Is major surgery an option for me?

Hysterectomy

This is major surgery in which the entire uterus is removed. The procedure requires a hospital stay. Recovery can take up to 6 weeks and you may feel tired for longer. You may resume normal activity in 4-8 weeks and sexual activity in 6-8 weeks.

After having a hysterectomy, a woman can no longer become pregnant and will stop having her period. The risks of having a hysterectomy are similar to those with major abdominal operations and include blood clots, severe infection, hemorrhages (which may require a blood transfusion), bowel obstruction, and injury to the urinary tract or other internal organs. Possible complications following surgery include fever, urinary tract infection, constipation, and pain or discomfort during sex.

If your ovaries are removed (a separate procedure, sometimes done at the same time as the hysterectomy), you will also experience menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, dizziness, and night sweats. It is likely that you will need some type of hormone replacement therapy (see hormonal drugs) to reduce these symptoms.

The content of this website has been reviewed by an advisory board of physicians that includes: Ted L. Anderson, MD, PhD, FACOG; John D. Bertrand, MD, FACOG; Maria M. Gilpin, MD, FACOG; Christian S. Pope, DO; Thomas F. Purdon, MD, FACOG; Ellen E. Sheets, MD, FACOG, and Dr. Danee S. Young, MD, CEO, FACOG.