As women age, their ovaries are less active. That's why some doctors believe healthy ovaries should be removed as part of a hysterectomy for older women. It is done to lower the risk of ovarian cancer. This is because ovarian cancer is very hard to detect at an early stage.
Hysterectomy is a safe surgical procedure for women of many ages, including those over 60. It is also typically safe for patients 75 and over. The key is that your doctor completes a careful assessment before surgery and follows up with regular monitoring and after-surgery care to ensure the success of the procedure.
Hysterectomy is associated with a significantly increased risk of pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence and pelvic organ fistula disease. The effects of hysterectomy on bowel function and sexual function remain disputed.
If you have already gone through the menopause or you're close to it, removing your ovaries may be recommended regardless of the reason for having a hysterectomy. This is to protect against the possibility of ovarian cancer developing.
Because your uterus is removed, you no longer have periods and cannot get pregnant. But your ovaries might still make hormones, so you might not have other signs of menopause. You may have hot flashes, a symptom of menopause, because the surgery may have blocked blood flow to the ovaries.
Research does suggest a link between hysterectomy and an increased risk of weight gain, but it affects some women more than others. Several factors can affect how much weight you gain after a hysterectomy, including what you do during and after the initial recovery period.
Reasons for this surgery include abnormal bleeding, uterine prolapse, fibroids and cancer. Recovery usually takes four to six weeks, depending on the type of surgery you have.
Fibroids — also called leiomyomas or myomata — can be present both before and after menopause. They are common and can appear at any age but are more likely to appear in the more advanced reproductive years as menopause approaches.
A hysterectomy is a major operation. You can be in hospital for up to 5 days after surgery, and it can take about 6 to 8 weeks to fully recover. Recovery times can also vary depending on the type of hysterectomy. Rest as much as possible during this time and do not lift anything heavy, such as bags of shopping.
After your uterus is removed (hysterectomy) all the normal organs that surround the uterus simply fill the position previously occupied by the uterus. Mostly it is bowel that fills the space, as there is lots of small and large bowel immediately adjacent to the uterus.
Freedom from painful conditions
Despite dealing with post-op events like the onset of menopause, life after a hysterectomy can be very, very good, and here's why: If you were dealing with a painful condition — such as stubborn fibroids — your hysterectomy can free you from the related pain.
For any woman undergoing a hysterectomy, these are all common, understandable questions. The intrusiveness of the procedure, along with changes in your hormones, does mean that some women will experience changes in their weight and physical fitness. Many of these changes need not be permanent.
It's almost impossible to lose belly fat after hysterectomy through moderate exercise. It takes a large amount of exercise to incur an energy deficit and during your hysterectomy recovery your exercise capacity is reduced.
The average recovery time for a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy is 3 to 4 weeks. For an abdominal hysterectomy, recovery may take 5 to 6 weeks. It's important to look after yourself after your hysterectomy: Rest as much as possible for at least 2 weeks.
Benefits and risks of a hysterectomy
If you have cancer, a hysterectomy may save your life. It can relieve bleeding or discomfort from fibroids, severe endometriosis or prolapse (sagging) of the uterus. But, you may want to look into options other than surgery for problems like these.
Hysterectomy surgery can take between one and four hours. The duration of surgery depends on the type of procedure you have and how it is performed.
The operation usually takes about an hour to complete. A vaginal hysterectomy can either be carried out using: general anaesthetic – where you'll be unconscious during the procedure. local anaesthetic – where you'll be awake, but the area will be numb so you will not feel any pain.
Hysterectomy can lead to bladder and bowel dysfunction, prolapse, and incontinence as well as a 4-fold increased risk of pelvic organ fistula surgery. Other risks include certain cancers – rectal, thyroid, renal cell, and brain – as well as heart disease (#1 killer of women).
Typical costs
For patients with private health insurance who had a Laparoscopic hysterectomy in a private setting across all of Australia, 68% had an out-of-pocket cost. Of those: Patients typically paid: $550, Medicare paid: $1,300, Insurer typically paid: $1,300. Typical specialists' fees: $3,600.
A hysterectomy is an invasive surgery so it naturally requires downtime and will come with some residual pain and discomfort. This will almost always extend a few weeks after the surgery but if you are still in extreme pain and discomfort at the 3-month mark we generally recommend to go see a specialist.