Will I still need a regular pap smear after hysterectomy? I am sure many women share this fear with me, especially those who had a hysterectomy for a cancerous or pre-cancerous condition. Waiting for your pap smear test results is nerve-racking, especially if you were diagnosed with dysplasia or early stages of cervical cancer before the hysterectomy operation. After the surgery, you just hope you can leave this all behind you. There are many possible reasons for an abnormal pap smear after hysterectomy.

Vaginal cuff healing after hysterectomy



Neoplasia in vaginal cuff epithelial inclusion cysts after hysterectomy
Reports Gynecol Surg 3 1 Accepted: July 23, Published Online: July 25, Vaginal cuff dehiscence is a rare but serious complication of hysterectomy and caries even more risk of morbidity and mortality when evisceration occurs. Vaginal cuff dehiscence can occur at any time after hysterectomy; thus, it is important to identify risk factors in patients and counsel them on signs and symptoms of dehiscence. Once diagnosed, minimally invasive approaches such as vaginal and laparoscopic techniques should be the preferred method of repair.


Vaginal cuff dehiscence after different modes of hysterectomy
Unfortunately, some women will experience urinary incontinence due to a vaginal vault prolapse after hysterectomy or due to the weakening of the urethra supporting tissues. Many women undergo a hysterectomy because of prolapse of the uterus through the vaginal canal. This means that the muscles and ligaments have failed to suspend the uterus in the pelvis and it falls by gravity through the vaginal canal. The rectum, urethra, small bowel, vaginal tissue, and the bladder can also begin to prolapse, leading to symptoms similar to uterine prolapse.




The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina make up the female reproductive system. During a vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon detaches the uterus from the ovaries, fallopian tubes and upper vagina, as well as from the blood vessels and connective tissue that support it, before removing the uterus. Vaginal hysterectomy involves a shorter time in the hospital, lower cost and faster recovery than an abdominal hysterectomy, which requires an incision in your lower abdomen.