Can total hysterectomy kill the joy of sex? Maybe, maybe not.
The article Total Hysterectomy Can Kill The Joy Of Sex is a bit dry and academic, but it still made for a good read. Apparently, removal of the cervix after a hysterectomy can inhibit the sexual experience for women. Sometimes doctors remove a healthy cervix during hysterectomy in the event that the organ may become cancerous in the future. I don't agree with surgically removing perfectly healthy organs because they might become cancerous sometime in the future.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Jennifer Pershouse
I like many other women had a full hysterectomy in 1988. Quite the opposite for me, my sex drive has increased through the roof. My only problem is that while that is great I have a big problem being able to orgasim. Sometimes I have days where the only thing I want to do is stay in bed having sex but it takes a long time for me to reach that point of orgasim. Would appreciate what others think and what they do to help rectify the problem.
27 - Nora W. Coffey
Women who experienced uterine contratctions during orgasm prior to undergoing hysterectomy have a lot to lose if their uterus is removed. Uterine contractions cannot occur without a uterus. In addition, the nerves, blood supply, and ligaments that attach to the uterus are severed when a hysterectomy is performed, and the vagina is shortened, made into a shortened pocket, sutured shut at the top of the vagina.
Because functions of a woman's internal genitalia cannot be seen it is possible for doctors to tell women that sex will be the same or even better than ever. Can anyone imagine a man's sex life would be improved by having his sex organs amputated.
The Adverse Effects Data at www.hersfoundation.com reveal the truth about what women experience after hysterectomy. They reflect what women actually report about the consequences of hysterectomy.
28 - arleda rivers
I never had a hystrectomy but i know some woman in my family who has and i asked both of them what was thir sex life like after having a hysterectomy and both of them said that they did everything the doctor ask them to do and waited for some time to have sex to be on the safe side.
29 - mim
i had a hysterectomy about three yrs ago, maybe four. i am fixing to turn 43. he left one of soemthing in there so i did not have to have hormones. let me tell u, I AM SO INTO SEX, 6 TIMES A DAY, TWOO AT NITE, AND IN THE MORNING. I AM DRIV9ING MY HUSBAND, WHO IS TWO YRS YOUNGER, CRAZY. I CANT GET ENOUGH.
but i have a question. oral sex.? my husband says the taste of the woman changes to bad. any men out there that can comment on that? thanks.
30 - Noel
My wife had a Hystorectomy 2 years ago and that wrecked our sex life. She is always complaining about some sort of health problems, she never was sick prior to the knife happy doctor got a hold of her jewels. so now I have a spayed cat and a spayed wife that lay around getting fat watching tv. i am so thankfull that the Almighty gave us the option to masturbate and i am really getting to know myself well !!!
31 - Frank
Our sex life was stolen by hystorectomy a few years back and it has been a total tragedy.
My advice to any woman considering it should think long and hard and should seek any possible alternative before going under the knife. remember your doctor is in the busines of doing surgury! and most likely in need of a Lexus payment. visit hersfoundation.org and get the facts.
32 - Crystal
I am a 34 year old mother of two and I had my surgery two weeks ago and I feel great! I have very little pain form the surgery and I have had none of the problems that I have heard about. I have heard horror storys and I was so scared but with my Dr., whom I trust, I made the decition and I am glad I did. I don't feel empty or depressed and I may regret it later but for now I don't see any problems other than I can hardly wait for my 6 weeks to be up.
33 - angie
I am 28 years old. I had a hystorectomy 3 weeks ago, my doctor was able to leave my ovaries. I am counting the days until my 6 weeks are up. It's all I can do to not think about sex. I hope there is someone that can answer my question... Would it hurt the healing process if my husband were to rub my clitoris without inserting his finger so I can organsim?
34 - Tess
When I needed a hysterectomy, I did my homework and then told my doctor what I wanted. I told him to save my cervix and ovaries. He asked why save the cervix, it won't affect sex. Baloney! The cervix has mucus secreting glands for lubrication, it provides pelvic support, and its nerve endings remain intact. There is no cutting, shortening, or scarring of the vagina.
Three weeks ago, I had a laparosopic supracervical hysterectomy, which means my diseased uterus was dissected and removed through three small abdominal incisions. My cervix is intact. The post op recovery time is much faster and I had no vaginal pain at all. I had sex with strong orgasms TWO WEEKS after surgery (hubby used a condom). I could have sworn I felt uterine contractions. I think because I suffered for a year with all my symptoms, I feel so much better than before my surgery. No regrets. My advice is Do Your Homework and find a doctor who is exerienced in minimally invasive surgery.
