Laparoscopic hysterectomy
Information for patients from Women's Health
You have been referred for a laparoscopic hysterectomy. This leaflet explains the following.
What a laparoscopic hysterectomy is
What happens during the operation
How you may feel after surgery
How to look after yourself following surgery
Who you can contact if you have any concerns after surgery
We hope this leaflet answers some of the questions you may have. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to a member of your healthcare team.
What is a laparoscopic hysterectomy?
There are three main types of hysterectomy.
Total hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and the cervix (neck of the womb).
Subtotal hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus leaving the cervix intact.
Hysterectomy plus a salpingo-oopherectomy is the removal of:
the uterus; and
either one or both of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
The type of hysterectomy you have will depend on your personal circumstances and which option is most appropriate for you. You will be able to discuss the type of surgery planned for you with your consultant.
How can I prepare for my surgery?
While you wait for your surgery date, you can start preparing for your operation. Research shows that fitter patients, who are able to improve their health and activity levels before surgery, recover more quickly. Taking an active role in planning and preparing for your operation will help you:
feel in control
leave hospital sooner, and
get back to normal more quickly.
To help with this, a member of the One You Kent (OYK) team may contact you. OYK work in the community, and help patients improve their general health. This includes help and advice on:
Stopping smoking
Losing weight
Getting more exercise
You can find more information on the following web sites.
One You Kent (Kent Community Health)
Fitter Better Sooner Toolkit (Royal College of Anaesthetists)
Will I need a general anaesthetic?
Most patients need a general anaesthetic for this surgery (you will be asleep). However, we may offer some patients a spinal anaesthetic (which numbs the area but you will be awake). You will see an anaesthetist on the day of your surgery to decide which anaesthetic you will have. Please use this time to ask any questions you may have.
How long will I stay in hospital?
We admit most patients to hospital on the day of surgery. If all is well, you can go home the next day.
How will I feel after my surgery?
You may feel the effects of the general anaesthetic for up to 24 hours after your operation. You may feel drowsy (sleepy), sick, or unable to make decisions during this time.
When you return from surgery you will have a catheter inserted into your bladder. We usually remove this the morning after surgery.
Some patients have difficulty passing urine after we remove their catheter. If this happens, you may need to go home with the catheter for 1 week, to rest your bladder. We will arrange for you to return to one of our Gynaecological Assessment Units to have it removed.
If you go home with a catheter, a nurse will teach you how to care for it before you leave hospital. We will also make a referral to a district nurse, so if you have any problems at home you can:
contact the district nurse through your GP; or
ring the ward direct (the ward's contact details are at the end of this leaflet).
After surgery you will have between two and four 1cm incisions (cuts) on your abdomen (tummy). We close most incisions with dissolvable stitches, which dissolve on their own.
If you have non-dissolvable stitches these will need to be removed 5 to 7 days after surgery. We will make arrangements for this with you before you leave hospital.
We will use dressings to cover your incision sites. You can remove these 24 hours after your operation. Your wounds should heal well with minimal scarring.
If your surgeon removed your cervix, there will be stitches and a scar at the top of your vagina. We do not need to remove the stitches, as they will dissolve on their own. Do not worry if you notice part of a stitch discharging from your vagina.
You may have a pack after surgery. This is a length of gauze inserted into your vagina, which reduces the risk of bleeding. If you have a pack inserted it can cause a pressure feeling in your vagina, and may make you feel like you need to open your bowels. A nurse will remove the pack the morning after your surgery, while you are on the ward. Removing the pack can cause slight discomfort.
Most women will have some vaginal bleeding for up to 2 weeks after their surgery. It is usually light bleeding (like a period), and is red or brown in colour. Do not worry if you do not lose blood in the first few days and then have sudden loss days later, this is normal. Use sanitary pads during this time, as tampons increase the risk of developing an infection.
It is normal to feel pain and discomfort in your abdomen for a few days after your surgery. While in hospital ask your nurse for pain relief, which will help you to get out of bed and move around. This will help speed up your recovery and help prevent blood clots forming in your legs and lungs.
