Recovering from a hysterectomy takes time. You will stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days for postsurgery care. Some women stay in the hospital up to 4 days.

Abdominal hysterectomy. As soon as you feel strong enough, get up and around as much as you can. This helps prevent problems after surgery like blood clots, pneumonia, and gas pains. During the first 2 to 3 weeks it is important to also get plenty of rest. You will gradually be able to increase your activities. To help you heal well, avoid lifting more than 20 pounds during the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. For the same reason, this is also an important time to avoid vaginal intercourse.

As soon as you can move easily without pain or without using narcotic pain medicine, you can drive. Complete recovery usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. Your return to a work routine will depend on how quickly you get back your energy and strength, and how demanding your work is.

Vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy. As soon as you feel strong enough, get up and around as much as you can. This helps prevent problems after surgery like blood clots, pneumonia, and gas pains. When you can move easily without pain, you can drive. To help you heal well, avoid lifting more than 20 pounds during the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. For the same reason, this is also an important time to avoid vaginal intercourse.

Recovery from a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy takes much less time than from an abdominal surgery. After a routine laparoscopic surgery removing the uterus but not the cervix (laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy, or LSH), most women are able to return to normal activity in 1 to 2 weeks. About 4 to 6 weeks after the hysterectomy, see your health professional for a follow-up examination.

How effective is hysterectomy for improving my symptoms?

For many women who still have severe symptoms after trying medicines or other treatment, hysterectomy often brings significant relief.³ For example, a study of women with heavy menstrual bleeding reports relief at 6 months and 2 years after hysterectomy. This was compared to women who used medicine or other treatment. Along with getting relief from the bleeding, women tended to feel better emotionally and have improved sleep, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and overall health.⁴ Most women report improvement in physical symptoms (including pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, and physical and social functioning) after a hysterectomy.¹³ For more information about how hysterectomy may or may not help different problems, see:

• Hysterectomy and chronic pelvic pain.
• Hysterectomy and heavy, irregular menstrual bleeding.
• Hysterectomy and endometriosis.
• Hysterectomy and uterine fibroids.
• Hysterectomy and uterine prolapse.

What are possible long-term problems after hysterectomy?