Menstrual Cycle After Hysterectomy: What to Expect

A hysterectomy – the surgical removal of the uterus – is a life-changing procedure for many women, often relieving troublesome symptoms (like fibroids or bleeding) but also raising questions about life afterwards. One common concern is, “What happens to my menstrual cycle after a hysterectomy? Will I still have a period or PMS?” The short answer is that after a hysterectomy, menstrual periods stop completely because the uterus (which sheds blood each month) is gone[64]. However, the details depend on the type of hysterectomy and whether your ovaries were left in place. You may no longer bleed, but if your ovaries remain, they might still be producing hormones cyclically. This means some women have hormonal symptoms on a monthly rhythm even without a period. On the other hand, if the ovaries are removed, you’ll enter menopause (if you weren’t there already) and experience the symptoms that come with low hormone levels. In this article, we’ll break down what to expect from your body after a hysterectomy: explaining the differences between partial and total hysterectomies, how your hormones and “cycle” might change, and answering frequently asked questions about life without a uterus.

Key Takeaways:

• No Uterus, No Period: After any hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), you will not have menstrual periods anymore. There is no uterine lining to shed, so no monthly bleeding will occur[64].
• Partial vs. Total Hysterectomy: In a partial (supracervical) hysterectomy, the uterus is removed but the cervix is left in place. Women with a cervix remaining might experience very light cyclical spotting or a “mini-period” from the small bit of endometrial tissue in the cervical stump[65]. This residual bleeding tends to be minimal and often fades over time. In a total hysterectomy, where both the uterus and cervix are removed, there is no menstrual bleeding at all afterward[66].
• Ovaries and Hormones: If your ovaries are left intact during the hysterectomy, they will continue to produce hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). You will not bleed, but your body may still go through a monthly hormonal cycle. Some women continue to have PMS-like symptoms (mood swings, breast tenderness, mild cramping) around the time their period would have been, because the ovaries are still cyclically active. If your ovaries are removed (oophorectomy) along with the uterus, you will enter surgical menopause, meaning hormone levels drop and menstrual cycles (and any related symptoms) cease.
• Menopause Timing: If you keep your ovaries, you’ll likely reach natural menopause around the usual age (late 40s to early 50s). There’s some evidence that ovary function might decline a bit sooner after a hysterectomy, potentially leading to menopause a couple of years earlier than average, but this varies. If your ovaries are removed, menopause is immediate. Symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats can begin within days or weeks of surgery if you weren’t menopausal yet.
• No More Period Products or PMS Worries: One positive aspect – you can say goodbye to pads, tampons, and period tracking! Many women find a huge sense of relief and freedom not having monthly bleeding, especially if heavy periods were an issue before. Just remember that without a period, you can’t rely on cycle regularity to gauge things like menopause onset; you’ll base it on symptoms and medical tests instead.
• Continued Health Needs: Even without periods, you still need routine women’s healthcare. If your cervix was left in place, you should continue regular Pap smear screenings (since cervical tissue is still there). If your cervix was removed and you have no history of cervical dysplasia or cancer, you likely won’t need Pap smears anymore. Also, if ovaries were removed, discuss estrogen replacement with your doctor, because early loss of ovarian hormones can affect bone health, heart health, and more.

Now let’s dive deeper into what changes (and what doesn’t change) after a hysterectomy concerning your cycles and hormones.

Why Periods Stop After Hysterectomy

To understand why menstruation stops after a hysterectomy, it’s key to recall what menstruation is: it’s the shedding of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) when pregnancy doesn’t occur in a given cycle. A hysterectomy removes the uterus, and therefore removes the endometrium. No uterus = no endometrial lining to build up and shed = no menstrual bleeding.

• Uterus vs. Ovaries: The uterus is like the “stage” where periods play out, but the ovaries are the directors of the cycle. A hysterectomy takes away the stage (so no bleeding can occur), but if the directors (ovaries) are still around, they’ll keep issuing hormonal cues. However, those cues can no longer produce a visible period. Instead, the ovarian cycle continues “behind the scenes,” which might cause some subtle symptoms but no actual menstruation.
• Immediate Effect: As soon as a hysterectomy is performed, a woman’s periods cease. For example, if you had a hysterectomy for fibroids and kept your ovaries, you’ll likely notice you never bleed again after the surgery (aside from some normal post-surgical spotting in the first few weeks). If you also had your ovaries removed, you’ll not only stop bleeding but also likely start noticing menopausal symptoms relatively soon.
• Psychological Adjustment: Not having periods can be an adjustment. Some women feel relief (no more pain or mess), while others feel a sense of loss (periods can be tied to fertility and a sense of womanhood). Both feelings are completely valid. It might take a few months to get used to the fact that you won’t menstruate. Some women even find themselves expecting a period each month out of long habit, only to remember it’s not coming.

