We did a little digging to see what is being said about having sex after a hysterectomy because conversations between older women always seem to lead to the topic HYSTERECTOMY! Let get into what the medical sites are saying 1, 2, 3 go……..
Healthywomen.org says……
Q: I’m planning to have a hysterectomy. Will my sex life change after this surgery?
A: It depends on the type of hysterectomy you undergo. If the doctor removes your ovaries along with your uterus, which occurs in about half of all hysterectomies in this country, then yes, your sexual desire may change. That’s because both testosterone and estrogen, hormones that are important in sexual desire and intercourse, are produced in the ovaries. These glands produce about half of testosterone and nearly all of estrogen. While testosterone is thought to contribute mainly to desire, estrogen is important for healthy vaginal tissue, keeping it thick, moist and flexible. Without estrogen, vaginal tissue becomes drier and thinner, more likely to tear and lead to painful intercourse. While supplemental estrogen can prevent or minimize this, without it you may find the fear of pain prevents you from having sex.
Many studies, however, show an improvement in sexual function after a hysterectomy. This is likely because the surgery eliminates the pain, bleeding or other symptoms that may have caused problems with sex. Also, the surgery eliminates the possibility of pregnancy, thus making sex more gratifying for some women. Read More here: (http://www.healthywomen.org/content/ask-expert/6007/sex-after-hysterectomy)
Hystersisters.com says:
I had my hysterectomy 8 weeks ago and I still have pain. Is this normal?
How much pain and how long it will last after a hysterectomy can depend on a number of factors. The type of hysterectomy, incisions, any additional work done, and personal response to pain can all impact the amount of pain and how long it will last.
Regardless of hysterectomy, it is not unexpected to need prescription pain medications initially. If you have an abdominal hysterectomy or repairs along with your hysterectomy, you could need prescription pain medications for a week or two. If you have an uncomplicated minimally invasive surgery, you may not need prescription pain medications after a few days.
For a couple weeks, it is not unusual to need over the counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil). Around week three, you really shouldn’t need any pain medications if there were no complications or extenuating circumstances. Needing pain medications could be a sign that you are doing too much too soon. By week six, you should not be experiencing pain or taking pain medications. If you have pain issues at this point in your recovery, you need to talk to your doctor.
Being able to communicate with your doctor about pain is important, especially if pain extends beyond initial recovery, so it is important to keep a detailed symptom diary. If you have pain concerns, here are some things you need to track and share with your doctor. Read more here: (http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/article_604833.htm)
10 Things Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Hysterectomy
If your gynecologist says it’s time for a hysterectomy, you’ll need to know what it could mean for your sex life, your hormones, and your future before you agree.
Here are 10 things your doctor might skip, but that you need to know.
1. Your sex life isn’t over. How soon you can have sex after a hysterectomy really depends on the type of hysterectomy: partial, total, or radical. Waiting two to four weeks to get back to sex is generally okay, with your doctor’s go-ahead, if your cervix was not removed along with your uterus, says Lauren Streicher, M.D., Everyday Health columnist, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University in Chicago, and author of Love Sex Again. But if your cervix was removed, it takes about six weeks for the back of the vagina to heal.
“Ask your doctor to define what they mean by sex,” advises Dr. Streicher. What they usually mean is vaginal intercourse. Orgasm may be fine, oral sex too, and vibrator use as well — but your questions need to be specific.
2. Hysterectomy is never a cure for endometriosis. “Not a day goes by in which I don’t
wish, with every fiber of my being, that my doctor would have stressed to me the vital fact that having a hysterectomy is absolutely NOT a cure for endometriosis,” says Rachel Cohen, 29, of Woodmere, N.Y, about her total hysterectomy.
In fact, endometriosis — a condition marked by severe menstrual cramps, chronic pain, and painful intercourse — is not cured by removal of the uterus, according to the Office on Women’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And of the many treatment options, which include pain medications and hormone therapies, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries as well, is not a first line treatment. Conservative surgery using a minimally invasive method may be one option, and will preserve the uterus. Cohen’s hysterectomy at age 28, recommended by her gynecologist, did not even diminish her endometriosis symptoms.
3. You won’t necessarily go into menopause. “I expected to have crazy hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats all of the time, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I barely had any of those symptoms,” Cohen says about her experience after hysterectomy…..
Read more here…..(http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/things-your-doctor-wont-tell-you-about-hysterectomy/)
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