35 - jean
I have come to believe that if things were good sexually BEFORE a hysterectomy, regardless of whether or not the removal of cervix and/or ovaries, that they will be just as good AFTER the operation. WOW -- never knew there were so many misconceptions about womens's sexual response after hyterectomy. I'm glad I didn't read all that crazy negative stuff when I had my surgery --it would have scared me to death!! I already had passed through menopause (About 5 years). HEY -- SEX IS STILL GOOD. HYSTERECTOMY SURE BEATS CANCER AND DYING YOUNGER THAN NECESSARY!!!
36 - Wondering
I am 46 years old. I had a total vaganial hystorectomy including tubes and ovaries 2 weeks ago. I am counting the days until my 6 weeks are up. It's all I can do to not think about sex. I hope there is someone that can answer my question... Would it hurt the healing process if my husband were to rub my clitoris without inserting his finger so I can organsim?
37 - carmen
iam 35 yrs old my dr. said i need to have a hysterectomy...i had cervical dysplaisha and need my uterus removed as well im very scared now after reading all this i just wanted to know how it felt for the guy!!! if it felt the same or tighter or more open or just empty i never thought id get all this info . now i am scared to death to even go back to see my dr. i cant even begin to think of how my life will change if i do this ... will i gain weight will i loose all sexual feelings will i not even want it anymore .. i just want to live life as close to normal without pain as i can during sex . i never had a problem with sex before now after reading this i am more afraid then ever before that i might lose what i have now only to gain all the bad things that have been said .PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME GIVE ME SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO THANKS EVERYONE TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!
38 - Zafs
Its eight weeks now after my Total Hysterectomy and I am on Livial HRT. I am completely normal and feel and look much much better after my surgery. Nothing changes and infact it gets better. So ladies, please do not worry. I am very happy and my sex drive has also improved and get my normal orgasms. So Cheers and do not bother yourselves. Believe me.
39 - Zafs
Bye the way I am 45 years old. Its 8 weeks now after my total hysterectomy. I am on Livial HRT. I am doing great. About putting on weight, all you need to do is cut off on all fats and go for your daily walks. Have your breakfast like a Queen and dinner like beggar and you will see the changes. Its all in the mind that things change and rightfully it does not. Just be brave and face the facts and you will see rewards to follow. My husband finds me beautiful NOW and has falling in love with me once again. So Please do not lose hope you guys are doing great !! I am doing great!! Love you all and big hugs. [Personal contact info deleted]
40 - Ms. Que
My question is similar to #33 except that I had mine last week and my doctor was able to leave my left ovary. I am counting the days until my 6 weeks are up. It's all I can do to not think about sex. I hope there is someone that can answer my question... Would it hurt the healing process if my husband were to rub my clitoris without inserting his finger so I can organsim?
41 - Bev
Complete hysterectomy 2 1/2 months ago. Previously multi-orgasmic, strong uterine contractions, overwhelming climaxes. Now...the desire is in my head...but the body does not follow. Following our reasonable effort to stimulate, the climax is hard to achieve and very little at best. Perhaps 5% feeling and release of what I used to have. I am very saddened by this surgery outcome. I hope things improve as the months pass.
42 - soozii
I am a very fit and slim 47 year old, and had a hysterectomy 6 weeks ago, but preserved my ovaries because I didn't want to lose my sex-drive which has always been strong. I'm glad I did as my sex-drive is also through the roof! I was worried that the lack of cervix and uterus was going to create problems, but this is not the case - and you've guessed, I couldn't wait the whole six weeks before having full-on sex, no problems, no pain. (Hope the husband is going to be able to keep pace!)
I am glad to see that there are many women out there with an enhanced sex life after hysterectomy - so I don't need to feel like a freak; but find it worrying that there are so many women with the opposite problem. Is this a lottery, luck, or is there a physiological reason?
My message to those less fortunate is keep trying, keep experimenting and good luck!
And Ms Que #40 - that won't harm you at all, I did loads of that, keeps the wolf from the door.
43 - Gayle
Bev, I sympathize. My orgasms were always astounding before, pretty much an all-body experience. I had a complete hysterectomy on Feb 13 followed by 3 radiation treatments to the vaginal cap. We've only had intercourse once at 7 weeks after surgery, before the radiation treatments began. The experience was painful and disappointing. Hubby masterbating me on other occasions was also a disappointment, difficult to reach, resulting in a weak orgasm, I think caused by the fact there are no longer cervical spasms. I can't use HRT. I sure hope it gets better than this soon.
