What are the possible long-term products after a hysterectomy?

The possible long term effects of a hysterectomy are pelvic floor disorders, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and anal incontinence, bowel dysfunction and constipation, according to a study conducted by Dr. Forsgen and Altman published in Aging Health. Some less-substantiated long term effects are cardiovascular disease, sexual dysfunction and cancer.

The probability of developing urinary or anal incontinence later in life after a hysterectomy ranges from 25 to 45 percent, as reported by Dr. Forsgen and Altman. Incontinence can develop as soon as one year after a hysterectomy, but usually takes around 10 years to manifest. Anal incontinence is due to the damaging of the anal sphincter complex during surgery.

One in a thousand women that undergo a hysterectomy experience a pelvic organ prolapse. The onset of bowel dysfunction can occur immediately after surgery or as a long term effect, resulting in constipation or rectal emptying difficulties, state Forsgen and Altman. Bowel dysfunction, such as flatus incontinence and fecal incontinence, is more associated with a vaginal hysterectomy than compared to an abdominal hysterectomy. Associations have been made with cardiovascular disease, sexual dysfunction and cancer as long-term effects of hysterectomy surgery, but studies that have been conducted so far do not correlate the effects with vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy surgery, as of 2015.