What happens after my surgery or treatment? 
A nurse from our Women's Surgery Center will call you the evening of your surgery to ensure you are doing well post-operatively.  We will answer any questions you may have and give you advice about staying comfortable as you recover. 

How will I feel after surgery?
The way you feel after surgery depends on the procedure that was done. 
Patients who have had a cervical procedure my feel cramps in the stomach or lower abdomen, and may have some light vaginal bleeding.  Patients can take pain medicine and rest at home for a day to recover, then usually go back to most of their normal activities. 

Patients who have had a procedure like laparoscopy that required anesthesia for an hour or longer may feel tired and weak the day of their surgery.  They may have some cramping in the abdomen and some vaginal bleeding.  Usually, women will need to take pain medicine, drink fluids, and rest at home the next day.  This is also temporary and patients go back to their normal activities within the week.

When can I go back to work after a Same Day Treatment?
Patients who have had treatment for an abnormal Pap smear will usually go back to work after taking one post-operative day to rest and recover.  Patients who have had a laparascopic procedure requiring anesthesia may choose to wait up to one week before returning to work.

When can I resume sexual activity?
Most patients will choose to wait until after they stop spotting or bleeding before returning to normal sexual activity. Patients usually feel well enough to resume sexual intercourse after laparascopic procedures in one or two weeks.  Two weeks is common for returning to all other activities as well.  For a cold knife cone biopsy of the cervix, four weeks is more common for restarting sexual activity, due to the risk of bleeding.

How do I let my primary care physician know of my treatment and results?
The staff at our facility will send copies of pathology results to your primary care doctor at your request.