44 - Gayle
My surgeon said it was fine to masturbate or have your hubby do it as soon as you're comfortable with it as long as nothing enters the vagina for 6 weeks after surgery. For us that meant about 10 days, but everyone is different.
45 - Donna
I had my hysterectomy back in 1999 and since then have gone from a size 14 to a 22 mainly due to feeling unattractive to my husband. He very seldom wants to "perform" and it's near impossible to get him to "rise to the occasion". He says he gets lost inside of me and doesn't feel me when I climax. Regardless of that I don't regret having it all taken out because of the excruiating pain I experienced on a daily basis until the operation. What a horrible feeling to feel so unloved. The climatic sensation has lessened since the op, but I can still achieve an enjoyable climax - even without him. Are there others that have experienced similar problems. What a total letdown.
46 - Jai
my ex-fiancee had an hysterectomy years before we met and revealed to me every man including her ex-husband had affairs on her. I couldn't understand why would any man would want go else where on a sexy woman. Well it didnt take long to find out. In the beggining of our relationship we had sex several times per week but as the relationship became more serious and my feelings grew stronger the less sex we had. She often attributed her lack of desire to being molested as a child but I would remind her of the many times we would have sex in the early part of our relationship. She would also complain of me being to large, start agruements to avoid having sex, or give me sex as a way of me staying with her after a break-up. Currently Im a nursing student and we briefly touched on the side affects of having a hystrectomy done. Currenly we are at the end of our relationship and I no longer want to spend the rest of my life with some-one who play sex games and cannot be truthful and honest about her sexual problems with the man she loves. Im a understading man and we can find other ways to satisfy my desire because I dont cheat on the women Im with. With that said we are currently off we still are in love and we both said we want to work on this but and its been almost 2 months since we had sex and she will not have it with me but accuse me on every occassion of cheating. It's to the point I was thinking she was cheating on me but I read an article on www.hersfoundation.com that is starting to make me think differently. She has all the bad side effect of having an hysterctomy which are: hardly any sex drive, painful sex to where it hurts to place even my finger into her virgina, bad mood swings, chronic fatigue, vaginal dryness, joint pains such as reoccurance tendonitis, SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS to the point she can't remember her own LIES, or replace her forgotten memories with new ones and accept them as reality. I once heard she was a sexual person in the past but this hysterectomy cause man men to stray on her. If we stay together I won't stray but we need to bring this out into the opening and stop laying sex games before Im gone for good. Do anyone has any suggestions?
47 - Annette
Hi,
Let me refer you who are "not the same" after a hysterectomy to check out bio-identical hormones.
Dr. Prudence Hall in Santa Monica, CA is an expert in this field and will probably be able to help you.
Also, read Suzann Somors book "The sexy years." She had cancer and chose to take bio-identical hormones and is still cancer free as far as I know. These hormones are safer than the ones made from horse urine and are custom designed for your own body.
48 - Anitra Mason
I have had a Total hysterectomy back in 1998, I have lived in terrible pain ever since. I have only have sex twice which were painful. My husband left me after 3 months. It has now been 9 years and I am 43 years old and I still live in pain. I have been to several doctors which 2 have told me they did not know what was wrong with me one said I had endometriosis (which is why I had the surgery) and one told me that I have a lot of scar tissue attached to my nerve endings and there is nothing I could do about it. That was six years ago. Now I still have pain everyday and a week ago I went to the ER where I had a cat scan done and was told I had swollen lymph nodes in the groin area. They gave me some pain meds and sent me out the door. 3 days later I went back to the ER and had more x-rays done in which I was told I have diverticulosis. I again was given some pain meds and anti inflammatory and sent home. These meds made me sick and I can’t take them. I’m still where I have always been, in pain daily and cannot have sex. I feel that my vagiana is only 3 inches long and there is a spot at the end that is very painful if touched. I tried to put a tampon in the other day just to see if it would fit. NO and I could not wait to take it out it was so painful. I once was a body builder and could lift 500 pounds with my legs and 200 pounds upper body. Now I can’t walk down the street. If I have an orgasium I will have throbbing pain for about the next 5 days. I feel my sex life is over and I just live for my daughter. No man wants a broken wife who can’t put out and I can’t find a doctor that understands what I am going through. I do NOT have dryness in fact it seems to be more lubricant than before, which I don’t understand. The desire for sex is still there but the equipment is out of order. My problem may be that I live in Georgia where the quality of health care is very low. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!
