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I’ve been offered a hysterectomy

107 replies

rainsbows · 30/01/2026 19:01

I’d love to hear other women’s experiences. I’m only 37 but have three children. I have adenomyosis causing heavy painful periods and I also have short cycles. I’ve tried the mirena but bled constantly and I can’t take combined pills. I’m much better mentally without hormonal meds. I take mefenamic acid to help stem the flow.

Anyway…. Yesterday I saw a gynae consultant and she straight away offered me a keyhole hysterectomy, keeping ovaries and cervix.

I feel it’s so… final. Even though I’m done having kids.

Is the recovery horrendous? I’m on all ears please

OP posts:
Munchyseeds2 · 30/01/2026 19:06

I'd bite her hand off if your family is complete.
I would want the ovaries gone as well, I would rather take HRT

rainsbows · 30/01/2026 19:09

Really why? I absolutely do not want to be plunged into surgical menopause and she was hellbent that they would definitely not be removed.

I’ve agreed to going on the waiting list for a date, approx 6-8 months but can obviously cancel if I change my mind.

OP posts:
SnipThoseApronStrings · 30/01/2026 19:13

Sounds sensible at your age (as in you are a way off menopause).

tobee · 30/01/2026 19:14

I had one 10ish years ago. Cervix and ovaries kept but abdominal.

It was one of the best things I've done. Transformative and I was very, very anaemic beforehand. Brilliant to not have such terrible periods and nothing else was working.

However I was 10 years older than you. Even so I did have a certain sadness about that being an end to having more children. Although I was clear I was done. It's worth exploring that you may have a bit of grief about it. I think it's quite natural.

Mobysdick · 30/01/2026 19:15

I had a full hysterectomy, cervix , ovaries the lot due to suspected ovarian cancer and hideous fibroids. Best thing I have ever done. Recovery was around 8 weeks total, no more flooding, smear tests and periods dictating my life. I can’t take HRT as I had breast cancer some years ago but I feel nothing but relief.

NewYearNewMee · 30/01/2026 19:15

My mum had one in her 40s, recovery was hard (as was the associated menopause but I think if you keep your ovaries that is avoided) but it gave her a total new lease of life. I have similar issues to you and once (if) I can have children, I’ll also be opting for the op.

She was in bed for a few weeks, in quiet a bit of pain - however she has always said afterwards what’s a few weeks of pain when it’s guaranteeing her years pain free from the periods. When I told her I wanted it done too she did say it was the best thing she’d done.

tobee · 30/01/2026 19:15

Yes I really did not want to have my ovaries removed and plunged into medical menopause. I think pp is probably in the minority there. Although part of the consent form was that they would remove my ovaries if deemed necessary during the surgery.

disappearingfish · 30/01/2026 19:16

best thing I ever did (I kept my ovaries). Yes, the recovery is tough but if you are young and fit you will cope.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2026 19:17

I had my uterus and ovaries removed when I was 45. I went straight on to HRT and, honestly, it was like being years younger. After ten years I reduced the HRT very, very gradually and barely experienced any menopause symptoms.

tobee · 30/01/2026 19:18

I found the recovery didn't last longer than the 6 weeks. Plus keyhole is much better for recovery. Also, even in the short time I've had it done the techniques are likely improved

NigellaWannabe1 · 30/01/2026 19:18

Can I ask something, if you feel comfortable to share? I’ve always wondered if there’d be an impact on sex? If so, I guess that’s an important thing to consider.

RaraRachael · 30/01/2026 19:19

Do it.

I suffered with heavy periods ruling my life and a complete nightmare being a teacher when I couldn't just go to the toilet any time.

It's the best thing I've ever done- the sense of freedom was amazing!

Cairneyes · 30/01/2026 19:20

I had a full hysterectomy, best thing I ever did. I was OK after a couple of weeks, absolutely fine after 4.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2026 19:20

NigellaWannabe1 · 30/01/2026 19:18

Can I ask something, if you feel comfortable to share? I’ve always wondered if there’d be an impact on sex? If so, I guess that’s an important thing to consider.

