Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer

What To Expect

Right after surgery, you will be taken to a recovery area where nurses will care for and observe you. Usually the stay in the recovery area is for 1 to 4 hours. You will then be moved to a hospital room. In addition to any special instructions from your doctor, your nurse will explain information to help you during your recovery.

You will likely stay in the hospital 1 to 4 days after a hysterectomy. About 4 to 6 weeks after the hysterectomy, your doctor will examine you in his or her office. You should be able to return to all of your normal activities, including having sexual intercourse, in about 6 to 8 weeks. Some light bleeding or spotting is expected for up to 6 weeks following a hysterectomy. If your vaginal bleeding is heavier or different from what you were told to expect, call your doctor.

After you have a hysterectomy, you will not be able to become pregnant.

After a hysterectomy, call your doctor if you have:

• Chest pain, a cough, or trouble breathing.
• Bright red vaginal bleeding that soaks two or more pads in an hour or forms large or painful clots.
• Pain or tenderness, swelling, or redness in your legs.
• A fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher.
• Pain that is not relieved by your pain medicine or pain that is getting worse.
• Pus coming from your incision.
• Trouble passing a stool, especially if you have not had a normal bowel movement for 3 to 5 days or if you have mild pain or swelling in your lower abdomen.
• Trouble passing urine, pain or burning when you urinate, blood in your urine, or cloudy urine.
• Pain, discomfort, or bleeding during intercourse.
• Hot flashes, sweating, flushing, or a fast or pounding heartbeat.

Why It Is Done

Endometrial cancer most often occurs in the inner lining of the uterus and is contained within the uterus in the earlier stages. Removal of the uterus reduces the risk of cancer recurring or spreading. The ovaries are a common site for spread (metastasis) of endometrial cancer cells and so are almost always removed at the same time.

How Well It Works

Removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries reduces the risk of spread or recurrence of endometrial cancer.

Risks

Most women do not have complications after a hysterectomy. But complications that may occur include:

• Fever. A slight fever is common after any surgery.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Urinary incontinence.
• Continued heavy bleeding. Some vaginal bleeding within 4 to 6 weeks following a hysterectomy is expected. But call your doctor if bleeding continues to be heavy.
• The formation of scar tissue (adhesions).

Rare complications include:

• Infection.
• Blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis) or lungs (pulmonary embolus).
• Injury to other organs, such as the bladder or bowel.
• A collection of blood at the surgical site (hematoma).

You may have other physical problems after a hysterectomy. In some women, the pelvic muscles and ligaments that support the vagina, bladder, and rectum may become weak. The weakness may cause bladder or bowel problems, such as cystocele, urinary incontinence, or rectocele. Kegel exercises may help strengthen the pelvic muscles and ligaments. But some women need other treatments, including additional surgery.

Vaginal dryness may develop if your ovaries were removed during your hysterectomy. If sexual intercourse is painful because of vaginal dryness, use a vaginal lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly or Astroglide, or a polyunsaturated vegetable oil that does not contain preservatives. Do not use petroleum jelly (for example, Vaseline) as a lubricant, because it increases the risk of vaginal irritation and infection.

Your doctor will tell you how long you should wait after surgery before engaging in sexual intercourse. Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) may occur if your vagina was shortened during your hysterectomy. Changing positions may help make intercourse less painful. If you continue to have difficulty with intercourse after a hysterectomy, talk with your doctor.