In summary, the mechanical removal of the uterus is what halts menstruation. So, regardless of hormone status, no uterus means no period – that’s a definite outcome of hysterectomy.

Partial vs. Total Hysterectomy: Bleeding and Discharge

There are different types of hysterectomy, and this can influence what you experience afterward:

• Partial (Supracervical) Hysterectomy: This procedure removes the upper part of the uterus but leaves the cervix in place. Think of the cervix as the lower part or “neck” of the uterus that protrudes into the vagina. In a supracervical hysterectomy, only the body of the uterus is taken out. Women with their cervix still intact have something important to know: the cervix has a small lining (because it’s basically the lower end of the uterus). That means you could still have a tiny bit of endometrial tissue left in that cervical stump. In response to ovarian hormones, that tissue can bleed. Many women with a partial hysterectomy report having a sort of mini-period – usually just light spotting or a bit of brownish discharge – at the time their period would have occurred[65]. This is typically much lighter than a normal period (often just requiring a pantyliner). These “mini-periods” often diminish over time, as the remaining tissue can atrophy (especially if some scar tissue forms over the cervix internally). But some women continue to get monthly spotting for years. It’s important to know so it doesn’t catch you off guard – it’s normal for a partial hysterectomy. However, if you experience heavy bleeding from the cervical area after a partial hysterectomy, that’s not normal and should be checked (occasionally, some endometrial tissue left behind can be excessive or conditions like endometriosis can cause bleeding – a doctor can address that).
• Total Hysterectomy: This removes the entire uterus including the cervix. In this case, there should be no menstrual bleeding whatsoever afterward[66]. The top of the vagina is sealed (this is called the vaginal cuff). In the initial recovery, you’ll have some bleeding from the surgery, but beyond the post-operative healing period, you shouldn’t have any cyclical bleeding or spotting at all. If you do, it’s worth consulting your doctor, because post-hysterectomy bleeding (after you’re fully healed) could indicate an issue such as granulation tissue at the vaginal cuff or, rarely, endometriosis on the vaginal cuff responding to hormones.
• Radical Hysterectomy: This is usually done for cancer treatment, removing uterus, cervix, part of the vagina, and possibly some surrounding tissues. Like a total hysterectomy, there’s no uterus or cervix left, so no periods. The recovery is more involved, but from a menstrual standpoint, there’s no bleeding (aside from initial healing).
• Removal of Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries: Often when people say “total hysterectomy” in casual conversation, they think it means “everything out.” But medically, hysterectomy refers only to uterus +/- cervix. Removal of ovaries is called oophorectomy and tubes is salpingectomy. You can have a hysterectomy that spares the ovaries (common if ovaries are healthy and you’re not yet in menopause) or one that removes them (common if there’s a reason, like BRCA gene, or you’re older).
• If your ovaries and tubes were removed along with the uterus (sometimes termed a “total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy”), you won’t have periods (no uterus) and you’ll also lose the source of hormones. So, no bleeding and immediate menopause.
• If tubes and ovaries are left, no bleeding (no uterus), and hormones continue from the ovaries.

Bottom line: After a total hysterectomy, any new bleeding is not a menstrual period and warrants medical evaluation. After a partial, a small amount of cyclical spotting can be normal, but anything more than light spotting should be evaluated. Many doctors actually discuss this with patients pre-surgery: some women choose to remove the cervix (have a total hysterectomy) specifically to avoid even the slight chance of monthly spotting, whereas others prefer to keep the cervix (sometimes in hopes of preserving sexual function or shorter surgery) and accept that minor bleeding might occur.

