It’s been more than five years since I had a hysterectomy at age 29.

Over the years I’ve received many messages from women asking about side effects, regrets, weight changes, and overall wellbeing. The short answer is that, unlike many alarming stories online, I’m doing well and I don’t regret my decision.

If you’d like the longer version, keep reading for a detailed, honest account of my experience five years after surgery.

Common Questions About My Hysterectomy

Below are the most common questions I’m asked about life five years after my hysterectomy, with straightforward answers based on my personal experience.

Have you noticed any side effects from the hysterectomy?

Other than an increased frequency of urinary tract infections for a while, I haven’t experienced major long-term side effects from the hysterectomy.

Urinary Tract Infections

After surgery I experienced a spike in UTIs, roughly one per month for several months. Before the hysterectomy I’d had only a few UTIs in my life, so this increase felt significant. Some providers suggested the catheter I had for about 24 hours could be the cause. I’m skeptical of that explanation because I had catheters during four prior C-sections without a similar increase in infections. Based on my experience, I suspect the UTIs were related to the hysterectomy itself rather than the temporary catheter.

After that initial period my infection rate dropped to about two to three bladder infections per year. I learned a simple natural approach to manage UTIs and avoided antibiotics most of the time, with only one antibiotic course in the last year. More recently, cutting back significantly on sugar coincided with nearly nine months without an infection.

Fatigue

Fatigue has been the other major health issue for me. I hesitate to call it a direct side effect of the hysterectomy because it began before the surgery, but it persisted afterward. Initially I assumed post-op tiredness was just recovery from surgery and anesthesia. However, when the extreme fatigue continued beyond the normal healing window, I investigated further.

Fifteen months after surgery I pushed for answers and discovered I have hypothyroidism. That diagnosis explained the chronic exhaustion and also connected to other symptoms I had experienced before surgery, including heavy monthly bleeding. Treating the thyroid has helped improve my energy and contributed to gradual weight loss as my metabolism recovered.

In hindsight I’ve wondered whether an accurate thyroid diagnosis before surgery might have changed my path, but given the relief I gained from the hysterectomy, I still feel it was the right choice for my circumstances.

Have you experienced menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, acne, or mood swings?

No. I underwent a supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy, which removed only the uterus and left both ovaries and the cervix intact. Because my ovaries were preserved, I did not go into surgical menopause and have not experienced the typical menopause symptoms associated with abrupt loss of ovarian function.

My hormonal cycle now lacks menstrual bleeding, but I still notice hormonal changes each month—some days I feel a little hormonal, other days I feel great—similar to how I felt prior to surgery but without the heavy bleeding.

Have you experienced any weight gain?

I gained approximately five to ten pounds after the surgery, but I attribute that to untreated hypothyroidism rather than the hysterectomy itself. Hypothyroidism slows metabolism and commonly contributes to weight gain. Since addressing my thyroid health I’ve begun to lose some of that weight.

How is your sex life since the hysterectomy?

I won’t go into private details, but I can say there have been no problems related to sexual function. My intimate life has not suffered as a result of the hysterectomy.

Why did you keep your cervix?

I chose to keep my cervix because I didn’t see a compelling reason to remove it. I was told recovery can be slightly faster when the cervix is preserved, and personally it felt like one fewer surgical changes to my body. My doctor mentioned a small possibility of light spotting later if any uterine tissue remained, but I haven’t experienced any spotting in the five-plus years since surgery.

Is there anything you would have done differently?

If I could do it over, I would have pushed harder and earlier to identify the cause of my long-standing fatigue. Finding and treating hypothyroidism before surgery might have changed the severity of my bleeding and perhaps delayed or altered my decision. That said, I had tried multiple natural remedies and treatments for bleeding and was ready to resolve the issue and move forward with my life.

Overall, my recovery and five-year journey have been positive. I’ve regained my quality of life, addressed the health problems that persisted after surgery, and remain thankful for the relief the hysterectomy provided.

Resources

If you’re considering a hysterectomy, you’re not alone. Seek balanced information, talk openly with trusted medical providers, and consider second opinions. Educating yourself and exploring underlying causes—like thyroid dysfunction in my case—can help you make the best decision for your health.

Read My Complete Hysterectomy Story

1. Girl Talk in Too Much Detail
2. Hysterectomy at Age 30?
3. A Surgery Date – Hysterectomy
4. I’m Afraid
5. Two Days
6. Home and Resting
7. On the Mend
8. My Story: Hysterectomy at Age 29
9. Healing
10. 7 Weeks Post Hysterectomy
11. 6 Months Later…After My Hysterectomy
12. 5 Years After a Hysterectomy [2018 Update]