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female
age
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anonymous
writes:Can someone please tell me if having a Hysterectomy will change my sex life. My husband and I have a wonderful, active sex life. I have been told by my doctor that I need to have a Hystrectomy due to enlarged Fibriods. This will be a partial Hysterectomy. My doctor will remove only one Ovary and part of my Cervix. I am still worried because I have heard stories that my sex life will not be the same. I will like to hear the response from men as well as women to this question please.
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male
reader, les_cox +, writes (19 December 2018):
In my case I had a very good sex life with my wife of 26 years before she had her full hysterectomy, we was getting down and dirty at least 5 nights a week. Bad "time of the month's", led her to the doctor,That Doctor made a life effecting cut on her, Because our sex life is at "0" times in the last 6 months, she was ready for sex as soon as the recovery time was up like 6 weeks, The instant I penetrated her, I knew it wasn't the same, it felt like a hotdog in a hallway, I couldn't finish, i just chalked t up as still recovering, It wasn't, we continued to get freaky for the next several months when i did get my rock off it was a challenge to stay with it long enough to do it. I love my wife and Don't want to tell her that her vag isn't golden like it was., I'm not sure how she feels about it, she probably thinks my penis has shrunk down to a baby size one, with my lack of lust to be in her she thinks I don't love her or I'm cheating, Its messed up I could go on and on, her libbedo is gone, Its a bleak outlook for both of us very sad, on't do it if you Don't have to
A
reader, anonymous, writes (23 October 2014): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks all. I had the surgery (a partical). Everything is great. Right after the surgery I can not explain what goes on in the body... All I know is that I could not get enough (if you know what I mean).
Everything is I should say back to normal now. However, occasionally I need a lot of foreplay to orgasm. Heck! Who does not enjoy foreplay? However, I tried this lubricant for females called EXCITE. It does the job. Ladies this stuff brings back all the excitement. Try it! I found it in Walmart.
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female
reader, Mariangely1 +, writes (22 October 2014):
I was going to have a part hysterectomy but it ended being full, them removing my uterus and my left ovary. And nothing changed I feel the same.
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female
reader, tammyessex31  +, writes (1 January 2014):
Hi everyone
i had a full hysterectomy left both ovaries in as in only 31.
i was in allot pain for two months
but once i was back on my feet my body felt brilliant.
and my sex life was amazing.. Bit sore but good.
then 10 weeks to 14 weeks in not interested in sex cuddles kisses nothing.
in very numb there and i cannot even be touched by my partner....
and now he says well if you cannot give me sex it's not going to work out.
i have explained to him its not him its my body
in weak tired and i cannot focus properly.
in having hot flushes and most of all i gained 2 stone after operation
i just need help and advice if possible.
as i told my bf ill go doctors to see if they can help.
in depressed and don't even wanna go out coz in so fat and feel so ugly.
but i get told in not.
help ????
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reader, rpung101 +, writes (7 April 2013):
My wife had a partial Hysterectomy done leaving the the ovaries intact. This was three years ago. Let me tell you that our sex life has changed dramatically. Her desire is completely gone. Obviously she can't have an orgasm and she says sometimes it hurts. During these past two years our sex is nothing. At times I feel (as a man) that there is something wrong with me that she don't like.But I ask her about it and she says "no its not you". She tells me she doesn't want to take meds to make it better, which in all honesty hurts our sex life a lot. let alone tearing our 4 year marriage apart. She is only 28 years old and has to deal with this. I get so mad at the fact that her doctor pushed this on her knowing there are other alternatives being she is so young. It was one little cyst, that after further research this could have been done completely different. So please, from a husbands perspective get multiple professional opinions. Hysterectomy is not your only option as a woman. It puts way too much strain on the marriage which is not good for any couple.
