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Decided to look up the short term and long term effects of hysterectomy. I think it's important to be informed. I decided to take a look at several sources and will be looking more into academic sources when I get the chance.
Warning: All of the articles are cissexist and intersexist. They only acknowledge cis perisex women. So you'll only see "women" being used through the quotes that I post.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/hysterectomy-side-effects#longterm
Following any type of hysterectomy, you’ll no longer have your period. You also can’t get pregnant. These are permanent effects of having a hysterectomy.
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Following any type of hysterectomy, you’ll no longer have your period. You also can’t get pregnant. These are permanent effects of having a hysterectomy.
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Problems with organ prolapse can happen after a hysterectomy. A 2014 study of more than 150,000 patient records reported that 12 percent of hysterectomy patients required pelvic organ prolapse surgery.
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In some organ prolapse cases, the vagina is no longer connected to the uterus and cervix. The vagina can telescope down on itself, or even bulge outside the body.
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Other organs such as the bowel or the bladder can prolapse down to where the uterus used to be and push on the vagina. If the bladder is involved, this can lead to urinary problems. Surgery can correct these issues.
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Most women do not experience prolapse after hysterectomy. To prevent prolapse problems, if you know you are going to have a hysterectomy, consider doing pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your internal organs.
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Kegel exercises can be done anytime and anywhere.
If you have your ovaries removed during the procedure, your menopause symptoms can last for several years.
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If you have your ovaries removed during the procedure, your menopause symptoms can last for several years.
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If you don’t have your ovaries removed and haven’t gone through menopause yet, you may begin menopause sooner than expected.
If you have your ovaries removed and go into menopause, some of your symptoms may impact your sex life. Sexual side effects of menopause can include:
vaginal dryness
pain during sex
decreased sex drive
These are all due to the change in estrogen produced by your body. (Contin.)
vaginal dryness
pain during sex
decreased sex drive
These are all due to the change in estrogen produced by your body. (Contin.)
There are several things you can consider to counteract these effects, such as hormone replacement therapy.
However, many women who have a hysterectomy do not experience a negative impact on their sex life. In some cases, relief from chronic pain and bleeding improves sex drive.
However, many women who have a hysterectomy do not experience a negative impact on their sex life. In some cases, relief from chronic pain and bleeding improves sex drive.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/women/news/20180103/hysterectomy-may-have-long-term-health-risks
Women who undergo a hysterectomy are at greater risk for heart disease and other health issues -- even if they keep their ovaries, new research suggests.
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Women who undergo a hysterectomy are at greater risk for heart disease and other health issues -- even if they keep their ovaries, new research suggests.
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"Hysterectomy is the second most common gynecologic surgery, and most are done for benign reasons, because most physicians believe that this surgery has minimal long-term risks," said lead researcher Dr. Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
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The study tracked the health of nearly 2,100 women who underwent a hysterectomy, and a matched set of "controls" who hadn't undergone the procedure. The hysterectomies were performed between 1980 and 2002, and in all cases the ovaries were not removed.
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Because it was retrospective in nature, the study could only point to associations; it could not prove cause-and-effect.
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However, the Mayo team reported that -- compared to women who hadn't had a hysterectomy -- women who had the procedure experienced an average 14 percent higher risk of abnormal blood fat levels; a 13 percent higher risk for high blood pressure; (Contin.)
an 18 percent higher risk for obesity and a 33 percent greater risk for heart disease.
Long-term health issues associated with hysterectomy were especially pronounced for younger women. (Contin.)
Long-term health issues associated with hysterectomy were especially pronounced for younger women. (Contin.)
The study found that women younger than 35 had a 4.6-fold higher risk of congestive heart failure and a 2.5-fold greater risk of coronary artery disease, or a buildup of plaque in the arteries.
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"This is the best data to date that shows women undergoing hysterectomy have a risk of long-term disease -- even when both ovaries are conserved," Laughlin-Tommaso said in a Mayo news release.