49 - Regina
Hi,
I just recently had a hyseterectomy and bladder repair, in early April - my birthday present to myself. I had sex on May 26th and I haven't been the same.I have severe pain evey day too. My Drs keep me on MEDS and keep telling that I dont have any thing wrong with me, that the "inflammation" will go down and that I'll get better. I've been sent back to work and I can't stand the pain when I'm sitting there. I do ok for the first 1-2 hours but then I find myself in the worse pain just from even sitting. I am sooo depressed and my family seem to be getting frustrated and tired of me crying and "complaining" about it every day. I did this to stop my pain from my horrible periods and prolapsed Uterus. I had an MRI yesterday and the report SHOWS UP NORMAL???? I'm really scared I'm only 43 and I don't want to live life in pain this way. I think I may have scar tissue or my bladder repair has been disturbed or damaged? Although I am using the bathroom fine? So what's happened to me? WHy am I continually in pain and why is this not getting better? I want to be my normal self, I was a very sexual active person and had a normal marriage and lifestyle. I need help!! I don't know anyone who has gone through this before.
50 - Alison
I had a hysterectomy performed on me in April. There was nothing wrong with my uterus or ovary but they went ahead and took them out anyway - can you believe it?. I was told I had a recurrance of a tumour and there was nothing. I told them I didn't want a hysterectomy as it is an incredibly scar forming operation - there is no getting away from it. You know my mother is 82 and she has more hormones inside of her than I do and I'm only 46 - that's how I feel. Everytime I have sex it feels like my husband is going to burst into my bottom. It's sore for days after. I had it checked out and was told my vagina is a normal 4 inches in length. Yeah that might well be the case but it doesn't stretch much more. I can fully understand that someone who is bleeding all the time or has huge fibriods will have a better time post hysterectomy, especially when they retain the ovaries. But I feel that many surgeons look upon women with distaste and take the whole lot out with the tired old excuse 'you may well get cancer in the future'. Past the age of 50 men have double the chance of getting prostate cancer than females with all the gynae cancers put together - yet they don't have their prostates removed 'just in case'. I now have to live with this for the rest of my life. Please be proactive when having consultations and bring up the question 'How will a hysteretomy affect my sex life? How will having a hysterctomy improve my life?
Hysterectomy is a mutilation of the upper vagina and should be done for life saving procedures only- we all get shocked when we are told of genital mutilation and yet how is a total hysterectomy any different?
It's time to drastically reduce the rates of hysterectomies being performed. Get informed and save your wombs. You wont regret it.
51 - Cassaundra
I recently had a hystorectomy and I feel fabulous. I have more energy, I've lost weight, my skin looks better, the whole nine. I finalized my divorce four days before the surgery. All I can say is my husband made his move too soon. My sexual libdo is through the roof. I couldn't wait until my doctor realesed me, but then I didn't have anyone to sleep with. Well, I recently found him and I am amazed at how my body reacted. I am multi-orgasmic,highly sensiteive and can go for hours. Boy oh boy oh boy!!! Life after the procedure is the best. Although I'm 35 I feel like I'm in my early 20's only this time I know what I'm doing.
52 - Nora W. Coffey
It's interesting that you say women need not worry that hysterectomy will negatively impact their sexual experience. Women who experienced uterine orgasm will never experience it again after hysterectomy because their uterus will no longer be in their body. This is a negative impact on sexual experience.
You did not provide information about the well documented permanent and serious consequences of hysterectomy. Every woman should be given a DVD of the video "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs" before she is told to sign a Hysterectomy Consent Form. This new 12-minute educational video can be watched and downloaded free.
53 - hakanya
I just want to know one thing! Thats the size of the vagina? Does the vagina channel get wider? Does it give a feeling of emptiness to the man? Is there cases that the vaginas size is reduced to almost nothing?
Thanks a lot
54 - KGS
I'm a 52 yr. woman, who had a total hyster. on 5/05. Due to a fibroid tumor Dr. had been wathing a few yrs. They said it would probably go away after menopause and shrink but instead it got alittle larger. I had breast cancer in 89, total masmt. in 9/89, followed by chemo. I chose to have the masm. I'm doing fine now, but was advised never to take estrogen, or anything as such. It's been 2 yrs. now, and having intercouse is painful, even though I try at times. tlkd to my dr. today and he said to try a lubrecant such as silk-E? has anyone ever tried this and it makes a difference to you? E
If anyone out there is has my problem, please advise. I can still have an organism, with no pain, thats not a big problem.. just want to be comfortable the other way. Haven't tried it yet.
