How to Prepare for a Hysterectomy: A Practical Pre-Surgery Checklist

A hysterectomy is a common gynecologic surgery, but preparing for one can still feel overwhelming. You may be wondering what to buy, how much help you will need, what to do about work, or what you should bring on the day of surgery.

I’m Dr. Monica, a board-certified OB/GYN who performs hysterectomies regularly. This practical guide walks through the steps that can help you feel organized and more confident before surgery—from planning time off and arranging help at home to gathering supplies and following your surgical team’s day-of instructions.

Watch: Hysterectomy Preparation Checklist—What to Do and Buy

This article focuses primarily on preparation for a laparoscopic, robotic-assisted, or vaginal hysterectomy, often with discharge the same day. Preparation for an open abdominal hysterectomy, a cancer operation, or a planned hospital stay may be different. Your surgeon’s and anesthesia team’s instructions should always take priority.

First, make sure you understand your surgical plan

The word hysterectomy describes removal of the uterus, but not every hysterectomy is performed in the same way. Surgery may be completed vaginally, laparoscopically, with robotic assistance, or through a larger abdominal incision. The cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or other tissue may or may not be removed depending on the reason for surgery and the plan you have made with your surgeon.

Before your procedure, make sure you understand:

• Which surgical approach is planned
• Which organs or structures are expected to be removed
• Whether you are expected to go home the same day or stay in the hospital
• What activity restrictions your surgeon typically recommends
• When and how you will receive your final eating, drinking, and medication instructions

Preparation advice from a relative who had surgery years ago may not match your procedure. Surgical techniques, anesthesia, pain control, and recovery pathways have changed. Use other people’s experiences for emotional support—not as a replacement for your own surgical plan.

Plan your time away from work

How long you will need to be away from work depends on your procedure, recovery, and job responsibilities. Someone who works from home or at a desk may be able to return sooner than someone whose job involves lifting, prolonged standing, repeated bending, or physically assisting other people.

Many patients need somewhere between two and six weeks away from work after a minimally invasive hysterectomy, but your surgeon should help determine what is appropriate for you.

Contact your employer early enough to learn what documentation is required. This may include Family and Medical Leave Act paperwork, short-term disability forms, or a letter describing temporary restrictions. Send the forms to your surgeon’s office with enough time for them to be completed before surgery.

Arrange transportation and help at home

You will need a responsible adult to take you home after anesthesia. A taxi or rideshare driver alone may not meet your facility’s discharge requirements, so confirm the details ahead of time.

Your support person should also be available by phone while you are in surgery in case the surgical team needs to provide an update or ask a question.

At home, many patients appreciate having someone nearby for the first few days. You should usually be moving around rather than staying in bed, but help can be valuable for:

• Preparing meals and bringing you water
• Managing children or pets
• Carrying laundry, groceries, or other items
• Helping you feel steady on stairs
• Picking up prescriptions
• Keeping track of instructions when you are tired

If you do not have support available, tell your surgical team before the day of surgery so you can discuss safe options.

Review every medication and supplement

Make sure your surgical and anesthesia teams know about every prescription medicine, over-the-counter product, vitamin, supplement, injection, inhaler, patch, and recreational substance you use. Some medications require special instructions before anesthesia or may affect bleeding, blood sugar, or stomach emptying.

Do not stop aspirin, blood thinners, diabetes medicines, weight-loss medicines, or other prescriptions on your own. Ask exactly what to take, hold, or adjust—and when.

It is also helpful to know how you will obtain your postoperative prescriptions. If possible, fill them before surgery so no one has to stop at the pharmacy on the drive home.

Depending on your medical history and your surgeon’s routine, your postoperative plan may include:

• Acetaminophen
• An anti-inflammatory medicine, when medically appropriate
• A limited amount of stronger pain medicine
• A stool softener or osmotic laxative
• Medication for nausea
• Iron, if needed

Some patients also find simethicone useful for intestinal gas. Ask your care team which nonprescription products are safe for you and how they fit into your written medication schedule. Do not take a medicine before surgery simply because you expect to use it afterward.

An antihistamine is not a substitute for urgent care if you develop trouble breathing, facial or tongue swelling, faintness, or another sign of a severe allergic reaction. Call emergency services for those symptoms.