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"While women are increasingly aware that removing their ovaries poses health risks, this study suggests hysterectomy alone has risks, especially for women who undergo hysterectomy prior to age 35."
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hysterectomy-side-effects
It is common for people to experience pain, bleeding, vaginal discharge, and constipation after a hysterectomy. Pain medication and using sanitary pads can help with these side effects.
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It is common for people to experience pain, bleeding, vaginal discharge, and constipation after a hysterectomy. Pain medication and using sanitary pads can help with these side effects.
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What other short-term side effects a person may experience depend on the type of hysterectomy they have.
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A hysterectomy that does not involve ovary removal may still affect the ovaries.
Short-term hysterectomy side effects can include pain, bleeding, and hormonal fluctuations. (Contin.)
Short-term hysterectomy side effects can include pain, bleeding, and hormonal fluctuations. (Contin.)
Side effects depend on what type of hysterectomy a person has and whether a surgeon also removes their ovaries.
According to a 2020 review, research studies have found some evidence suggesting that some hysterectomies that spare the ovaries may speed up the onset of menopause.
According to a 2020 review, research studies have found some evidence suggesting that some hysterectomies that spare the ovaries may speed up the onset of menopause.
A small, older study from 2006 found that hysterectomies may affect blood supply to the ovaries, which is one theory for why this could happen.
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However, the evidence for this is still very mixed and dependent on the type of hysterectomy and what organs and surrounding tissues the surgeon removes.
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If a person has undergone a hysterectomy with oophorectomy, this means they no longer have ovaries.
The ovaries produce the hormone estrogen. Without these organs, a person who had not undergone menopause already will experience menopause symptoms.
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The ovaries produce the hormone estrogen. Without these organs, a person who had not undergone menopause already will experience menopause symptoms.
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These side effects of hysterectomy with oophorectomy include:
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- vaginal dryness
- difficulty sleeping
- mood swings and irritability
- weight gain
- hair loss
- dry skin
- incontinence
- loss of bone density
- rapid heartbeat
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- hot flashes
- night sweats
- vaginal dryness
- difficulty sleeping
- mood swings and irritability
- weight gain
- hair loss
- dry skin
- incontinence
- loss of bone density
- rapid heartbeat
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The duration of these symptoms will vary from person to person. Due to the sudden drop in estrogen, people who have had an oophorectomy may experience exaggerated symptoms.
Source: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/h/hysterectomy/side-effects.html
Short-term risks of hysterectomy are usually mild, minimal, and occur in the first 30 days after surgery. They may include:
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Short-term risks of hysterectomy are usually mild, minimal, and occur in the first 30 days after surgery. They may include:
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Blood loss and the risk of blood transfusion
- Damage to surrounding areas, like the bladder, urethra, blood vessels, and nerves
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
Infection
- Side effects related to anesthesia
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- Damage to surrounding areas, like the bladder, urethra, blood vessels, and nerves
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
Infection
- Side effects related to anesthesia
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- The need to change to an abdominal hysterectomy from one of the other techniques
Hysterectomy has a rare long-term risk of pelvic prolapse, which is the stretching or dropping of pelvic organs into an abnormal position.
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Hysterectomy has a rare long-term risk of pelvic prolapse, which is the stretching or dropping of pelvic organs into an abnormal position.
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Women with many prior abdominal surgeries or a history of pelvic prolapse or pelvic relaxation may be at higher risk for developing pelvic prolapse again.
This thread is pretty long so I'm just going to link the remaining sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180103101142.htm
https://www.news-medical.net/amp/health/Side-Effects-Following-a-Hysterectomy.aspx https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2018/04000/Hysterectomy_Associated_with_Long_Term_Health.18.aspx https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hysterectomy/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180103101142.htm
https://www.news-medical.net/amp/health/Side-Effects-Following-a-Hysterectomy.aspx https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2018/04000/Hysterectomy_Associated_with_Long_Term_Health.18.aspx https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hysterectomy/
