Uterus removal surgery or Hysterectomy is one of the common surgeries popular in the recent decade. Mainly performed over the women having troublesome menopause or for the ones who wish to stop having menstruation any more, other reasons for the surgery are cancer, infection or chronic pelvic pain. The procedure includes the removal of the cervix and the ovaries and hence a woman stops to have periods thereafter. There are no chances of pregnancy once the uterus is removed. The undeniable fact is that our body changes after this procedure and one should be well-aware and well-prepared about hysterectomy complications:
Effects Of Hysterectomy
Following are some of the effects of Hysterectomy:
1. Physical Side Effects of Hysterectomy
There is a whole healing process after the surgery so one needs to stay in the hospital for a day or two after the surgery. There will be blood discharge for some time following the surgery which is completely normal. Everybody is different and hence everybody responds differently to surgeries. Some women return to their usual lives six weeks after the surgery while some take some time to recover. For about a week following your hysterectomy you may feel the following changes:
- Pain at the incision site
- Swelling, redness, and bruises at the incision site
- Burning or itching at the incision
- A numb feeling at the incision or down your legs
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
2. Emotional Side Effects of Hysterectomy
Uterus removal means that you will not be able to get pregnant afterward. Hence, for the young women who wished to have a baby and had to go through hysterectomy due to some reasons might feel depressed due to hopelessness. There may also be a sense of relief after uterus removal of no longer having menstruation. After a hysterectomy, a woman enters menopause regardless of the age factor. So one may experience emotional imbalance just as in the case of menopause. The feeling of loneliness, mood swings or depression may occur in some females. To tackle this emotional imbalance one can keep a check on the following:
- Get enough sleep- stick to your sleep schedule. Your body needs to relax properly to heal. Keep your room dark and cool. Meditating before sleeping will also help.
- Exercise- be active for at least 30minutes every day. Walk, do yoga or aerobics should be performed in order to keep yourself healthy and fit.
- Find support- talk to a professional if you feel your emotional rollercoaster out of control. It is ok to discuss your problem with someone who can help you.
3. Long Term Side Effects of a Hysterectomy
You never be able to get pregnant or have periods after the surgery. That is one thing that is going to stay with you for life. Long term side effects of hysterectomy on the pelvic floor may include pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, bowel dysfunction, and sexual function. In some organ prolapse happen as the vagina is no longer connected to the uterus and cervix. Hence the vagina can telescope down itself or even bulge outside the body. Other organs like bowel or the bladder may get pushed downwards to where the uterus used to be and will put pressure on the vagina.
This may lead to urinary problems and might have to take the route of surgery to correct it. Most women escape this situation. But to make sure this doesn’t happen to you, it is important to perform pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your internal organs. If you have got ovaries removed during the surgery then your menopause side effects may take up to seven years to terminate. This is all due to change is estrogen procedure by your body.
HysterectomyHysterectomy is a major surgery that carries a number of health risks which includes:
- Major blood loss
- Damage to the surrounding tissues of the bladder, urethra, blood vessels, and nerves
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Bowel blockage
It is okay to ask your doctor about any information that may be bothering you. The above side effects of hysterectomy are a part of any surgery but that does not mean that hysterectomy is not safe.
Also Read: Know About A Heart Shaped Uterus