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reader, shirley fulton +, writes (16 October 2012):
I had my hysterectomy done 3 1/2 years ago.let me ask you one question.is it because of monthy periods gotten worse.well 3 1/2 years ago I regreted so badly. I wish I had never gotten it done.my relationship was awesome we enjoyed the Sex and cuddle moments.yes It will be some days or nights you will say Words NOT TONITE sorry honey.Or not in the MOOD.I got my at age 36years old I hated it RIGHT now YES My 9years of sex flush down the drain.you will be on hormones pills to help your sex.NOT the real thing,ladies THIS is no joke to play around I wish I never ever put hystrerctomy in my life.so please do alot of thinking about get a 2 or 3 opinons please.cysct maybe.depends.opitions out there.make sure you and boyfriend or husband should always be in that room while The doctor's ask you have you decided say let me do some research before you sign.yes there are stitches in and staples look like a smiling face.I hope this helps you.may god bless you thru whatever you decided no more children
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reader, anonymous, writes (22 April 2012): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionA male reader, river_ratt +, writes (17 April 2012):THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HONEST RESPONSE. YOUR WIFE IS A LUCKY WOMAN. I DID HAVE THE SURGERY. I AM FEELING GREAT AND DO NOT MISS ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING I HAVE ENDURED. I WILL ADMIT IN THE BEGINNING I HAD A LOT ANIEXTY ABOUT THE WHOLE ORDEAL. I EVEN HAD A LOT OF PERSONAL RESERVATION THAT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO ALL THE NEGATIVE FEED BACK. AS FAR AS SEX...IT IS GOOD. HOWEVER, I WILL ADMIT IT SOMETIMES TAKES A LITTLE LONGER TO GET THERE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BUT IT IS WORTH THE WAIT.THANKS AGAIN.
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reader, river_ratt +, writes (17 April 2012):
I was on the net looking something up and came across your post. I can relate to what you are going threw. My wife had it done and we were very scared of what all of this removing stuff is going to do to change our sex life and the health risks that come with it. We went to see the doctor a few times and had some tests done. Everything was good to go so we set up a date for her to go in and get it done. We were both scared to death the day of. My daughter and I waited in the waiting room and was told that we would be updated on how the surgury was going. Well a couple of hours went by and no updates. I was getting worried so I went up to the desk and asked what the hell was going on and why nobody came out to give us a update. I was told they would go ask. So now 3 1/2 hours went by and still no word. I got a bit irate. So I demanded to find out what on earth was going on. Finaly the doctor came out and said everything went good. It took a little bit longer because they had to seperate some tissue that had scare tissue that was connected to the part they were removing. In which they had to make one more cut. She had the one that they make 4 cuts about a inch or so long. They they went in with there tools and as he discribed to us they use like a potatoe peeler to shred it and then pull it out threw the small cuts they made in her belly. I am not gonna sugar coat it at all she was in alot of pain. It took them awhile to get her pain meds worked out so she had comfort from them. The first week was the worst for her. Then the 2nd week she was feeling better. But listen to what the doctor tells you to do and not to do. Because there is a reason for what he tells you to do. You feel good and want to start doing things because you are tired of staying home and resting. But you need to limit how far you walk because you wear down quickly. And by week 3 you feel almost back to normal I was told. Now on to the sex part. NO sex for 6 weeks. You can get infections which can cause more problems than you want to deal with. So after everything is said and done and you are all healed up then come sex. To be totaly honest with you my wifes sex drive improved a great deal. She says it's not painfull like it was before she had the surgery. She was in a great deal of pain with her monthly thing and it got so bad at times she would cry. And she felt bad that I was not getting much of anything for sex. Don't get me wrong I love sex but to see her it that much pain I didn't let it bother me. Her health ment more to me than sex. Hell there are some men that would have cheated on there wife because they were not getting any. To me a man that does that is not worth having. Hell I took off work to help my wife get better. But getting back to the sex part of it. The doctor said you may need to use K.Y. Jelly because it may be not as moist as he put it. So far there is no need for KY and it will be a year in August since she had it done. And sex has been great for both of us. The only thing I notice is when doing it doggie style it is diffren't than before she had the surgury done. To me there is to my preasure at the end results because there is no where for it to go anymore like there was before.. But other than that it feels normal and is very much enjoyed by both. I feel for anyone that has to go threw it but in the end you will feel better and with help your health. My wife says she feels like a new person and she is glad and do miss her nasty monthly thing. I hope this helps you out a little bit. Man by reading some of the post people left you makes it sound like the end of the world but really it's not. It's a new start and the pain you had to deal with will no longer be. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask me. Just use my screen name so I know you are addressing it to me. Good luck. :)
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reader, trinebean88fan +, writes (29 September 2011):
I had a hysterectomy in Sept 2002. Husband finally confessed that after years of intercourse, sex definitely feels different. He's says I'm easier to penetrate and that I feel very loose.
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reader, Kaboose +, writes (25 September 2010):
Hysterectomy, whether total or partial will destroy your sex life.
Its been almost 2 years since I was gutted and mutilated and my husband & I no longer have sex because its horrible for me, and he gets nothing from whats left of me.
He says it feels too different, theres no friction, no sensation. I have absolutely no feeling at all.
And to think up to the time that the tumor was found we had a fantastic sex life.
Any woman in this day and age who fears pregnancy and finds her sex life compromised by some 80 year old piece of jargon spouted in the days before the hundreds of contraceptive options we have now is ridiculous!