When you are at home take paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain. Please make sure you have a supply of these at home before you come into hospital. If you need them, we will give you a supply of stronger painkillers to take home, such as codeine. Codeine can cause constipation. To avoid this, make sure you eat a high fibre diet. Ask for advice from your GP or ward staff if you become constipated.
A well-known side effect following this surgery is pain in your shoulder, which is caused by trapped air. Walking around and drinking peppermint water can help your discomfort. Tell your nurse if you have trapped wind.
We will offer you food and drink as soon as you return to the ward. You may have an intravenous (IV) drip in your arm, which we will remove once you are able to eat and drink again on your own.
You may have a shower the day after your surgery and remove your dressings. It is safe for wounds to get wet, but avoid using soap directly on your wounds until they have healed.
After your shower, pat your wound areas dry with a clean towel. Keep them clean to prevent infection. Do not reapply the dressing - leave your wound open to the air.
The first few days after your surgery, you may feel more tired than usual, as your body uses a lot of energy to heal itself. Taking a nap during the day can help with this. You may also notice that you feel more emotional. This can be a side effect of what is a stressful unsettling time, and is completely normal.
After surgery, there is a risk of developing:
a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in your calf area; or
a pulmonary embolus (PE) in your lungs.
To stop this happening, we will prescribe you a blood thinning injection called Inhixa. You will need to have this injection each day. We will show you how to do this yourself, or a friend or relative they can do this for you. If neither is an option, please speak to your nurse so they can make other arrangements.
We will also give you a pair of compression stockings to wear during and following surgery. You need to wear these both day and night until you are able to move around as normal. If you are at a higher risk of blood clots you may also have a pair of inflatable boots put on your legs to wear while in hospital. These help reduce the risk of clotting.
You can reduce your risks of clots by following the steps below.
Following your operation, move around as soon as you are able to.
Do leg exercises every hour when sitting down.
Move each foot in a circular motion for 30 seconds each
Pump each foot up and down for 30 seconds by moving your ankle
Bend and straighten your legs one at a time, three times on each leg
For more information, please ask a member of staff for a copy of the following leaflets.
[Web sites last accessed 30 June 2026]
Do I have to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) following my surgery?
If you have had both of your ovaries removed your consultant may consider it necessary for you to take HRT. Please ask any questions before you and your consultant decide whether you need to take it or not.
[Web site last accessed 30 June 2026]
Will I still need regular smear tests?
We may suggest that you continue having regular smear tests after your hysterectomy. Your consultant will advise you after your surgery whether this will be necessary.
What will happen before the day of my operation?
We recommend that you begin your surgical journey in the best health possible, this includes:
stopping smoking
losing weight
reducing the amount of alcohol you drink, and
increasing your daily exercise.
It is important that all existing medical conditions are well controlled before your operation.
Before the day of your surgery, you will have a pre-assessment appointment. At this appointment we will check your health and discuss a plan of care for your stay and discharge. Please ask any questions you may have. Remember you can withdraw your consent for treatment at any time.
Your care plan aims to make your stay in hospital short and allow you to recover better at home. Patients that follow the plan are less likely to have complications after surgery and be readmitted to hospital.
Before surgery you may need to have your bowel completely emptied, which is known as bowel prep. We may ask you to do this at home or in hospital.
Bowel prep involves taking two prescribed sachets of powder mixed with a litre of water twice, on the day before your surgery. This will make your bowel open very frequently until there are no stools (poo) left.
You can only drink clear fluids during this time. However, we may ask you to drink specially made carbohydrate drinks, to keep you well hydrated.
What can I do to help myself recover after surgery?
It will take time for your body to recover following a hysterectomy. Everybody heals and recovers differently. Below are steps you can follow to help with your recovery.
It is important that you rest for the first few days once you are home. The term ‘rest’ does not mean do nothing at all, you need to move around the house and do gentle leg and ankle exercises. Avoid crossing your legs for periods of time.
Your pelvic floor muscles keep your pelvic organs in their correct position, to stop incontinence. Incontinence is loss of bladder and / or bowel control. You must exercise your pelvic floor muscles after surgery, even if you have had stitches. Pelvic organs include your bladder, small bowel, uterus, vagina, and rectum.
Pelvic floor exercises are done by squeezing the muscles inside your vagina or trying to stop yourself passing wind. You must breathe normally during these exercises. You can do short or long pelvic exercises.
Short exercises are when you squeeze the pelvic floor muscles for 1 second and then relax them.
Long exercises are when you squeeze your pelvic floor muscles for several seconds and then release and relax them.
Begin by holding the long squeezes for as long as possible. Gently increase them until you are able to hold for 10 seconds. For pelvic floor exercises to work well, do 10 long squeezes followed by 10 short squeezes 3 times a day.
Do not strain to open your bowels (have a poo), as this can also weaken your pelvic muscles.
For more information, please read the Pelvic floor muscle exercises (for women) leaflet.
It is important that you try and keep to your usual daily routine. Get up and have breakfast, shower, and get dressed. Avoid lying in bed as this can cause complications, such as blood clots, and may make you feel depressed.
Make sure your body has all the nutrients it needs for a speedy recovery by eating a healthy balanced diet. Eat a high fibre diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day along with two litres of fluid, such as a glass of water or squash.
More information on the importance of eating your 5-A-Day, is available from the NHS web site.
Keep your bowels moving. It may take some time for your usual bowel habits to return to normal following surgery. To begin with we may give you a stool (poo) softener or laxative to help you go to the toilet without straining. If passing stools becomes a problem, contact your GP for advice.
Stopping smoking will have a big positive impact on your health and wellbeing in general. However, it will also reduce your risk of developing a wound infection and chest related issues after anaesthetic. If you need support to stop smoking, please contact One You Kent on 03001 231 220, or email.
You may need support from your family and friends whilst you recover. This could be:
support with housework or shopping; or
emotional support, where you can talk to them about how you are feeling.
If you live alone, try and plan ahead. Ask a relative or friend if they could stay with you for the first few days after surgery. If you have no network of support, please speak to your nurse before you leave hospital.
Having a positive attitude towards your recovery will help how your body heals and how you feel. Making a change to your exercise and eating a healthy diet could become a positive long-term change to improve your general health. If you are feeling low in mood try and talk things through with someone to make yourself feel more positive.
What will slow down my recovery?
Existing conditions. If you have any health problems before your surgery (such as diabetes) this can slow down your healing and increase your risk of an infection.
Smoking will increase your risk of a chest or wound infection, and slow down healing.
Being overweight can make your recovery from the anaesthetic slower. It also puts you at higher risk of infections and thrombosis.
Some patients will take longer to recover than others. Try not to worry if your recovery seems to be taking a while. If you have any concerns about your recovery, please speak to your GP.
When should I ask for medical advice?
There are health professionals you can speak to if you are worried about anything.
From 9am to 5pm you can contact one of our Gynaecological Assessment Units (GAUs). Out of these hours you can contact one of the wards listed at the end of this leaflet. You can speak with your GP or call 111 out of hours as well.
If you have any of the following signs and symptoms, speak to a health professional.
Any signs of a urine infection, such as frequency, burning, stinging, or a bad smell. The most likely treatment for this would be a course of antibiotics.
Vaginal bleeding that is very heavy or smells bad, plus a fever or generally feeling unwell. This could mean that you have a collection of blood or pus, or a haematoma. You can treat this with antibiotics. You will need blood tests to decide if you take the antibiotics orally or intravenously. If the collection is large and not responding to antibiotics you may need to have it drained under ultrasound.
Redness or pain around the incision sites in your abdomen. You may have a wound infection if:
any of your incision sites are hot to the touch; or
have redness or hardness surrounding them.
We treat most wound infections with antibiotics. You will need to have a wound swab to decide which antibiotics you will need.
Increasing abdominal pain, including loss of appetite, vomiting, or a fever. This could be a sign of a problem with your bladder or bowels.
Pain, swelling, or hot calf area could be a sign of DVT (a blood clot in the leg). If you have any of these symptoms go to your nearest Emergency Department immediately.
Shortness of breath or chest pain could be a sign of a PE (a blood clot in the lungs). If you have any of these symptoms go to your nearest Emergency Department immediately.
When can I begin my normal activities again?
It is important that you rest and take things easy after your surgery. However, once home you need to begin to get back into a routine and start your normal activities. As the days and weeks pass you will be able to increase the amount you do. However, if you feel a pain when you carry out an activity, stop for a few days and then try again.
In the first few weeks you could sit to do ironing or prepare dinner. Lift nothing heavier than a litre of water.
For the first 4 weeks do not do the following, as they can affect how your wound heals.
Do not lift anything heavy, including small children
Do not do heavy jobs, such as hoovering
When you begin lifting things again remember to do so correctly. Put your feet apart and bend your knees. Keep your back straight, and tighten your stomach muscles as you lift.
We recommend that you do gentle walking during your recovery. As soon as you get home begin taking slow walks, gradually building up the pace and length of your walk. Most women will be able to complete a 30 to 60 minute walk after the first 3 weeks following surgery.
You can return to exercise (such as swimming) after about 2 to 3 weeks.
If you build up gradually you should be able to return to your usual activity level within 6 weeks.
Avoid contact sports for the first 6 weeks following surgery.
Do not drive again until you have stopped taking any medication which makes you feel sleepy. You must also be able to do the following.
Sit comfortably in a car and use all the controls correctly (including doing an emergency stop).
Wear a seat belt without it hurting or feeling uncomfortable.
Look around to manoeuvre the car safely.
Check with your insurance company that you are covered to drive after your surgery. It will take approximately 2 to 4 weeks following your surgery for you to be able to drive again.
Before you start a journey, sit in your car with the engine off. Try the movements you will need to use when driving. See if you can complete them with ease and comfort.
If you are planning to travel during your recovery period it is important to think about the following points.
The length of the journey. If your travel time is 4 hours or more and you cannot take regular stops to walk about, you could be at increased risk of developing a DVT.
Will the journey cause you discomfort? For example will you be squashed in a car and not able to change position?
If travelling abroad, will your travel insurance cover you if you have had surgery? Will you have access to any medical treatment you might need following any complications with your surgery?
Do the activities you have planned for your trip exceed the time limits discussed above?
If you have any queries about the safety of travelling following your surgery, please ask your GP or consultant for advice.
We recommend that you do not have sex until 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery. After this time you should have healed enough. If you feel any discomfort you can wait until it is more comfortable for you.
If you have had your ovaries removed during surgery you could have vaginal dryness. If this happen, use a lubricant which you can buy over-the-counter at your local chemist.
Following your surgery you may feel more tired than usual. Your return to work will depend on how you feel and what you do for a job. Some women will feel fine to return after 3 weeks, but most women will return within 4 to 6 weeks.
Returning to work can help your recovery, by getting back to your usual routine and spending time with others. Ask your employer if you can do shorter days or light duties, gradually returning to your usual working hours.
It is your decision when you feel the time is right for you to return to work, do not let anyone make this decision for you. We will give you a sick note when we discharge you from hospital. If you feel you need longer off work, please speak with your GP.
Contact details
If you have any questions or concerns about your surgery or recovery, please contact one of the following.
Birchington Ward, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
Telephone: 01843 234201Gynaecological Assessment Unit (GAU), Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
Telephone: 01843 235009Women’s Health Suite, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Telephone: 01233 616107Gynaecological Assessment Unit (GAU), William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Telephone: 01233 651987
Ask 3 Questions
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What are my choices?
What is good and bad about each choice?
How do I get support to help me make a decision that is right for me?
Your healthcare team needs you to tell them what is important to you. It’s all about shared decision making.
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