Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNormal Bleeding After a HysterectomyAbnormal Bleeding After a HysterectomyWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Normal Bleeding After a Hysterectomy
Abnormal Bleeding After a Hysterectomy
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Recovering completely from ahysterectomyusually takes at least six to eight weeks. It is normal to expect some amount of bleeding during this time. However, if the bleeding doesn’t get lighter over time, that is not normal.
This article will explain the difference between normal and abnormal bleeding and how to know when to call a healthcare provider.
Ian Hooten / Science Photo Library / Getty Images
Some bleeding and discharge after a hysterectomy are normal for a few weeks following surgery.The key sign that you are healing normally from a hysterectomy is that the bleeding will decrease in the days and weeks following the surgery. Normal bleeding is mainly spotting that gets lighter over time.
A sudden and significant increase in bleeding is considered abnormal. In addition, bleeding should never be too heavy at any point in your recovery.
Bright red blood indicates an active bleed. If you passlarge clots, this suggests that a large amount of blood has accumulated, often while you sleep. If you are experiencing either of these, seek medical attention immediately.
Some complications that may cause abnormal bleeding include a vaginal cuff tear and hemorrhage.
Can You Still Get Your Period After a Hysterectomy?Since youruterusis removed during a hysterectomy,menstruationis no longer possible. Rarely, some people experience vaginal bleeding after a hysterectomy. This is not a menstrual period but may indicate a health complication, such as atrophic vaginitis (drying and thinning of the vaginal wall), cervical stump cancer, ovarian tumors, or other estrogen-secreting tumors.
Can You Still Get Your Period After a Hysterectomy?
Since youruterusis removed during a hysterectomy,menstruationis no longer possible. Rarely, some people experience vaginal bleeding after a hysterectomy. This is not a menstrual period but may indicate a health complication, such as atrophic vaginitis (drying and thinning of the vaginal wall), cervical stump cancer, ovarian tumors, or other estrogen-secreting tumors.
Hysterectomy: Long-Term Care
Vaginal Cuff Tear
The vaginal cuff is the incision where the vagina was cut away from thecervix. A rare complication involves a tear at this site, called vaginal cuffdehiscence.
In addition to vaginal bleeding, people with vaginal cuff tears may experience:
Possible Side Effects of a Hysterectomy
Hemorrhage
Hemorrhageis severe bleeding. It is a risk of any surgery, including a hysterectomy. Hemorrhage may be primary (occurring within 24 hours after surgery) or secondary (occurring between 24 hours and six weeks).
Overall, the risk of hemorrhage after a hysterectomy is low (between 0.2% and 2%), but it can be life-threatening when it happens.Signs of hemorrhage include:
Secondary hemorrhage may occur more often after laparoscopic surgeries than other surgical techniques.
Bleeding Years After a HysterectomyIf you start vaginal bleeding years after a hysterectomy, this could be a sign of an underlying condition. Some things that may lead to vaginal bleeding when you no longer have a uterus include vaginal atrophy and some cancers or tumors. Therefore, you should always see a healthcare provider about unexpected bleeding.
Bleeding Years After a Hysterectomy
If you start vaginal bleeding years after a hysterectomy, this could be a sign of an underlying condition. Some things that may lead to vaginal bleeding when you no longer have a uterus include vaginal atrophy and some cancers or tumors. Therefore, you should always see a healthcare provider about unexpected bleeding.
See a healthcare provider if you experience the following:
Heavy bleeding during recovery should be reported to your surgeon immediately. This also goes for any symptoms of infection, such as a fever.
You should also call your healthcare provider if you have any signs of aneurogenicbladder. This is a condition in which there is damage to the nerves that control your bladder, resulting in difficulties with urination. Symptoms may includeurinary incontinence(when you lack control of urination, which causes you to leak small traces of urine or release substantial amounts) orurinary retention. This occurs when you’re unable to empty your bladder completely, which may cause pain, bloating, and in some instances kidney problems.
Summary
Some bleeding after a hysterectomy is expected. However, the bleeding should lessen over time. Heavy bleeding can be a sign of a complication and can be life-threatening in some cases. If you notice bleeding that is heavier than spotting, contact a healthcare provider.
Using Hysterectomy to Treat Endometriosis
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - dischargeBoersen Z, Aalders CIM, Klinkert ER, Maas JWM, Nap AW.Vaginal cuff dehiscence after endometriosis surgery.JSLS. 2019;23(3):e2019.00018. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2019.00018Fuchs Weizman N, Einarsson JI, Wang KC, Vitonis AF, Cohen SL.Vaginal cuff dehiscence: risk factors and associated morbidities.JSLS. 2015;19(2):e2013.00351. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2013.00351Paul PG, Prathap T, Kaur H, Shabnam K, Kandhari D, Chopade G.Secondary hemorrhage after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.JSLS. 2014;18(3):e2014.00139. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2014.00139National Library of Medicine.Bleeding.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - dischargeBoersen Z, Aalders CIM, Klinkert ER, Maas JWM, Nap AW.Vaginal cuff dehiscence after endometriosis surgery.JSLS. 2019;23(3):e2019.00018. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2019.00018Fuchs Weizman N, Einarsson JI, Wang KC, Vitonis AF, Cohen SL.Vaginal cuff dehiscence: risk factors and associated morbidities.JSLS. 2015;19(2):e2013.00351. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2013.00351Paul PG, Prathap T, Kaur H, Shabnam K, Kandhari D, Chopade G.Secondary hemorrhage after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.JSLS. 2014;18(3):e2014.00139. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2014.00139National Library of Medicine.Bleeding.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - dischargeBoersen Z, Aalders CIM, Klinkert ER, Maas JWM, Nap AW.Vaginal cuff dehiscence after endometriosis surgery.JSLS. 2019;23(3):e2019.00018. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2019.00018Fuchs Weizman N, Einarsson JI, Wang KC, Vitonis AF, Cohen SL.Vaginal cuff dehiscence: risk factors and associated morbidities.JSLS. 2015;19(2):e2013.00351. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2013.00351Paul PG, Prathap T, Kaur H, Shabnam K, Kandhari D, Chopade G.Secondary hemorrhage after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.JSLS. 2014;18(3):e2014.00139. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2014.00139National Library of Medicine.Bleeding.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - discharge
Boersen Z, Aalders CIM, Klinkert ER, Maas JWM, Nap AW.Vaginal cuff dehiscence after endometriosis surgery.JSLS. 2019;23(3):e2019.00018. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2019.00018
Fuchs Weizman N, Einarsson JI, Wang KC, Vitonis AF, Cohen SL.Vaginal cuff dehiscence: risk factors and associated morbidities.JSLS. 2015;19(2):e2013.00351. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2013.00351
Paul PG, Prathap T, Kaur H, Shabnam K, Kandhari D, Chopade G.Secondary hemorrhage after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.JSLS. 2014;18(3):e2014.00139. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2014.00139
National Library of Medicine.Bleeding.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