Gather a few useful recovery supplies

You do not need to buy every product marketed for hysterectomy recovery. A short list of practical supplies is usually enough:

• Reusable ice packs or a heating pad, if approved by your surgeon
• A large water bottle that is easy to carry
• Light pads for expected postoperative spotting
• Loose, comfortable clothing that does not press on the incisions
• A small pillow to place between your abdomen and the seat belt on the ride home

Some patients like the supportive feeling of an abdominal binder, while others find it uncomfortable. Ask whether your hospital supplies one or whether your surgeon recommends it before buying one.

Prepare your home before surgery

The goal is not to create a perfect recovery space. It is to reduce the number of chores and decisions waiting for you when you come home.

Before surgery, consider:

• Finishing laundry and placing comfortable clothes within easy reach
• Stocking the refrigerator with simple foods and drinks
• Preparing or freezing a few meals
• Moving frequently used items so you do not need to bend, stretch, or lift
• Setting up a resting area with chargers, medications, water, and entertainment nearby
• Planning help with children, pets, cleaning, and groceries

Stairs are often allowed after an uncomplicated minimally invasive procedure if you feel steady and move carefully. However, some people prefer to create a temporary sleeping area on the first floor. Ask your surgeon if your individual procedure requires different precautions.

Follow your eating and drinking instructions exactly

Fasting guidance is not identical for every patient or facility. Your instructions may depend on the type of anesthesia, the time of surgery, your health history, and medications such as GLP-1 drugs.

Follow the specific cutoff times provided by your surgical and anesthesia teams. If the instructions are unclear—or if you accidentally eat or drink after the cutoff—call the facility rather than guessing. Eating or drinking outside the approved window can delay or cancel a procedure because it may increase anesthesia-related risk.

Shower and dress for surgery

Your team may ask you to shower with a special antiseptic cleanser before surgery. Use it only as directed and avoid sensitive areas unless your instructions specifically say otherwise.

Do not shave the planned surgical area immediately before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to. If hair removal is needed, the team can clip it in a way that reduces small skin injuries.

After your shower, your facility may ask you to avoid lotions, powders, perfumes, makeup, or deodorant. Wear loose clothing that will be comfortable over a tender or bloated abdomen on the ride home.

Ask about nail polish, gel, acrylic, or press-on nails. Finger monitors used during anesthesia may work less reliably through some dark or artificial nail coverings, although facility policies vary.

Know what to bring on the day of surgery

Bring only what you need. A typical list may include:

• Photo identification and insurance information
• A current medication and allergy list
• Contact information for your support person
• Advance-directive or healthcare-proxy documents, if you have them
• Glasses and a case instead of contact lenses
• Any medical device your team asked you to bring, such as a CPAP machine
• Your phone and charger
• A small pillow for the seat-belt ride home

Leave jewelry and valuables at home. Confirm when and where to arrive, where your support person should wait, and which phone number to call if there is a problem that morning.

Questions to ask before your hysterectomy

Consider writing these questions down for your preoperative visit:

• What type of hysterectomy am I having?
• What exactly will be removed, and what will remain?
• Do I need to stop or adjust any medication or supplement?
• What are my exact eating and drinking instructions?
• Do I need a bowel preparation or special skin cleanser?
• Will I go home the same day?
• Which medications should I have ready at home?
• What restrictions should I plan for, and for how long?
• When should I call the office, and what symptoms are an emergency?

The bottom line

Preparing for a hysterectomy is mostly about making the first few days easier and following the safety instructions designed for your specific procedure. Understand the surgical plan, arrange transportation and help, organize work paperwork, prepare a few medications and supplies with your clinician’s approval, and make your home easier to navigate.

You do not need to predict every possible need. A clear plan, a trusted support person, and written instructions from your own care team are far more useful than an overflowing online shopping cart.

Watch the full hysterectomy preparation video on YouTube

Next, read Hysterectomy Recovery: What to Expect After Laparoscopic Surgery and watch What to Expect After a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.

Sources and further reading

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Preparing for Surgery Checklist
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Hysterectomy
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: About Your Robotic-Assisted or Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not create a physician-patient relationship. Instructions vary by patient, medication, procedure, surgeon, anesthesia team, and facility. Follow the directions provided by your own healthcare professionals and seek urgent medical care for severe or emergency symptoms.