And yes, something IS really MISSING! Sex organs, nerves, blood supply, all is missing. Sensations are absent, and no hormone treatment will ever bring it back, never, ever ever.
Please, check the HERS page before you let some misogynecologist sell you on one of the most horrendous, barbaric and destructive surgeries aside from lobotomy.
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 May 2009): I'm a 49 yr old woman who's mother had a hysterectomy for large fibroids that caused great pain (she was 44). I'm dealing with the same, but hate the idea of hysterectomy! Honestly? A male friend of mine told me that once his partner had a hysterectomy it was like making love to a "can". Please excuse me, but that is frightening to me! Is this true? Do we lose all "tightness/walls" inside, besides the multitude of other problems caused by it? i.e. loss of sex drive, etc. I don't WANT one, but need help as this debilitating pain each month is really a problem in my life! :(
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 May 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the question I would like to thank everyone that took to the time to respond to my post regarding HYSTERECTOMY and SEX. Thanks for being sincere and extremely candid regarding this very personal and private subject. The responses were indeed an eyeopener.
The other day while reading my local paper, I ran across an ad regarding Alternatives to Hysterectomy. This is a free Comunity Health Talk to find out the latest treatments optionis for females experiencing heavy or a new painful menstrual a new to be l bleeding, Fibroids and Pelvic Prolapse. This health talk could not have come at a better time.
Thanks again,
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reader, anonymous, writes (27 May 2009): The results of hysterectomy vary from woman to woman from my understanding. A game of roulette, it leads to sterilization of sexual drive in most cases. In my own life, it ended normal sexual relations after just a couple of years. It became painful for my wife. She was fooled by the medical profession into a couple of surgery's that changed her life profoundly. The first surgery was for her thyroid, loss of libido was almost immediate. A couple of years later she had her hysterectomy (partial) preserving ovaries only. Within a year her homonal levels couldn't hardly be regulated by medication. Let me say this, about women who are considering this option: after I became educated about what this does to a woman I can now spot a woman walking and easily see she has been victomized by this cruel procedure. A partial hysterectomy will still lead to complete ovarian failure within a short time as the surgery disrupts the blood flow and creates nerve damage in the pelvic region. OB/GYN doctors will scoff at this (I have witnessed it)because this is the most profitable surgery they perform.
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 May 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks See Dandy. Yes, I am still reading all responses. I would love to hear what your husband has to say.
Thanks again..
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reader, See Dandy +, writes (17 May 2009):
I have not seen any posts here since April. I am wondering if anyone is still checking. Please respond. My husband is going to post here shortly. I said he would. He was busy with a work project, and now will have time to share his thoughts, so please - anyone - are you out there?
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reader, anonymous, writes (5 May 2009): First, let us talk about your possibly remaining ovaries because, once on the OR table, the surgeon can, and more often does than not, remove your ovaries as well as your uterus. Ovaries are endocrine organs. That is, ovaries secrete substances for use throughout the body throughout a woman's life. Our bodies have receptors for these substances in the bowel, the brain, the lungs, etc. And we're not just talking estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. For example, the ovaries also secrete oxytocin, the hormone of mating and maternal behaviors. Oxytocin also reduces stress and causes muscles to contract. Oxytocin's man made synthetic is pitocin which is used to induce labor. It is nature's plan that we would have sex with our mate and the ovaries then release oxytocin which causes lovely uterine contractions at orgasm. Next, we then look at our mate and our children with love. Stress flees in the heady oxytocin release. The ovaries are dynamic-- measuring our blood levels and injecting just the substances that we need on a 24/7 basis. No pill, creme, or patch is going to do that for you. Many substances, like oxytocin, are not even available in any form. In one study, researchers measured testosterone levels of attendees going into a soccer game. The researchers next measured the testosterone levels of the audience as they left. They found that half of their subject's levels had gone up, while half had gone down. Hmm, was it the male half that had risen? No, the half that had gone up were fans, both male and female, of the winning team, while the lowered testosterone levels were fans of the losing team. Folks, if you don't have your ovaries (gonads), then you can't react like that. It takes a great deal of the joy out of life. Moving on to the uterus...The uterus is a foundation to your pelvic floor. Removing the uterus leaves you with a hole in your pelvic floor. A hole that the bowel and bladder tend to fall thru. An intact woman can reach inside and feel the sphincter type muscle of the cervix. Now imagine that muscle, the strongest of human muscles, remember it pushes a baby out, cut from you. The vagina cut and vaginal tissue sewed together to make a scarred pouch that will now largely be what is left of your sex and all that is keeping your insides in. It took a year