Ovarian Function and Hormones Post-Hysterectomy

Your ovaries are essentially the control centers of female hormones. Here’s how things play out after hysterectomy in terms of hormones:

• If Ovaries Are Preserved: Your ovaries will continue to ovulate and produce estrogen and progesterone (as well as testosterone) on their usual schedule, at least until natural menopause age. This means:
• You might still experience ovulation pain (mittelschmerz) – a mild twinge or ache on one side of your lower abdomen mid-cycle for some women.
• You may still get cyclic breast tenderness or mild bloating when your hormone levels peak each month.
• PMS (premenstrual syndrome) can still occur. Some women report that even after a hysterectomy, they can feel moody or irritable once a month, or get headaches or other PMS symptoms, because their hormonal cycle is still intact – just no period bleeding at the end of it. In fact, it’s been noted by gynecologists that women who had bad PMS before often still get it post-hysterectomy if their ovaries remain, since the root cause (hormone fluctuations and brain chemistry) is unchanged.
• No Period as a Signpost: One tricky aspect is you won’t have a period to confirm whether you did or didn’t ovulate in a given month, or to mark where you are in your cycle. Some women track their symptoms, or even use ovulation predictor kits or basal body temperature if they’re curious – but this usually isn’t necessary unless there’s a specific reason.
• Menopause Eventually: Your ovaries will, at some point, begin to slow hormone production as part of the natural aging process. You’ll go through menopause just like any woman would, except you can’t use period changes to detect it. Instead, you’d rely on symptoms (like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness) or a lab test for hormone levels if needed. It’s worth noting some research suggests that in some women, ovarian function can decline slightly earlier after a hysterectomy even if ovaries are kept – possibly due to changes in blood flow to the ovaries[67]. So you might hit menopause a bit earlier (for example, 47 instead of 50), but this isn’t universal.
• Fertility: Without a uterus, you obviously cannot carry a pregnancy. However, if your ovaries are intact, you technically still release eggs. Those eggs simply get reabsorbed if they don’t meet sperm (since there’s no uterine lining or cavity for an embryo to implant). It also means you could donate eggs theoretically, or in very rare cases, if someone with a hysterectomy wanted a child, they could potentially have eggs harvested for IVF with a surrogate. These scenarios are uncommon but worth mentioning for understanding – you won’t get pregnant naturally after a hysterectomy, since there’s no womb for a baby (and typically no open path for sperm either, especially if the cervix is gone or sealed).
• If Ovaries Are Removed: Removal of ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy) during hysterectomy has a dramatic hormonal effect if you were premenopausal. You go into surgical menopause:
• Without ovaries, estrogen and progesterone levels fall to menopausal levels within a very short time. Often, women will have hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms start within days or weeks of surgery.
• You won’t have any cyclical hormone changes because there’s no cycle – it’s an off-switch of the ovarian cycle. So no PMS, no ovulation, etc. However, sometimes the body has lingering hormones for a little bit and it may take a little time to fully adjust.
• Many women in this situation opt to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT), at least until the age of natural menopause, to mitigate symptoms and protect bone density. This is a common recommendation if the ovaries are removed at a younger age (say, 45 or younger), provided there’s no contraindication, because early estrogen loss can increase the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. HRT can be estrogen alone if the uterus is gone (no risk of uterine cancer because there’s no uterus) – which is a benefit of HRT after hysterectomy.
• If you were already menopausal at the time of hysterectomy (ovaries may have not been producing much hormone anyway), removing them might not change much symptom-wise, but if they were left and still making a bit of hormone, you might notice a slight increase in symptoms if they’re removed.
• One Ovary Removed: If only one ovary is removed (and the other is left), the remaining ovary can usually compensate and continue cycles. Some women with a single ovary still have normal cycles and reach menopause normally; sometimes the remaining ovary might fail earlier, but many times it functions well on its own.

It’s worth emphasizing that losing your uterus does not mean you lose your femininity or your hormones. This is a concern some women have – they equate hysterectomy with immediate menopause. But if your ovaries stay, you keep producing your hormones and often maintain your sex drive, bone protection, etc., until natural menopause. If your ovaries go, yes, you’ll have low hormones, but there are ways to manage that (with HRT or other therapies). Each scenario just requires a bit different follow-up and care.

