If you will be having a hysterectomy, the top of the vagina, where the cervix used to be, will be sutured closed. This creates what is called a “vaginal cuff.” The vaginal cuff is what separates your bowels from the vaginal cavity.
Postop instructions are extremely important to follow to allow the vaginal cuff to heal closed.
Strenuous activity, bending, squatting, pushing or pulling and straining to have a bowel movement are all activities that should not be done while you are healing. These activities put pressure on the vaginal cuff, which can cause the sutures to separate. The vaginal cuff is what separates your bowels from the vaginal cavity and must properly heal prior to resuming these activities.
