How to take care of yourself after a hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, which is the main method to prevent cell spread and pathological transmission. However, after a hysterectomy, in addition to recuperation, the patient should also pay attention to enhancing nutrition and exercise, taking good care of their physical health, and undergoing timely examinations to avoid sequelae.

Postoperative Care

Six weeks after total hysterectomy, the patient should go to the hospital for a follow-up examination to understand the wound healing situation. Sexual intercourse is generally prohibited for 3 months after surgery to facilitate wound recovery. You can resume your sex life afterwards.

In clinical practice, subtotal hysterectomy is often used for young women and those who have no lesions in cervical cancer prevention examinations. Since the cervix is ​​retained, the vagina still maintains its original depth, and the feeling during sexual intercourse is better than that of a total hysterectomy. However, regular cervical cancer prevention smear examinations should be performed to prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer and stump cancer.

Studies have shown that ovarian function will be affected to a certain extent 3 to 5 years after hysterectomy, and patients will experience some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, sweating, irritability, and vaginal dryness, which will affect sexual life. At this time, you should go to the hospital for examination. If necessary, use hormone replacement or apply medications such as cod liver oil ointment to promote a harmonious sexual life.

Pay attention to enhancing nutrition, proper physical exercise, and doing couples' health exercises to increase the body's resistance, which is also beneficial to postoperative physical recovery and harmonious sexual life.

Postoperative sequelae

Symptoms of depression

The endocrine regulation of the uterus and ovaries forms a feedback system with the central nervous system. After the hysterectomy, this feedback link is destroyed. In particular, when the estrogen level drops, it will interfere with the normal secretion and metabolism of central neurotransmitters, which can cause varying degrees of anxiety and depression symptoms, such as low mood, anxiety, lack of interest, insomnia, memory loss, etc., thereby reducing women's quality of life.

Urinary symptoms

The female urinary system is homologous to the reproductive system and is both an estrogen-dependent organ. After hysterectomy, the estrogen level decreases, which can cause the elastic tissue around the urethra to thin, resulting in urinary incontinence, atrophy of the urethral mucosa, decreased resistance, and easy induction of urinary tract infection, and a series of urinary tract irritation symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating.

Sexual dysfunction

Estrogen is the most important regulating hormone for female sexual function, and the ovaries are the main secretory organs. After hysterectomy, the blood supply and function of the ovaries are affected. Most women will experience varying degrees of changes in sexual function, such as decreased or lack of libido, decreased frequency of sexual activity, decreased sexual responsiveness, difficulty in orgasm, and decreased sensation in the reproductive organs.

Ovarian dysfunction

Before menopause, the endocrine system between the uterus and ovaries maintains a precise and subtle dynamic balance. Hysterectomy will inevitably disrupt this balance and may cause ovarian function to decline, making menopausal symptoms earlier and more obvious.