Life After Hysterectomy: Other Changes and Considerations

Beyond the menstrual cycle, a few other aspects of life after hysterectomy are worth noting:

• Sexual Function: Many women worry about how hysterectomy will affect their sex life. Generally:
• Without a period (and possibly without pain or heavy bleeding issues that led to the hysterectomy), many women find sex more enjoyable because they’re not worried about timing or discomfort.
• The vagina may be slightly shortened if the cervix is removed, but this typically doesn’t interfere with sexual function. Some women notice a change in the angle or depth, but with adequate arousal and lubrication, most adjust without issue.
• If ovaries are removed, lower estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness, which might make sex less comfortable unless addressed. This can be managed with vaginal estrogen creams or moisturizers and lubricants.
• Libido: Keeping ovaries usually means your testosterone (yes, women have some) and estrogen are still around, so sex drive is often unchanged or even improved if pelvic pain is gone. Removing ovaries can sometimes decrease libido (due to hormone drop), but again, hormone therapy can help if that’s an issue.
• Orgasm: Some women wonder if removing the uterus affects orgasm (since uterine contractions often occur during orgasm). Most women can still orgasm after hysterectomy; the clitoral and vulvar sensation are unaffected. Some note their orgasms feel different – not better or worse, just without the uterine cramp sensation. A few women who really valued that sensation might miss it. But typically, overall sexual satisfaction does not decrease, and in fact, for women who had painful conditions, it often increases.
• Emotionally: It’s normal to have an emotional response to having a hysterectomy. Even if you’re glad to be rid of painful periods or other problems, you might experience feelings of loss, especially if you were younger and had to give up the ability to carry children. Some women go through a period of mourning, which partners and family should understand. If emotions are intense or persist, counseling or support groups can be really helpful. Many find that once they recover and start feeling the benefits (no pain, no bleeding), their emotional outlook brightens considerably.
• Physical Changes: Without a uterus, some women actually notice their abdomen is slightly flatter (if they had large fibroids, for instance). Weight gain is not an automatic result of hysterectomy, though some might gain a little during recovery if activity is limited. If the ovaries are removed, a lower metabolic rate after menopause could contribute to weight changes, so attention to diet and exercise remains important.
• No More Contraception Needed: If you still had periods and were of childbearing age, after hysterectomy you can’t get pregnant, so contraception is not needed to prevent pregnancy. (Important: you can still get STIs – a hysterectomy doesn’t protect against infections, so safe sex practices with new partners still apply.)
• Follow-Up Medical Care:
• If your cervix remains, continue routine Pap tests as recommended. You still have a risk (albeit small) of cervical cancer in the cervical stump.
• If your cervix is gone and it wasn’t removed for cervical cancer reasons, you likely don’t need Pap smears anymore (some guidelines say if a hysterectomy was done for benign reasons and no history of high-grade cervical changes, Pap tests can stop).
• If the surgery was for cancer, your follow-up will be more involved with oncology check-ups.
• Keep up with general health screening (bone density, breast exams, colonoscopies, etc.), especially since if ovaries are gone, bone health is critical.

When to call the doctor after a hysterectomy: Aside from regular check-ups, you should notify your healthcare provider if you experience: – Any vaginal bleeding once you’ve healed (after the initial 6-8 week recovery). A spot of blood occasionally might not be worrisome, but any sustained bleeding or fresh red blood should be checked[68]. – Pelvic pain that appears months or years after surgery – could be related to scar tissue or other issues. – Signs of menopause that are really bothersome (if ovaries removed, for instance) – because you can discuss symptom management. – Emotional distress or signs of depression; your doctor can refer you to resources.

Most women, once recovered, find that day-to-day life after a hysterectomy is liberating. No periods to plan around, no fear of bleeding accidents, and often the issues that prompted the surgery (pain, heavy bleeding, etc.) are resolved. You can focus on your wellness without the monthly cycle drama.

FAQ: Menstrual Cycle After Hysterectomy

Will I still feel monthly hormone changes or PMS after my hysterectomy?

If your ovaries were left in place, you may still experience some cyclical hormone-driven symptoms. Many women do report that they can tell when their “time of the month” is even without bleeding – perhaps they get a bit moody, bloated, or have breast tenderness for a day or two, similar to PMS. This is because your ovaries continue to ovulate and produce hormones on roughly a monthly schedule[69][70]. You just won’t have the uterine cramps or bleeding that marked the cycle before. If PMS was very severe for you before, it might be lessened after hysterectomy (for some women it’s improved, possibly because they aren’t also dealing with heavy bleeding or because they may have been put on an ovary-calming therapy). But generally, expect that if you kept your ovaries, you might still have some mild PMS-like symptoms. If your ovaries were removed, you will not have PMS, because there are no cyclical hormones triggering those symptoms – instead, you’ll be in menopause and might have different symptoms like hot flashes until your body adjusts or you start hormone therapy.