Please respond!!! Thanks. kgs
55 - Tammi
For Jai (#46), you are right that there is no way to sustain a relationship if you do not openly discuss her condition and how together you will deal with her limitations. For all, I think we have gone over the same ground, the best word to describe the aftermath of this surgery is "derrangement". Whether you end up with some hyper symptoms (sex drive through the roof) or hypo symptoms (no sex drive) its merely two sides of the same coin. Whether you end up with hyper-thyroid or hypo-thyroid, or hot flashes versus temperture dysregulation (too hot/too cold), etc. These are all symptoms of the aftermath that affects balance body system wide. And that's just in addition to the physical loss of function from removed organs, altered pelvic structure, and altered nerve, blood supply, etc. function. Also, having a hyper function that is more acceptable to society does not equate to having retained health which at its height requires homeostasis. Please don't be fooled into thinking your hyper symptom equates to balanced hormones, functioning immune system, unaffected cirulatory system, unaltered nervous system. Nor do not think that a hyper system today, may not be come a hypo symptom tommorrow......
We don't have anything to debate, what each of the women and men who have posted have noted is that there are no guarantees with this surgery and who will experience which symptoms cannot be predicted. It doesn't matter the surgeon, or your trust in the doctor, or your reason for coming to surgery or your health status. The results can only be the same for all women:
neither constructive or restorative surgery.
56 - soozii
It's 6 months now since my hysterectomy and yesterday was my 48th birthday - it may as well have been my 18th! I feel much better than before the operation and very fit and perky. My sex drive has settled down (thankfully) although on balance it is better than ever.
But to answer Hakanya (#53) - yes the vagina is slightly shortened after hysterectomy with cervix removal, but only slightly. Remember the vagina is very stretchy, it expands to pass a baby at childbirth. I notice that mine is shorter, but this is actually an advantage, I can feel my husband all the way through to the end when we have sex and it's great. My cervix and uterus used to get involved with sex before the op, but it doesn't seem to matter that they are gone now - perhaps there is such a thing as "Phontom cervix" like Phantom leg syndrome when someone has had an amputation. I'm just as moist as before, except when I would normally have a menstrual period it's a bit less, so have used lubrication occaisionally (It works KGS #54 - give it a go), but it's usually not necessary for me.
I think being fit before the op and regaining fitness afterwards is a huge advantage with this operation. I've gone back to the gym and have been working on re-strengthening my stomach muscles, my scar areas sometimes feels tender, but it's getting less as time goes by.
57 - Beavis
I am 43 and had a total hysterectomy 5 years ago after 2 previous badly done surgeries to remove massive fibroids and endemitriosis. Prior to the first surgery, my sex life was always great, couldn't get enough. Since the first 2 surgeries and then hysterectomy, not only do I have no sex drive, when I do try, it's extremely painful. Not dryness but feeling sharp pain at what would be the top of the vagina. My husband ended up having an affair which I really didn't blame him for and we divorced, we are still very close friends. Haven't really dated since, attempted intercourse once with an old boyfriend whom I'm very comfortable with but it was just too painful. I've given up on having a normal relationship with a man again and just concentrate on my family (never had kids), friends and homeless outreach work. My new Dr did bloodwork recently and said I probably had PCOS which doctors in our relatively backwoods town are just now hearing about - this could have been successfully treated without surgery had we known. We discovered I'm insulin resistant and I've lost 25 pounds this summer just eating differently - it just breaks my heart that we didn't know this before and my sex life is probably gone forever.
58 - soozii
Eureka! I may have found the answer to the unlucky ladies' problems here. DARK CHOCOLATE! Before you all laugh and go away - there's research going on at the moment about it, take a look at www.nerve.in/tags:dark+chocolate, it might help.
I was wondering why I've been feeling SO randy these last few days, it might be because I ate some really delicious dark chocolate called "Heaven". It's not your ordinary dark choc, it's got bits of cocao in it and isn't at all sickly sweet, but not too bitter either. I think the trick is not to over-do it. I only ate 33g on Saturday and the same on Sunday, I never eat chocolate during the week as I don't want to put on weight.
Give it a try - it can't hurt you.
59 - Tammi
Ladies I think the comments of #58 speak for themselves. While there has been lack of compassionate treatment and comments on this blog, there are no "unlucky women" here.
The medical community simply has a practice of removing women's reproductive/sexual organs for mostly benign conditions - for profit.
This practice is carried with or without proper diagnosis of a women's gyn condition; it is carried out with or without a woman's consent; it is carried out with or without a woman's knowledge of the consequences; and it is carried out with or without medical need.