No impact on sex whatsoever.

Size40Shoes · 30/01/2026 19:21

Full hysterectomy Dec 2024. Was back to the gym in 4 weeks and properly fully functioning in 3 months (weight lifting wise).

It was keyhole. I insisted they remove the ovaries and went straight on HRT.

Mine was due to adenomyosis.

Never felt so good in my life.

FleaDog · 30/01/2026 19:23

I had keyhole hysterectomy, took everything except ovaries.

Home same day, paracetamol first 2 bights, no pain relief needed after that... biggest risk was doing too much as felt bloody amazing after.

Most difficult thing was getting the surgical socks on at home after, dh was turning the air blue trying to put them on for me.

Certainly not bed bound, just had to remember to take things easy, would nap.in the day for a few days, really I could have worked from home after a week or two but I had an awesome employer who insisted I take 6 weeks iff to fully recover and were reluctant to let me back then as they insisted it wss major surgery.

Do it, you won't believe how much better you feel.

NigellaWannabe1 · 30/01/2026 19:23

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2026 19:20

No impact on sex whatsoever.

Does that include orgasm? Sorry to ask but it must feel quite different - or maybe not?

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2026 19:27

NigellaWannabe1 · 30/01/2026 19:23

Does that include orgasm? Sorry to ask but it must feel quite different - or maybe not?

I don't think it felt different. It was 25 years ago but i do remember it increased my libido.

I had a full on abdominal incision so it took a while to heal. I took a couple of months off work because I was an Early Years teacher and it was quite physical. I did my physio religiously and went back to the gym once I had the ok from the doctor.

Mcdhotchoc · 30/01/2026 20:05

Having a hysterectomy was the best day of my life. Including marriage and having kids.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2026 20:26

Mcdhotchoc · 30/01/2026 20:05

Having a hysterectomy was the best day of my life. Including marriage and having kids.

Maybe not that but it was life changing.

horseladyindressage · 30/01/2026 20:33

I has mine at the start of lockdown aged 56. Still having very heavy periods. It was the best thing I have ever done. I had it on Wednesday came home on Friday and met my daughter I. The park for a coffee the following Saturday.

TenInSport · 31/01/2026 10:50

Do it. I had an elective keyhole hysterectomy at what was considered to be a young age (31) as my periods were intolerable due to fibroids and nothing was helping. I was clear that my family was complete and luckily I had a sympathetic consultant / surgeon who was agreeable despite my age. I also had my cervix removed as I had a history of abnormal smear tests, but my ovaries were left intact to prevent immediate menopause.

I was out of hospital the next day and going for gentle walks around the block the day after that. I could have gone back to work at my office job after 2 weeks but came down with tonsillitis during the second week of recovery, which left me feeling far worse that the hysterectomy, so was signed off for a third week to ensure I was also fully recovered from that. I felt guilty as the weather was good and I went back to work with a suntan from spending a lot of my recovery time sat in a neighbours garden with my feet in her paddling pool.

When I left the hospital I was prescribed some hefty pain relief, but found I didn't need any of it. This may be outing, but my husband was working the night I was released from hospital so my mum brought me home and stayed with me until he got back. He gently nudged me awake at 3am to tell me there was a kebab for me in the fridge if I wanted it and I was up and out of that bed and in the kitchen in under 30 seconds. 🤣

The only pain relief I took was some ibuprofen a couple of days after I got home as I had 2 glasses of wine one evening and woke up the next morning with the worst headache I've ever experienced in my life. I think that perhaps the anaesthetic wasn't fully out of my system and didn't play nicely with the alcohol! I was also given laxatives, but I have IBS and didn't want to risk throwing them into the mix so I chose not to take them and had no problems at all in that department.

DH and I waited 6 weeks before sex as recommended, then booked ourselves into a hotel for the night to celebrate the end of the ban. I was nervous, but we were gentle at first and nothing was different for me than before. He said that nothing felt different for him either and our sex life went from strength-to-strength after as I was no longer suffering with my periods.

