in the case of cancer or other serious conditions, the benefits may outweigh the drawbacks.

Our team of experienced physicians at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, offers hysterectomies for our patients with a range of women’s health conditions. Though it’s a last-resort treatment, it can provide significant improvements for certain symptoms, or even resolve them completely. Here’s what you can expect from the procedure and your recovery from it.

What conditions warrant a hysterectomy?

Some of the most common reasons to get a hysterectomy are:

• Uterine fibroids: common uterine growths that may impact fertility
• Endometriosis: endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Uterine prolapse: uterus drops through the vagina
• Uterine cancer of the cervix, uterus, and/or ovaries

While fibroids are the most common reason for hysterectomies, if you have them you’ll likely have other treatment options that don’t involve removing your uterus.

Types of hysterectomy

Depending on the nature of your problem, the doctor may choose to remove all or only part of your uterus. The terms used for the procedure generally refer to if they remove your cervix and/or ovaries:

In a supracervical or subtotal hysterectomy, the doctor removes only the upper part of the uterus, leaving the cervix in place. This means you’ll need to continue to get Pap smears.

A total hysterectomy removes the entire uterus and cervix.

A radical hysterectomy removes the entire uterus, the tissue on all sides of the uterus, the cervix, and the top part of the vagina. This procedure is usually only performed when cancer is present.

Again, depending on your problem, the surgeon may remove your ovaries – an oophorectomy – or leave them in place. If they remove the tubes, it’s called a salpingectomy. When they remove everything, the procedure is referred to as a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy-oophorectomy.

The hysterectomy procedure

At Women’s Health Specialists PLLC, we use the daVinci® robotic system for abdominal hysterectomies. Robot-assisted surgery provides your surgeon with extra precision, as they control the robot’s movements with a 3D computer system. 

The robotic arms are much smaller than human hands, and in addition to holding an array of small tools, they can easily reach through small incisions near your belly button to perform the necessary tasks. Such precision translates into smaller scars, less postoperative pain, less blood loss, and a shorter hospital stay. 

Besides an abdominal hysterectomy, we offer a vaginal hysterectomy that doesn’t require incisions. In this surgery, we remove the uterus through the vaginal canal.

Some of the most common side effects of a hysterectomy are:

• Vaginal bleeding and drainage (up to six weeks)
• Soreness or irritation at the incision sites
• Trouble urinating or defecating for a few days
• Fatigue and tiredness from surgery

If the doctor removed your ovaries, you'll immediately go through menopause if you haven't  already. This can produce symptoms such as:

• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Loss of libido
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

The doctor discusses the possibility of side effects before the surgery, and they may prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve your menopausal symptoms.

Life after hysterectomy

Recovery from an abdominal hysterectomy usually takes about six weeks; for a vaginal or robot-assisted procedure, it usually takes about 2-4 weeks.

The doctor provides you with complete aftercare instructions; make sure you follow them exactly to enhance your healing. Plan for a lot of rest, but not bed rest. It’s important to move around to get your blood flowing properly and avoid the complication of blood clots.

Some instructions include:

• Expect light vaginal bleeding or dark brown discharge for up to six weeks.
• Don’t lift heavy objects (over 10 pounds) for 4-6 weeks.
• Don’t put anything into your vagina for 4-6 weeks.
• Don’t have sex for six weeks.
• Don’t take a bath or swim in a pool for at least six weeks.
• You can drive about two weeks after abdominal surgery or within a few days for robot-assisted surgery.
• Resume your exercise routine in 4-6 weeks, or when the doctor says it’s OK.
• You can usually go back to work in 2-6 weeks, depending on the type of work you do.

If you have any questions about what you should or shouldn’t do, contact our friendly office staff for help.

If you’re dealing with pelvic pain or other painful reproductive conditions, it’s time to come into Women’s Health Specialists PLLC for an evaluation and possible treatment. Call our office at 615-907-2040, or book your appointment online with us today.