I had a partial hysterectomy and I’m spotting monthly. Is that normal?

Yes, light cyclical spotting can occur after a supracervical (partial) hysterectomy. Since your cervix is still there, a small amount of endometrial tissue in the cervical canal can respond to hormones and shed a bit[65]. Women often call this a “mini period,” but it’s usually much lighter than a true period – perhaps just some pink or brown discharge for a day or two. It often corresponds with when your period would have been due. Many times this spotting will decrease or stop within the first year post-surgery. However, you should report it to your doctor during follow-ups just to be sure everything is healing well. If the bleeding is heavier than a light period or hasn’t diminished over time, your doctor might investigate (sometimes a cauterization of the cervical tissue can stop persistent bleeding if it’s bothersome). Any heavy or irregular (non-cyclical) bleeding after a hysterectomy is not typical and should be evaluated.

Do I still need Pap smears after a hysterectomy?

It depends on what was removed and why: – If you had a total hysterectomy (uterus + cervix removed) for benign reasons (like fibroids or prolapse) and you have no history of significant cervical dysplasia (precancerous changes), then Pap smears are usually no longer needed. There’s no cervix to swab. Some guidelines still recommend a “vaginal cuff” smear very occasionally, but generally if it wasn’t cancer-related, you’re off the hook for Pap tests. – If you had a partial hysterectomy (cervix left), you still have cervical tissue, so you should continue Pap smear screening as per regular guidelines (usually every 3-5 years depending on age and prior history, or as advised by your doctor). – If your hysterectomy was done because of cervical cancer or high-grade precancers, you will need continued screening of the vaginal cuff area because there’s a small chance of recurrent cell changes. Your specialist will tell you how often. – Always clarify with your doctor after surgery. A lot of women aren’t sure, so it’s a great question to ask at a post-op visit: “Do I need future Pap tests?”

Can I get pregnant after a hysterectomy?

In the traditional sense, no, you cannot become pregnant after a hysterectomy, because there is no uterus to support a pregnancy. Even if you still have ovaries and release eggs, there is nowhere for a fertilized egg to implant and grow. Very rarely, there have been cases of an ectopic pregnancy (where a fertilized egg implants in a place like the fallopian tube or abdominal cavity) in women who’ve had a hysterectomy, but this is exceedingly uncommon and would be a medical emergency, not a viable pregnancy. Essentially, once you’ve had a hysterectomy, you are considered infertile – you won’t have periods and you can’t carry a child. If you still have ovaries, as mentioned earlier, theoretically IVF could use your eggs with a surrogate, but you yourself cannot conceive or carry a baby. It’s important to have clear expectations: some women take a while to emotionally adjust to the finality of no longer being able to get pregnant, even if they thought their family was complete.

I kept my ovaries. How will I know when I reach menopause if I don’t get periods?

Great question – without periods, menopause can sneak up a bit more subtly. If your ovaries are intact, you should assume you’ll hit menopause around the usual age (51 on average). You’ll likely know by the symptoms: common signs include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and mood changes that are different from anything you experienced in your 30s or 40s. If you start noticing those in your late 40s or 50s, it’s a clue your ovaries are producing less estrogen. A doctor can confirm by checking your FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) level with a blood test – high levels typically indicate menopause. Another hint can be if any PMS-like symptoms you used to have disappear, it might mean you’re no longer cycling. But since there’s no bleeding, it could be a bit ambiguous. Don’t worry, though – your body will likely tell you in other ways. And you can always discuss doing a hormone level test with your healthcare provider if you suspect menopause. Also, keep up with bone density checks around menopause age since you won’t have the “12 months with no period” marker to time it by – usually by age menopausal or not.

Will I need to take estrogen after my hysterectomy?