I did go into "early" menopause at the age of 38, which apparently can happen following this surgery, but I was able to manage it well with HRT. The only other long-term effect I have, which is interesting but not a problem, is that if I have a bath I have to pop a pad in my pants straight after as a few minutes after I get out water comes flooding out of me in a way it never did before. I mentioned it to a doctor in passing who told me that the cervix can act as a sort of stopper and the absence of it means that all the water that goes up has nothing that prevents it from coming down once gravity is at play.

12 years down the line now and absolutely no regrets. I would make the same decision again in an instant if I had to.

rainsbows · 31/01/2026 12:13

TenInSport · 31/01/2026 10:50

Do it. I had an elective keyhole hysterectomy at what was considered to be a young age (31) as my periods were intolerable due to fibroids and nothing was helping. I was clear that my family was complete and luckily I had a sympathetic consultant / surgeon who was agreeable despite my age. I also had my cervix removed as I had a history of abnormal smear tests, but my ovaries were left intact to prevent immediate menopause.

I was out of hospital the next day and going for gentle walks around the block the day after that. I could have gone back to work at my office job after 2 weeks but came down with tonsillitis during the second week of recovery, which left me feeling far worse that the hysterectomy, so was signed off for a third week to ensure I was also fully recovered from that. I felt guilty as the weather was good and I went back to work with a suntan from spending a lot of my recovery time sat in a neighbours garden with my feet in her paddling pool.

When I left the hospital I was prescribed some hefty pain relief, but found I didn't need any of it. This may be outing, but my husband was working the night I was released from hospital so my mum brought me home and stayed with me until he got back. He gently nudged me awake at 3am to tell me there was a kebab for me in the fridge if I wanted it and I was up and out of that bed and in the kitchen in under 30 seconds. 🤣

The only pain relief I took was some ibuprofen a couple of days after I got home as I had 2 glasses of wine one evening and woke up the next morning with the worst headache I've ever experienced in my life. I think that perhaps the anaesthetic wasn't fully out of my system and didn't play nicely with the alcohol! I was also given laxatives, but I have IBS and didn't want to risk throwing them into the mix so I chose not to take them and had no problems at all in that department.

DH and I waited 6 weeks before sex as recommended, then booked ourselves into a hotel for the night to celebrate the end of the ban. I was nervous, but we were gentle at first and nothing was different for me than before. He said that nothing felt different for him either and our sex life went from strength-to-strength after as I was no longer suffering with my periods.

I did go into "early" menopause at the age of 38, which apparently can happen following this surgery, but I was able to manage it well with HRT. The only other long-term effect I have, which is interesting but not a problem, is that if I have a bath I have to pop a pad in my pants straight after as a few minutes after I get out water comes flooding out of me in a way it never did before. I mentioned it to a doctor in passing who told me that the cervix can act as a sort of stopper and the absence of it means that all the water that goes up has nothing that prevents it from coming down once gravity is at play.

12 years down the line now and absolutely no regrets. I would make the same decision again in an instant if I had to.

That’s really helpful thank you. I’ll be 38 by the time the surgery comes around.

The consultant told me that by keeping my ovaries I could still have cyclical symptoms without the period like mood swings, headaches etc. Excuse my naivety but do you still ovulate?!

OP posts:
RaraRachael · 31/01/2026 13:27

I kept my ovaries but have none of those symptoms

poppetandmog · 31/01/2026 14:05

I had a hysterectomy last February at aged 37. I kept my ovaries but they also removed cervix and fallopian tubes. It has transformed my life. I also had Adenomyosis and was in agony every month. To the point where I was basically bedridden for a good few days each month. I also had fibroids and endometriosis on my ovaries. The recovery for me was straightforward and the pain nothing compared to what I had been feeling. I am so much more active now, have lost a lot of weight and feel like I have my life back.