Bleeding After a Total Hysterectomy

It is possible for there to be some bleeding after a hysterectomy.

A hysterectomy is a surgery in which the uterus is removed from a woman's body. A hysterectomy ultimately ends menstruation, and you can no longer become pregnant once this operation has taken place. A hysterectomy may also involve removing other organs and tissue.

What to Expect

Bleeding during the first four to six weeks after a hysterectomy is normal. After a hysterectomy your periods will eventually stop, but this initial bleeding is normal. A cause for concern would be if the blood is bright red instead of a light red to brown color.

Types

There are different types of hysterectomy surgeries. A partial hysterectomy includes the removal of the top part of the uterus. A complete hysterectomy is when the uterus and the cervix are removed. A bilateral salpingo-oophoectomy involves the removal of the cervix, uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Reasons for a Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy can be performed for various reasons, including if a woman is bleeding outside of the normal menstrual cycle and it is not controllable with other methods. Women who have severe endometriosis, which is uterine tissue that is growing out the uterus, increasing pelvic pain, a dropped uterus or cervical cancer are often candidates for a hysterectomy.

References

• Cleveland Clinic: What you need to know about a hysterectomy