Hysterectomy complications should not be taken for granted. Although there is a low rate of complications occurring due to hysterectomy compared to other surgeries, it is still important for any woman undergoing hysterectomy to be aware about them in preparation for the medical procedure.

Early menopause. A woman whose ovaries are not removed during a hysterectomy can be expected to go into menopause four years earlier than they would without the procedure.

Blood clots. These are not just one of the common hysterectomy complications, but also one of the common complications in other types of surgeries. Blood clots can form in the lungs or legs, and to prevent this, the patient can wear stockings on the legs or use blood thinners. Depending on how bad the blood clots are, the patient can use blood thinners from three to six months after the surgery.

Organ damage. Organ damage is one of the hysterectomy complications that rarely occurs. It usually occurs in complicated hysterectomy procedures where the patient has large fibroids or adhesions. It's possible for some pelvic organs and other organs near the uterus to be damaged unintentionally. These organs can include the bowel, the bladder, and the ureters or the tubes that connect the kidney and the bladder. Such organ damage can be easily repaired if it does occur.

Infection. Infections are hysterectomy complications that can occur in the abdomen, in the incision, in the vagina, or in the bladder. These can be prevented and cured with antibiotics. Rarely do they turn into an abscess, and they occur in only one tenth of hysterectomy patients.

Bleeding. This is common among surgeries. If the bleeding gets too excessive then the patient may need blood transfusion, or may even be required to go back to the operating room.

Anesthesia related complications. Hysterectomy complications caused by a patient's adverse reaction to anesthesia are manifested by heart problems and a difficulty in breathing. These types of complications can be aggravated by obesity, smoking, and heart or lung diseases.

These are just some of the hysterectomy complications that may develop. Others include weight gain, constipation, pelvic pain, and a reduced sexual drive.