That depends on your situation: – If your ovaries were removed and you were premenopausal, you will probably be a candidate for estrogen replacement (unless contraindicated). Taking estrogen (often with progesterone not needed since you have no uterus) can help prevent severe menopausal symptoms and protect your bones and heart until you reach the normal menopause age. Many doctors recommend women in their 30s or 40s who lose their ovaries consider HRT to at least age 50. The dose can be tailored to relieve symptoms. You’d discuss risks and benefits with your doctor (for example, if you have a history of breast cancer or blood clots, HRT might not be advised). – If your ovaries remain, you typically do not need any estrogen or hormone therapy because your body continues to produce hormones naturally. There is no need for supplemental estrogen, and in fact, adding hormones could throw off your natural balance or cause side effects. You just let your ovaries do their thing. – If you were already in menopause at the time of hysterectomy and you weren’t on HRT, you don’t need to start it just because of surgery, unless you want to for symptom control. If you were on HRT for menopausal symptoms and you then have a hysterectomy, you might drop the progesterone component and stay on estrogen alone, since progesterone was only needed to protect the uterus you no longer have.

Each person’s case is different. Some younger women who have hysterectomy without ovary removal still choose to go on a low-dose birth control pill or something to keep hormones even – not because they have to, but sometimes for symptom management (like persistent endometriosis can be suppressed that way, or they simply prefer it). But that’s not the norm. The majority do not need hormones unless their ovaries are removed or failing.

I’m experiencing vaginal dryness after my hysterectomy – is it related even though I kept my ovaries?

Possibly. If you kept your ovaries and you’re not near natural menopause yet, the hysterectomy itself shouldn’t cause vaginal dryness physiologically. However, sometimes decreased blood flow or nerve changes after surgery, or just not having menstrual fluids and cervical mucus each month, might make you notice some dryness. If you were close to menopause anyway, it could be coincidental timing. Another factor: the cervix and uterus contribute to sexual arousal and lubrication for some women (through nerve pathways and gland secretions). Without a cervix, some women might notice slightly less natural lubrication. The solution is usually straightforward: vaginal moisturizers used a few times a week can improve baseline moisture, and lubricants during sexual activity can alleviate discomfort. If ovaries were removed (or you’re menopausal), vaginal estrogen cream or tablets are extremely effective at reversing dryness and maintaining vaginal health, and they’re very safe for most women (since minimal amounts enter the bloodstream). Always mention it to your doctor – sometimes they can check if everything healed properly. Often dryness is easily managed with these remedies.

Is it normal to feel different emotionally without a menstrual cycle?

It’s not uncommon to have mixed feelings. Some women feel relieved and free – no more periods to worry about is a weight off their shoulders. Others might feel a bit empty or less womanly initially because menstruation was a part of their identity since teens. Both reactions are valid. There can also be a psychological aspect: your monthly cycle can sometimes serve as a rhythm or even a cleansing feeling for some, and its absence might leave you feeling like time is measured differently. If you had negative associations with your period (like pain or endometriosis), you might emotionally feel much better after hysterectomy. If you had positive associations (some women see it as a sign of fertility or part of womanhood), you might have some grief. These feelings often stabilize after a while as you adjust to a new normal. If you find yourself struggling a lot – for instance, feeling depressed or anxious post-surgery beyond the immediate recovery – consider speaking with a therapist or joining a support group for women who’ve had hysterectomies. Sometimes just hearing from others who understand can help. Also, keep in mind your hormones (if ovaries removed) might be affecting mood, so that could be addressed medically too. Overall, give yourself grace and time to adapt.

I heard that if you keep your ovaries, you might still need birth control after a hysterectomy because of ectopic pregnancy risk. Is that true?

Generally, no, you do not need birth control after a hysterectomy in terms of preventing pregnancy. As mentioned, it’s virtually impossible to carry a pregnancy without a uterus. The scenario people refer to is extraordinarily rare – an ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy would require an egg to get fertilized and implant somewhere outside a uterus (like the remaining stump of a fallopian tube or abdominal cavity). This is a medical anomaly and not something that happens with any regularity. Most doctors do not advise any contraception after a complete hysterectomy (with or without ovaries) because pregnancy is not a concern. The only possible reason to use “birth control” pills after hysterectomy might be for hormone regulation, not for actual birth control function. If you kept your cervix and vagina, you may still want to practice safe sex (condoms) to prevent STIs, but that’s not about preventing pregnancy. So, you can save money on contraceptives and not worry about accidental pregnancies – that’s one worry off your plate after hysterectomy.