A hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries for women in the United States. The procedure removes the uterus, fallopian tubes, and in some cases, the ovaries as well.
Even hysterectomies that include removal of the cervix shouldn’t physically prevent you from experiencing vaginal or clitoral orgasms. However, it’s important to take your time as you ease back into sex.
Vaginal Dryness
After a hysterectomy, vaginal dryness can be a challenge for women. It can affect a woman’s sense of pleasure during penetration and can lead to pain, irritation, and infections. This dryness is often caused by nerves that have been severed during surgery. Women can use a natural or commercial lubricant to ease discomfort and increase the amount of sensation during penetration. They can also experiment with different positions to find what feels most pleasurable for them.
A hysterectomy can also lead to changes in a woman’s sense of femininity. Some women may experience a lack of sexual pleasure after the surgery because they don’t feel as attractive or as feminine. These feelings are normal and should pass with time. It can help to talk about these feelings with a partner or a counselor so that the person is supported emotionally.
Women who have their ovaries removed will also experience symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, which can impact their sexual drive. However, hormone replacement therapy can help reduce these symptoms and restore a woman’s libido. A doctor can recommend the best form of hormone replacement for a particular patient. These treatments are safe for most women, but some women are unable to take them due to other medical conditions or a fear of side effects. These women should explore other options, like a hysterectomy recovery support group, to help them work through their feelings.
Orgasms
Typically, a hysterectomy doesn’t affect sensation in the vagina or a woman’s ability to have an orgasm. However, if the ovaries were also removed during surgery, the elimination of those hormones can lead to surgical menopause, which may have an effect on sexual desire.
Orgasms are caused by clitoral stimulation, which can be stimulated by a penis, fingers, sex toys, or lubrication. When the clitoris is stimulated, blood flow increases in the area and causes pain, sensitivity, and pleasure, which leads to orgasm. If the ovaries are removed during a hysterectomy, nerves that enable orgasm are cut. This can cause women to experience less intense orgasms or no orgasms at all, especially if the cervix was also removed during surgery.
If a woman experiences an orgasm or a loss of desire after a hysterectomy, she should talk to her doctor. A physician can recommend safe, effective local hormonal therapies that can increase sexual arousal and lubrication for added pleasure. A nitric oxide booster like VitaFLUX from Promescent can help boost arousal and add extra fun to sexual activity.
Low libido after a hysterectomy can also be a sign of depression, which can lower sexual drive and pleasure. Often, a visit to a psychotherapist or sex therapist can help address the root cause of the issue and restore sexual enjoyment.
Libido
The ovaries produce estrogen and tiny amounts of testosterone, which influence sexual drive. If they are removed during a hysterectomy, it can decrease libido for some women. Vaginal tightness and dryness can also have an impact on libido, but these symptoms should resolve with time and with proper lubrication during sexual activity.
For most women, orgasms and libido do not change significantly after a hysterectomy. In fact, for many women who suffered from pain or heavy bleeding during sex, the surgery can actually make sex more pleasurable.
If a woman is having trouble with her libido, she should consider counseling and possibly medication to address the issue. It is important to remember that a hysterectomy does not change who she is as a person, and the problem should be treated like any other long-term problem in her relationship.
Most doctors recommend waiting six weeks before trying penetrative sex after a hysterectomy, but this varies depending on the type of surgery. Having an open conversation with a partner is important, and using lubrication during sexual activity can be helpful as well. A good lubricant with a nitric oxide booster can help increase natural lubrication and stimulate the nerves that lead to orgasms. For those who experience pain during sex, it is important to use the right positions and to work with a doctor to find out what is causing the pain.
Pain
For some women, a hysterectomy can affect sexual pleasure and sensation in the area known as the G-Zone. It can also make penetration more painful for some women due to drier, thinner vaginal tissues or nerve damage from surgery. For this reason, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before getting back to intimacy. A doctor may also recommend a nitric oxide booster to help increase the amount of lubrication in the G-Zone, which can make sex feel more enjoyable.
While it is possible that sex will feel different after a hysterectomy, most women say their sex life either stays the same or gets better after this procedure. It may take some time for the incisions to heal, and some doctors suggest waiting six weeks before having penetrative sex after a hysterectomy. It’s important to listen to your body and talk with your partner to get an idea of how sex will feel for you both, especially if you have any concerns about hurting each other.
Remember, it’s not a woman’s fault that she had to have a hysterectomy. It’s a common operation, and it can help many people who are suffering from severe pain or heavy bleeding. If you’re having difficulty dealing with this loss, it’s important to seek support from friends and family.
See Also:
