Hysterectomy

March 25, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Barbara Buttin, M.D., gynecologic oncologist and associate clinical professor, Department of Surgery, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Chicago.

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus. It is a common treatment for uterine cancer and is sometimes used to treat ovarian cancer and cervical cancer. Hysterectomy may also be used to treat conditions such as non-cancerous fibroid tumors and heavy periods if they don’t respond to other treatment or if caused by adenomyosis.

What Is a Hysterectomy?

During a hysterectomy, surgeons remove the uterus, or womb, through an incision or through the vagina. Some types of hysterectomy may also remove the cervix, which is the muscle that connects the uterus to the vaginal canal.

Can Women Get Pregnant After Hysterectomy?

After a hysterectomy, women cannot become pregnant or carry a baby. This is because the uterus is the organ where a fetus grows and develops during pregnancy.

Types of Hysterectomy Surgery

There are several different types of hysterectomy. Patients usually work with their cancer care team to determine which type may be best for them, depending on a variety of factors, including the patient’s personal preferences and goals, her overall health and her cancer type.

Partial Hysterectomy

A partial hysterectomy is the removal of the upper part of the uterus, but not the cervix, which is located at the bottom of the uterus. In some cases, a partial hysterectomy may include removing the ovaries. Partial hysterectomy is sometimes called a supracervical or subtotal hysterectomy.

Total Hysterectomy

A total hysterectomy is the removal of all of the uterus, including the cervix. In some cases, a total hysterectomy also includes removing the ovaries or fallopian tubes. This is the most common type of hysterectomy.

Radical Hysterectomy

A radical hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus, cervix, the upper part of the vagina and the parametria (the tissue next to the cervix). In some cases, a radical hysterectomy may include removing the ovaries or fallopian tubes. This type of hysterectomy is commonly used to treat cervical cancer.

Surgical Approaches

Several different surgical techniques that may be used to perform a hysterectomy. Which approach is right depends on a wide range of factors. These include what cancer type a patient has, the extent of the cancer, personal preferences related to fertility and the patient’s overall health. A patient’s cancer care team will work with her to determine the right approach.

Abdominal Hysterectomy

An abdominal hysterectomy is performed as an open surgery. The uterus and other tissue is removed through incisions made in the patient’s abdomen. Incisions may be vertical or horizontal, as in a C-section.

Laparoscopic Surgery

During laparoscopic surgery, surgeons make small incisions in the abdomen or vagina and use a medical instrument called a laparoscope to see inside the body. The uterus and other tissue is detached through these small incisions but have to be removed typically through the vagina. This approach promotes a faster recovery than open surgery.

Vaginal Hysterectomy

A vaginal hysterectomy is performed using a small incision in the vagina, through which the uterus and any other tissue is removed. Unlike laparoscopic surgery, no camera is used, so the surgeon can’t visualize the abdominal organs.

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is similar to laparoscopic surgery. A surgeon makes small incisions in the abdomen or vagina and uses a robotic medical tool to detach tissue, to be removed through the vagina. This increases the precision of the surgery and is best for more complex operations that require increased amounts of tissue dissection, such as a very large uterus or presence of scar tissue. Use of robotic surgery decreases the chance of complex operations having to be performed through an open approach.

Chart: Hysterectomy Approaches and Details

Hysterectomy Recovery

Although a hysterectomy is a common procedure, it is a major abdominal surgery. How long it takes to recover depends on a wide range of things, including what type of hysterectomy a patient has, what surgical approach was used and her overall health and age.

Recovery Time

Most women spend up to five days in the hospital after a hysterectomy, depending on which type of procedure is performed and which approach is used. Recovery time at home may vary depending on the type of surgery and which surgical technique is used. But in most cases, it takes six to eight weeks to fully recover.

Sex After Hysterectomy

Women should not have vaginal sex for at least six to eight weeks after a hysterectomy.

Menopause After Hysterectomy

For women who have both ovaries removed during a hysterectomy, menopause will begin immediately after surgery. If only one ovary was removed, you should not expect premature menopause if the ovary is healthy.

Hysterectomy Side Effects

Common side effects of hysterectomy surgery include:

• Pain for the first few days (or weeks if an open surgical approach is used) after surgery in the abdomen or back
• Infection at the site of the incisions or the top of the vagina for a total hysterectomy, which may need antibiotic treatment
• Vaginal bleeding of varying amounts
• Early menopause for women (only for women who had their ovaries removed) who have not yet gone through menopause, including symptoms like changes to sexual desire, hot flashes or vaginal dryness

The patient should talk to her care team about possible side effects so she knows what’s normal and what may warrant a doctor visit.