What are the long-term risks and complications of a hysterectomy?
The main risks and complications that may occur after hysterectomy are: • Prolapse, which means the descent of an organ downwards. When the uterus is removed, other organs, such as the intestines and bladder can descend towards the bottom and lead to problems of constipation and/or urinary incontinence (problems or inability to control one’s bladder). These types of prolapse can also lead to pain during penetration with a penis, finger or object into the vagina. • Menopause. When the ovaries are removed during hysterectomy, the quantity of hormones circulating in the blood drops sharply. Following this type of surgery, women who are not menopausal will become so. It is what is known as “surgical” or “sudden” menopause. Menopausal symptoms are then felt. The main symptoms of menopause are: • heat flashes; • vaginal dryness (lubrication problems); • fatigue; • night sweats; • irritability; • insomnia; • migraines, and • increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Even if the ovarie