While unfortunatley there is no cure, understanding the truth and facts surrounding this practice will insure your daughter and anyone else you care about doesn't suffer this fate.
Women will need to come up with a strategy for your reproductive health from contraception to post-menopause, the game on the table is not about whether to have a hysterectomy today, but how you will address your issues if some condition arises (fibroids, bleeding, pain, endometriosis, etc.), if a doctor says "it looks like cancer" or "you don't need your uterus or ovaries if you are not planning to have children or are post-menopause" or "your fibroids are too large" or "hysterectomy is your only option and you will feel better". If you don't have a strategy in place, you may find yourself making a decision based on fear and/or misinformation.
An article of note:
....The physician-author of a 1913 text on the secretory glands observed that "...castration is followed by changes, even in young persons, which largely resemble those of senile degeneration.."
...The speed with which such changes can occur is stunning. Skin and vaginal atrophy can manifest so quickly that doctors can observe pathological vaginal changes before patients begin to experience symptoms. "I am told by gynaecologists that they can already see that an atrophy is developing some 6 weeks after castration. It takes another 6-10 weeks before women begin to complain about dyspareunia [painful or difficult intercourse]".
60 - soozii
Tammi, I think there might be a small misunderstanding here. Firstly, there are so many unhappy experiences on this blog that I wanted people (who may need a hysterectomy) to know that a hysterectomy does not always create such a negative result. I wanted to put the other side of the picture.
Secondly, and probably more importantly, I am writing from the UK. I had my hysterectomy on the UK NHS - the doctors here are not doing this for profit - the NHS is free (we pay for it via our taxes). I requested that my ovaries were kept in place, and this is what happened. Other women in this area of the UK who have also had the operation tell me that they feel a lot better too.
Perhaps my surges in sexual energy have been a coincidence rather than a product of my operation. I was just wondering what on earth was going on with me.
61 - Tammi
No misunderstanding, I was trying to point out an overarching practice. The practice of removing women's reproductive sexual organs for benign conditions. It neither matters if its for profit, cost, or free.
I also wanted to point out that there are no guarantees that normal health will persist for the lifetime of the woman even if she retains her ovaries - because removing the uterus also compromises the ovaries. In fact the odds say some women will experience a decline immediatley, within 6 months, and for others it may take 1 year, 2 years, etc.
Lastly, my point was to say that it is inaccurate to consider women who report the known consequences of hysterectomy as "unlucky" or "unhappy". All women who have a hysterectomy have:
- lost the functions of the organs removed
- lost of normal blood/nerve supply to the pelvis
- lost normal pelvic structural integrity
- and lost normal hormonal/endocrine interactions
All of these things have nothing to do with ones sexual experiences post-op. And there are not two sides to hysterectomy - there can only be one, what has been done can not be undone.
62 - Dusko Savic
Hi to all here
Although my site is active for more than two years by now, I have only today stumbled upon this blog. The comments here show how painful everything about hysterectomy seems to be and what I find most disturbing is this sheep mentality that so many women succumb to. Oh, the doctor said it would be OK, so it must be OK, right? The thought that some real healing should be tried before the surgery is so alien to the Western World that the results really are sickening.
Every illness has its cause. Removing the cause will lead to true healing, but what do women do instead!? They go to a doctor and hope that they will be able to purchase a solution. Hysterectomy is so widespread in the USA because there is an implicit belief that doctors hold the keys to everything and vise versa, if they don't know what to do, than all the means are exhausted. This enervates me because I know that there are at least 5, 6 or 7 ways to heal uterine fibroids, heavy menstrual bleeding, cancer and so on. In 20% of cases, hysterectomy will be the only way to proceed, but what about those 80% that can really avoid hysterectomy if only they knew it were possible.
Somebody in these comments said it was not possible to predict the outcome of a hysterectomy. Well, it is possible to predict it through the methods of medical astrology. On my site I list many such cases, and I openly give the recipes that helped several women stop their menstrual bleeding, avoid hystrectomy etc. And here we are not talking about $5000 cost of surgery, we are talking about cheap natural remedies such as herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies, enzymes and the like, that can all be gathered for a few bucks from Amazon.
The point is this: if you want to get healed, you will be -- but somebody first has to tell you that you can be healed. Surgery is cutting out, not healing. The Moon rules both the uterus and the breasts, and when they take away the uterus, the energy goes to the breasts... which is why so many women on HRT after hysterectomy develop cancer of the breasts.
