"There are risks associated with general anesthesia, [and] a risk of injuring the bladder, the ureter or the intestines," said Dr. Adina Keller, associate chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Northern Westchester Hospital. If you haven't gone through menopause previously and your ovaries are removed with your uterus, you'll immediately go into menopause. Your doctor may prescribe hormone replacement therapy to lessen the symptoms and to help reduce your risk for osteoporosis. Post-surgery Recovery time after surgery varies, but Minkin tells her patients to plan on about six weeks of down time. "No one ever believes me, but after a week or two, you get hit with extreme fatigue," Minkin said. “You'll think you're fine to go back to work, but around two weeks, you're going to need a nap to get through the day. Surgery is an insult to the body, and you get very fatigued during recovery." Hysterectomy can also take an emotional toll. "Some women mourn the loss of their ability to procreate," Keller explained. Some may also experience depression after their hysterectomy, while others may feel relief because their troubling symptoms disappear. "Before hysterectomy, it's important for women to speak with their doctor about all the other options and why hysterectomy is appropriate for them," Keller said.