A yellow and unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge can occur if the wound at the top of the vagina (produced during an abdominal or laparoscopically assisted hysterectomy) becomes infected. This wound generally takes longer to heal than an abdominal scar and the moisture of the vagina can encourage bacterial growth. It is quite normal to have a red- or brown-staining discharge for anything from two to eight weeks after a hysterectomy. But if it becomes smelly and yellow, or persists beyond this time, it should be checked by a doctor. Sometimes a small amount of flesh forms along the edge of the wound and this can be removed painlessly by diathermy.
Time spent in hospital and recovering. Most women having an abdominal hysterectomy will spend about seven to ten days in hospital, with a somewhat shorter stay (one to four days) if they have a laparoscopically assisted hysterectomy. Two out of three women having an abdominal hysterectomy resume pre-hysterectomy activities in about three months, with the remainder needing longer, perhaps up to a year.
Vaginal hysterectomy avoids the pelvic incision of abdominal hysterectomy and consequently postoperative pain may be reduced. The hospital stay (about seven days) and recovery period (four to six weeks) also tend to be shorter. Laparoscopically assisted hysterectomy requires an even shorter hospital stay (usually less than four days) and usually ensures a more rapid return to full function.
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