For the ladies here that experienced sex drive through the roof after hysterectomy, that kind of behavior is astrologically described as an aspect of Mars and Uranus. It may well be possible that such an aspect was made during the surgery, and that it may affect you harder that it normally would. Strong sexual drives may also come as a result of too much testosterone, so everybody with this type of behavior should control their hormonal mix from time to time.
63 - Matt
My wife underwent a complete Hysterectomy 8/26/2007 She is 45, I am 47,were both athletes
Our experience has not been good, She elected not to do HRT. Her sexual desire is zero. We have been married for 24 years and have been kids in love for 30 years. Our relationship is strong, and this is taking a toll. She did suffer before having this done for many years, with painful cycles, cysts and bouts of anemia so hers was a choice of quality of life. Ask her now which she would have chose. I still love her for who she is, but I do miss the intimacy we once had. We do have sex but it is not enjoyable for me or her, she is very dry and the texture of her vaginal wall has changed. I urge individuals and couples to really weigh the pros and cons before proceeding.
64 - Matt
Let me correct my date. My wife had her procedure 5/26/2007.
65 - Becky
When I had my hyst. as I look back, the first thing my doctor asked me was..."Do you have insurance?" I had one little fibroid. I was talked into it...even asking the doctor questions about what I'd heard negatively from other hyst. vicims, he replied arrogantly... "Oh, you don't have to worry about that." I was naive and weak during that time. But after I had done, the moment I woke up I knew I had made a terrible mistake...and I had.
66 - Becky
What also makes me sick is how some med. people go on these supposed mission trips to third world countries to do these surgerys, only leaving the poor women to suffer the reprocussions of loss of sex life, children (their naural resource), and no doctors or pharmacies there to help them with the complications that occur from the hysterectomy proceedure, or being dry and/or torn by their husbands during intercoarse. In such cases an American could atleast be cauterized. What a horrible thing to do to these poor women.
67 - Joanna
My sex life was Great before my hysterectomy. Now it is not worth bothering about. I think that women who have their orgasms in the uterus (Otherwise known as The Big O) will feel a Huge difference.
Either doctors are clueless,(which is pathetic) or they really don't want to know because there is too much money being made off of this, which is criminal when you think about it. Sex is Not the same for women who enjoyed Deep sex. Not by a long shot.
Also, to the lady who said "women are like sheep". I respecfully ask you to reconsider what you said. No, women are scared by our own ignorance and by ignorant and greedy doctors. More blogs like this one need to be around. Did you know that out 90% of the women who get hysterctomies could be handled another way?, because It Is Not Cancer-Just Fibroids. I wish I had more information before I got my hysterctomy. I would have done it different.
Please don't let the doctor take out healthy parts just because "cancer may grow there in the future". Can you ever imagine a man letting someone take a healthy testicle because "cancer might grow there in the future?"
Please, Please, I am begging you- preserve as much of your body as you can. If one doctor won't listen to you, find another who will This operation really does change your Whole Life. For some for the better, for many for the worse. I wish I had more information. It's too late for me, not for you. I hope this post helps some woman.
68 - Menstrualfreesince2003
My full hysto was in Nov 2003. And here I am today still searching the web 4 years later! there are pro's and con's to the surgery. I am blessed not to go through the nightmares of what we all went through each month. Sometimes weeks at a time,along with endometrious, blah blah blah. Cons, My healthy wonderful sex life is GONE! I am 47 years old, Married 24 years and my heart is broken, I HAVE NO DESIRE FOR SEX! I might as well just join a convent. If i had to do over i NEVER would have had the surgery...NEVER...There is nothing worse then losing your sexual desire especially for the man you adore..Estrogen is a must and not the synthetic kind...So, if you are reading this, find another option. I am a healthy woman still searching for answers and praying my husband doesn't find another worman.
69 - Suzanne
Help Please! I am 37 years old.I had a total hysterectomy 2 years ago. Will estrogen give me back my sex drive? I was told not to take it, because it causes breast cancer. Sex hurts. I use a lubricant, but it still hurts. It never hurt before. What can I do to make it stop hurting? I think this is because my cervix is also gone, so I am shorter there. I wish I never had this operation. I didn't have cancer, just a fibroid. I am grateful for that, but not for all of this. I am also very depressed and I feel like I have PMS, but with no relief of getting my period. Everyone just tells me to shut up and be grateful it was not cancer. I need help dealing with this. What do I do now, to help myself? Please help me ladies, for those of you who know how to help this, Please Help Me with Anything you know that might help. Thank you.
