Up to 40,000 hysterectomy operations are carried out by the NHS on women in the UK every year. It can and does help to ease many gynaecological complaints, including heavy and/or painful periods and endometriosis.

Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb (uterus). It is one of the most common of all surgical procedures and can also involve the removal of the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix and part of the vagina to cure or help a number of gynaecological complaints. Following this operation you will no longer have periods, you will not be fertile and you will not be able to have any more children.

There are two main ways to perform a hysterectomy. The most common way is to remove the womb through a cut in the lower abdomen. The second, less common, way is to remove only the womb through a cut in the top of the vagina, the top of vagina is then stitched.

The reasons for having a hysterectomy may include heavy bleeding, fibroids, cancer, Endometriosis, prolapse of the womb, pelvic inflammatory disease.

There are many effects of having a hysterectomy and they may be physical, sexual and/or emotional. However, there are also a number of long-term health implications, which may include osteoporosis and heart disease.

If you have your ovaries removed you may be prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy. As with any long term drug treatment there are implications that should be considered and these may include breast cancer and thrombosis. However, current research seems to indicate it may have beneficial effects on osteoporosis, heart disease, memory loss and of course menopausal symptoms.

Hormone Replacement Therapy comes in various forms, tablets, patches, implants and creams, gels or pessaries. The type you decide to take will be based on a number of factors including the one you are most comfortable using.

If you don’t want to take HRT, you may decide that you would like to try an alternative form of treatment that is not prescribed by doctors, this may include a progesterone cream, nutritional therapy to replace hormones or diet.

What to expect in the first few days after surgery – one patients experience

Day 1

* It is normal during the first 24-36 hours after surgery to feel many aches and pains all over your body. It is usual to experience backache, shoulder pain and a stiff neck as well as abdominal pain. While you have been under the anaesthetic your body will have been handled by several medical personnel and have become quite stiff.

* You may find you are attached to a Patient Controlled Analgesia device, this is usually morphine. This means you will be in control of your own pain medication and you should receive information on this from the ward staff; if you don’t, then ask for it. You cannot give yourself too many pain killers, as there is a built-in timer. So if you feel pain at any time, do not hesitate to press your button, you do not have to wait hours between each dose and it is important you feel as comfortable as possible.

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