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1. Determine your need for Pap tests

   If your cervix was removed along with your uterus for a noncancerous condition, you won't need a Pap test anymore, according to the American Cancer Society. If you've had a hysterectomy and your cervix was left intact, or if your operation was performed to treat a cancerous or pre-cancerous condition of the cervix, then routine Pap tests should be continued. Ask your health care professional for guidance.

2. Resume your normal (if not better) sex life

   You sex life may improve after your hysterectomy. A two-year study involving interviews with about 1,100 women who had a hysterectomy found that the percentage of women who engaged in sexual relations increased significantly and rates of painful sex dropped. Researchers also found that rates of low sexual desire and failure to reach orgasm also dropped significantly.

3. Hysterectomy satisfaction rate high

   More than 90 percent of women who undergo hysterectomy for benign conditions say they are satisfied with the result. The few women who are dissatisfied are those who have to be readmitted to the hospital for post-surgical complications. A study found that about 5.4 percent of hysterectomy patients are hospitalized at least once within two years after their surgery. The most common reasons for readmission include incision problems, surgery to remove adhesions, intestinal blockage and urinary tract problems.

4. Pace your recovery

   Traditional hysterectomy through a large abdominal incision requires about three weeks for recovery, and some women are able to return to work within two weeks. Overall, recovery could be between two and eight weeks. With less invasive approaches, such as vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH), recovery time is shorter, sometimes less than a week. Potential, yet relatively uncommon, side effects of hysterectomy include incontinence, pelvic pain, genital prolapse, constipation and sexual dysfunction. Some hysterectomy patients feel fatigued for several weeks or months following surgery.

5. Seek help with depression

   Another potential side effect is depressive-like symptoms or other mental health problems, but there is no known physiological link between hysterectomy and psychological side effects. Depression may occur because the procedure ends a woman's ability to become pregnant, marking a life-stage transition that may be traumatic for some women. Discuss your feelings and any fears about hysterectomy with your family and friends, and consider talking to a mental health professional if you experience emotional difficulties before or after surgery.