70 - Mylifeisgone
I want my uterus, my cervix, my fallopian tubes and my ovaries back. I feel like someone cut me open and gutted me. Mood swings, hot flashes, a vagina like an old lady's and sex drive way down. A vagina that hurts too much to have sex.
Why didn't anyone tell me it was going to be this bad? Why do women tell all these happy stories and say how much Better sex is? It's a lie, At least for me. It's nothing like it was. Women should tell each other the truth and help each other find options. Why isn't the medical community stepping it and finding alternatives to hysterectomy?
The doctor/surgeon said "You need it, it may be cancer, and if it is then it's Really Bad". He never even saw me again after the surgery. He found No Cancer. Only benign fibroids and a little bit of endometriosis. Why isn't this Quack in jail? I am only 45 years old and I can't live like this anymore. I can't imagine any man ever wanting me like this and I feel like hell.
71 - Carleen
I am facing a possible hysterectomy. I have HPV and have had reproductive issue for about 20 years now. (pre-cancereous cervical cells and now uterine cells) I am 38. I want the hysterectomy because of the possible issues I am facing and I am doing my researching now. I am expecting my doctor to call me "at any minute" with the latest test results. I want sex all the time but I dont know if searching for other options is in the cards for me. Naturally I dont want to lose my sex drive BUT if it means saving and extending my life...I will happily do so. I think my chances of being ME after the surgery are 50/50 from reading all of these blogs and I think the results depend so much more than who your doctor was, when it was done or why. I think it has to do with you win some, you lose some. I had my tubes tied last year amongst horror stories from friends, co-workers and some family. My doctor assured me that while some woman experience bad results I should pay more attention to family members who had the procedure (my sister) as genetically we were more same than not. My surgety went EXCELLENT and my doctor told me I could be a poster board for the procedure. Hopefully (if I must have the hysterctomy) That will ring truth. I personally know 2 persons who had a hysterectomy and they both PRAISE it. I dont have family member who had it but hopefully I can come back to this site and share my experience. I wish all you women the best.
72 - Suzanne
Hi. Me again. Help Please. Someone.I had a total or a radical hysterectomy (not sure which, and my surgeon and his nurse are impossible to get on the phone). He won't see patients after surgery. My sex drive is much lessened, but it is still here, even without hormones. It still hurts though.
I did not have cancer or pre-cancer. I'm sorry, but I do not go along with "you win some, you lose some". That is for horse races. I understand why someone with pre-cancer or cancer would Definitely need and be very grateful for this surgery. I wish anyone in that state well. God bless and take care of all of you in that situation. I didn't have either, so I still feel it was a big mistake.
I would really, really appreciate some help from someone on this board who had gone through what I have or Please directions to a Blog that will help. I read a lot of negative things, I would like to learn positive ways that woman can improve their sex lives when they can no longer have uterine orgasms. Also how to make the pain go away from no cervix and a shortened vagina. Any good advise would be appreciated. Please help me. I am too young to live like a nun. Thank you. God bless.
73 - ABB
hi all experts
Please some body suggest me right way :( i just want to know is there any problem in having sex when Ovary of female get damages ???
if any know the answer the n please post here
74 - Becki
I am 41 years old. I had a vaginal hysterectomy 2 1/2 weeks ago because of uterine fibroids and cervical polyps. I've read all about the horror stories about no sex drive, or pain, etc. I haven't had sex yet since my six weeks isn't up, but I'm not worried. My orgasms have always originated in my mind before I start to feel anything down below. I clear my mind of the entire world and focus only on how good sex feels and how much I want to orgasm - and I have the best orgasms. I kinda even blank out my husband and concentrate on just what I'm feeling. So I know I will have orgasms when I can resume sex. I can even have an orgasm without stimulation - just by thinking about having an orgasm. This I have already done since my surgery. On the other hand I can also syke myself out of having an orgasm if I think in my mind I can't have one. I'm kinda wondering if the women that are having problems are syking themselves out in a similar manner....if so, my advise is to just stop worrying about not having orgasms and concentrate on having them....
75 - Deborah
I had a TOTAL HYSTER 4years ago October and have not been the same since. The pain,dryness, total lack of desire has caused more than a strain on my marriage. After my first husband died, I remarried a younger man with an enormous sex drive. That was fine until the surgery. If I had it to do over I would have just lived with the pain until a partial hysterectomy would have been performed. It is 4 years and I too am still searching for answers. Everyone says don't use HRT, but when I do not there is no way to live in the same house and there would never be any sex. I am sorry I allowed them to do a total hysterectomy when other options were available.