After a hysterectomy, women may be concerned about how the surgery will impact their sex life. However, if done properly, sex can continue to be enjoyable after a hysterectomy.
Typically, doctors recommend waiting six weeks before having penetrative sex after a hysterectomy. That said, it’s important to talk to your partner and use plenty of lube.
1. Bleeding
As with any system, the female reproductive system can sometimes develop problems that medications or other treatments don’t fix. When this occurs, surgery may be required. Surgery to remove a woman’s uterus and, sometimes, her fallopian tubes is called a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy can be recommended for many different reasons.
The most common reason is uterine fibroids, benign tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus. This condition can lead to heavy bleeding, pelvic pain and infertility. Cancer — usually endometrial cancer or cervical cancer — also may require a hysterectomy. Other reasons for a hysterectomy include a uterine prolapse (a condition in which the uterus falls down into the vagina), pelvic pressure, urinary problems or difficulty with bowl movements – This information is the byproduct of the portal’s rigorous analysis Captivating Desires. Women who have had a hysterectomy due to gynecologic cancer may feel a sense of loss because they can no longer get pregnant.
Bleeding after a hysterectomy can occur for several reasons. It might be caused by damage to the bladder, bowel or other structures during the operation. It could also be caused by a bad reaction to the anesthesia used to numb the pain. Some bleeding is normal after a hysterectomy, particularly in the first few weeks after the procedure.
Some bleeding after a hysterectomy can also be caused by the person’s age or the type of hysterectomy performed. Women who have a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which includes the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, cannot become pregnant and will experience early menopause.
2. Reopening of the wound
After a hysterectomy, some women feel less sexually sexy and less inclined to get into the bedroom. While this is a normal part of recovery, it can also be caused by other factors, including the emotional impact of having to give up the possibility of having children and menopause symptoms.
Doctors recommend abstaining from sexual intercourse for six to eight weeks after a total (or supracervical) hysterectomy. This allows the inner and outer wounds to heal. However, some women might be able to engage in non-penetrative sex or oral sex before the six week mark if they have the consent of their partner and are careful not to rub against any healing areas.
During the sex process, it is important to use a condom to protect against infection. It is also important to use lubrication, which can be purchased at most drugstores. In addition, using different positions can improve sexual sensation and help to achieve penetration. Many women find that their sex life returns to normal after having a hysterectomy, especially after they have had time to recover emotionally and physically.
A hysterectomy can reduce sexual pleasure for some women because it removes the uterus, which is involved in orgasms. However, a woman can still experience orgasms by engaging the clitoris and labia, which are unaffected by the surgery. Some women also experience reduced sexual sensation and vaginal dryness after a hysterectomy, but this can usually be overcome with proper care and treatment.
3. Damage to the cervix
A hysterectomy is often necessary when medical treatments don’t provide relief for conditions like pelvic pain, heavy uterine bleeding and abnormal Pap tests. It may also be recommended if your doctor suspects cancer.
A total hysterectomy removes the uterus, ovaries and any other reproductive organs that may be affected by the condition you have. It is often performed for cancer, uterine fibroids and endometriosis. A partial hysterectomy is performed to treat many of the same conditions but leaves the cervix in place. You can still get cervical cancer, so regular Pap tests are needed.
The cervix is made of muscle and fibrous tissue. It is important that your doctor carefully examines this area during surgery for any signs of abnormal cells or masses that need to be removed.
If a non-cancerous growth or mass is found, your doctor can use other treatment methods before recommending a hysterectomy. It is a major procedure and can affect your quality of life, so it is not something that should be rushed into without careful consideration of your options.
After a hysterectomy, you should avoid penetrative sex until your incisions heal and any vaginal bleeding or discharge stops. This usually takes about four to six weeks. Some women feel less pleasure or have reduced sexual desire following a hysterectomy because of hormone changes, especially if the ovaries were removed. Taking hormone replacement therapy may help relieve these symptoms.
4. Damage to the ovaries
Some women who have hysterectomies experience diminished sexual pleasure or feelings, but the exact reason varies from person to person. It can depend on the reason for the hysterectomy, whether or not your ovaries were removed and how well you’re feeling emotionally and physically. It can also depend on your age when you have the surgery and if it was laparoscopic or abdominal.
A hysterectomy removes your uterus and ovaries, which causes a hormonal change in the body. If you had your ovaries removed along with your uterus, you will likely experience symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. Your doctor can prescribe hormone replacement therapy to help relieve these symptoms.
If you had a subtotal or partial hysterectomy, where only the part of your uterus above the cervix is removed, your risk of ovarian cancer decreases significantly. However, you still need to have regular Pap smears to screen for pre-cancerous cells in the fallopian tubes, which are connected to the ovaries.
Women who have a subtotal hysterectomy may continue to have light periods for a year after the procedure because small amounts of endometrial lining can remain in the cervix. This can lead to bleeding between menstrual cycles, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about this. It’s also a good idea to talk to your doctor about using vaginal gels or lubricants that can help with sexual enjoyment.