Hysterectomy Recovery

Back To Hysterectomy

Whether you had an open or minimally invasive hysterectomy, you’ll need time to heal and recover, both physically and emotionally.

At Banner Health, our team is here to support you through every step, from managing your symptoms to adjusting to life after surgery.

What should you expect when you’re recovering from a hysterectomy?

Most people need two to eight weeks to fully recover, depending on the type of surgery:

Vaginal, laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery: You may go home from the hospital the same day or stay for one night. Recovery takes about two to six weeks.
Abdominal surgery: You will probably stay in the hospital for two to three days, but full recovery takes four to eight weeks.

Common side effects after a hysterectomy

It’s normal to have:

Light vaginal bleeding or discharge
Mild cramping or bloating
Fatigue or trouble sleeping
Emotional ups and downs

These symptoms usually improve with rest and time.

When to call your health care provider

Contact your care team if you have:

A fever over 100.4°F
Heavy bleeding (soaking through a pad in an hour or less)
Signs of infection around an incision, like redness, warmth, discharge or a lot of pain
An opening in an incision
Chills or sweating
Severe pain or swelling in your legs
Trouble urinating or having bowel movements

How to manage side effects after a hysterectomy

A hysterectomy can lead to short-term and long-term physical side effects as well as emotional side effects.

Short-term side effects

In the first few days or weeks, you may have symptoms like:

Pain or soreness around your incision
Gas pain or constipation
Shoulder pain from the air that’s used to inflate your belly during surgery
Less of an appetite than usual

Talk to your health care team about your symptoms. You can usually manage them by staying hydrated, moving gently and taking medication for pain.

Long-term side effects

Depending on what was removed, you may experience:

Hormonal changes: If your ovaries were removed, you can expect symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, mood swings and vaginal dryness.
Changes in your sex drive: Getting rid of pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding may improve your sex life. If you no longer have your ovaries, vaginal dryness can cause problems with your sex life.
Changes in bladder or bowel habits: Hysterectomy changes your body, so you may have constipation or diarrhea, bloating or a feeling that you need to urinate often or urgently. These symptoms should improve as you heal.

Emotional side effects and mental health

It’s common and normal to feel a mix of emotions after a hysterectomy, including relief, sadness, anxiety or grief. These feelings can be linked to hormonal changes as well as the emotional impact of losing reproductive organs and what they represent.

Give yourself time to work through your feelings and talk with your provider or a mental health professional for help if you need to.

Hormone changes and surgical menopause after a hysterectomy

If you have your ovaries removed as part of your hysterectomy and you weren’t already in menopause, you’ll go into surgical menopause right away, no matter how old you are. If your ovaries were left in place, you may go through natural menopause later, though it could be at an earlier age than if you didn’t have surgery.

If you’ve already entered menopause before your hysterectomy, you may not notice many changes.

Signs and symptoms of surgical menopause

Surgical menopause causes many of the same symptoms as typical menopause, such as:

Hot flashes
Night sweats
Mood swings
Vaginal dryness
Trouble sleeping

Treating surgical menopause symptoms after hysterectomy

Your health care provider can recommend a treatment plan that factors in your health history and preferences. They may suggest:

Hormone replacement therapy: Medication to replace estrogen (women who have a uterus should take progesterone along with estrogen)
Lifestyle changes: Physical activity, a healthy diet, good sleep habits and stress management
Vaginal moisturizers: Creams, rings or tablets can deliver estrogen directly to the vagina to help with dryness
Non-hormonal medications: Medication may help with hot flashes, sleep problems or emotional concerns.

When can you return to normal activity after a hysterectomy?

How quickly you can return to your activities depends on the type of surgery you have. Generally, you will have a period with some physical restrictions, but activity outside of these restrictions is encouraged.

Recovery time

Recovery is faster with vaginal, laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomies. You should heal in about two weeks, though you shouldn’t have sex for six weeks. Talk to your provider about when you can start exercise or heavy lifting.

It takes longer to recover from an abdominal hysterectomy:

Desk jobs: Usually two to four weeks
Physical jobs, exercise or heavy lifting: Six to eight weeks
Sexual activity: After six weeks or once your provider says it’s OK

Always follow your care team’s guidance and listen to your body.

Tips for easing back into your routine

You’ll want to balance gentle activity with rest to help your body recover:

Take short walks to build energy (many short laps are safer than long out-and-back walks)
Avoid lifting anything over 10 pounds
Ask for help with chores and childcare
Rest when you’re tired and don’t overdo it

Fertility, sexual and emotional health after a hysterectomy

After a hysterectomy, you may face certain issues.

Loss of fertility

After your uterus is removed, you are no longer able to get pregnant. Dealing with this loss can be emotional, especially if you wanted to have children. Even if you didn’t want to have children (or more children), you may find you face strong feelings about losing your fertility.

Talking with a therapist or support group can help you process your feelings. You can talk to a fertility specialist about other options to grow your family.

Changes in intimacy and sexual wellness

It’s common to feel nervous about sex after a hysterectomy. Talk to your provider about when sex is safe after surgery and share your concerns with your partner.

You may notice vaginal dryness or discomfort. You can manage these symptoms with lubrication, hormone therapy or pelvic floor physical therapy. It is important to know that discomfort with intercourse after you have finished healing is not a normal, or an expected, long-term effect of a hysterectomy.

Support for your emotional recovery

It’s common to feel a range of emotions after a hysterectomy. Your emotional well-being matters. If you’re struggling to process your feelings, reach out for help.

At Banner Health, we offer behavioral health and women’s health specialists who can support your recovery in a way that feels right for you.

Staying healthy after a hysterectomy

A hysterectomy can affect your long-term health.

Bone and heart health

If your ovaries are removed, your estrogen levels will drop. This can affect bone density and heart health. Your provider may recommend:

Calcium and vitamin D supplements
Bone scans to monitor bone density
Regular exercise and strength training

Hormone balance and follow-up care

Keep up with follow-up visits, even after you’ve recovered. Your provider may check your hormone levels and recommend treatment if you need it to help you stay healthy in the long-term.

Healthy habits for long-term well-being

Good lifestyle habits are always important, especially after a hysterectomy:

Eat a balanced diet
Maintain a healthy weight
Stay active
Avoid smoking
Prioritize mental health and sleep