The short answer
After a hysterectomy your periods stop and you cannot become pregnant. If your ovaries are kept, you do not go into menopause straight away, although it may come a little earlier. Most women return to a normal sex life once healed, and many feel better than before because the bleeding and pain have ended.
Book a hysterectomy, from ₦1,600,000Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
What changes, and what does not
Your periods stop for good. You cannot carry a pregnancy. If the cervix was removed, which is the usual operation, you may no longer need cervical screening, but ask your gynaecologist, because it depends on why the operation was done.
What does not change: you are still a woman, your vagina remains, your ability to enjoy sex and reach orgasm usually remains, and if your ovaries are kept your hormones carry on as before.
Your ovaries and menopause
The ovaries make your hormones, not the womb. If your ovaries are healthy, many surgeons leave them in place for women who have not reached menopause, because removing them brings on menopause immediately. With your ovaries kept, menopause may come a few years earlier than it otherwise would, and you will not have periods to tell you it is happening, so look out for hot flushes and night sweats.
If your ovaries are removed before menopause, you will have menopause symptoms within days or weeks. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is usually offered to replace the hormones and protect your bones and heart until the natural age of menopause. Discuss this before the operation, not after.
Sex after a hysterectomy
Most women are advised to wait about six weeks, or until any discharge has stopped and you feel ready, before having sex. The top of the vagina needs time to heal. Start gently. If the vagina feels dry, especially if your ovaries were removed, a water-based lubricant or vaginal oestrogen from your doctor helps.
Many women find sex better after a hysterectomy, because heavy bleeding and pain are gone. If sex is painful or feels different after a few months, tell your gynaecologist: it can usually be helped.
Myths you may hear
- 'Your husband will leave you': a hysterectomy does not change how you look or how sex feels to a partner.
- 'You will become fat': weight gain is not caused by the operation, although being less active during recovery can add weight.
- 'You are no longer a full woman': your womb does not define you. Your hormones, if your ovaries are kept, are unchanged.
- 'Things will fall out': the top of the vagina is stitched closed and heals firmly.
Your feelings
Some women feel relief, some feel loss, and some feel both, especially if they had hoped for more children. These feelings are normal. Talk to someone you trust, and tell your doctor if low mood lasts more than a couple of weeks: support is available and it helps.
What it costs on Mezo
Two units of blood cross-matched and held are included.
Common questions
Will I still have a discharge after a hysterectomy?
You may have a little normal moisture in the vagina. A smelly, coloured or bloody discharge after the first few weeks is not normal and needs checking.
Do I need HRT after a hysterectomy?
If your ovaries are kept, usually not straight away. If they are removed before menopause, HRT is usually recommended until around the natural age of menopause, unless there is a medical reason not to take it.
When can I go back to work after a hysterectomy?
After an open operation, most women need around six to eight weeks. After keyhole or vaginal surgery it is often sooner. Your surgeon will advise based on your job.
How much is a hysterectomy on Mezo?
A hysterectomy is from ₦1,600,000. Removing the ovaries is priced separately, and your written all-in quote follows the assessment.
The procedures
Related health guides
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Hysterectomy. NHS. Patient information.
- Hysterectomy - Recovery. NHS. Patient information.
- Menopause and perimenopause. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 22 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.