for my bladder and bowel to prolapse. Gravity isn't always quick but it is sure. Additionally, uterine ligaments help position stool towards the anus. Your uterus has a huge blood supply. It has to to support a baby's growth. Nerves course with the blood supply. The uterine arteries will have to be severed along with supporting ligaments that serve as conduits for blood and nerve supply. This will reduce your pelvic blood flow and innervation. Did I mention that the uterine arteries are also a major blood supply to the ovaries? Un-huh--and ovaries tend to atrophy without uterine artery circulation. Did you know that quadriplegic women can orgasm with uterine cervical stimulation? Un-huh. And that tells us something very important. The uterus is not just connected to the brain via the spine but also has a rare "direct connect" with the brain. Your brain will miss the uterine stimulation as well as suffer from the endocrine deprivation. Know how you like romantic movies and novels? How they can get you a little tingly? Well, with hysterectomy, you can say good-bye to that. Going back to the uterine blood supply...Consider what happens to the circulatory system when such a huge piece of it is taken out and no longer circulates? The risk of heart disease increases greatly with hysterectomy and ovary removal. One other thing, fibroids are encapsulated. I read a text where it described removing them in like two sentences! It was open the capsule and apply gentle pressure for the fibroid to pop out. Unfortunately, removing them doesn't tend to pay as much as removing the uterus and it can take much longer. Surgeons and hospitals frown deeply upon the less money/more OR time combo. I say, let us play this in a man's world. Tell a guy that you want to remove his testicles, prostate, and part of his penis because he has a benign, encapsulated growth (that could be treated conservatively). My belief is that if it wouldn't even be suggested in Manville, then it shouldn't be a part of a woman's world, either. The medical profession routinely treats men conservatively while women are routinely, unnecessarily treated destructively. This disparity of treatment is nothing short of gender predjudice. Don't allow it. Now one last thing, a word of caution. There will probably be those around you who will tell you that it "was the best thing that they ever did!" To that I say, "misery loves company". That-- and sometimes women can't face the truth--even if only to themselves. Sex is involved in most everything and no one wants to be seen as not being a part of that. No one wants to be viewed as being different. Also, there are women who have never experienced orgasm so they have no idea of what they are missing and they never relate their health issues to their surgery. It is not as if the medical profession is forthcoming on the issue. Please don't be afraid, be empowered! You are blessed to have found the HERS site in time--so many less fortunate than you haven't. It is hard to explain the value of being intact to one who is intact and, quite naturally, takes their normal state for granted. It is only after you lose these precious organs that the reality of intact becomes painfully apparent. Call Nora At the HERS Foundation and let her help you find a true medical advocate that will treat you conservatively. It is more important than you can know. (sigh) My husband and I have thiry years of house payments tied up in our home, but, we would both willingly leave tonight, and not look back, if I could be intact again.
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reader, anonymous, writes (22 April 2009): Flowerbt;
If you made the decision to delay persuing a hysterectomy, you may want to do some additional research to serve as a foundation on how to best move forward alternatively. I can recommend the following:
As per other posters, the HERS Foundation has a wealth of information in understanding the various conditions that generally result in hysterectomy, various treatment options, and the female anatomy.
http://www.hersfoundation.org
Additionally, a nutritional research organization can help you understand what nutritional factors nourish the female system resulting in a better foundation for overall health, and endocrine/hormonal balance. Link contains section on Endometriosis and Menorrhagia
http://www.westonaprice.org/women/wise_choices.html
Books that might be of interest:
'The H Word' by Nora Coffey
'The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed on Women: Exploding the Estrogen Myth' by Barbara Seaman
The Garden of Fertility by Katie Singer (reproductive health)
The Verdict by Y. Lubin (written by husband after his wife had been given a hysterectomy)
From the Verdict: We continue to play husband and wife. But we're only playing parts. Right after the operation my wife lost all interest in me as a man. I think that even from physiological point of view Dr. Simonne is wrong and the place where a new life is conceived and developed is not only a "container".
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reader, anonymous, writes (20 April 2009): I posted before but, In addition to suffering many of the problems that we all talked about, I also had to have a hernia surgery to repair my hysterectomy incision. The surgeon who did my surgery just kept saying no one had ever complained about the things that I asked about either before or after the hysterectomy. (sexual disfunction, bladder prolapse and that strange tearing sensation I kept feeling across my abdoman at my incision}. I can tell you why some women don't tell how bad their sex lives are after this disabling surgery, because all the doctors, including therapists tell us it is all in our heads. All of the doctors and even the national cancer society tell us nothing will change and we believe there must be something wrong with us. I went to a therapist to help me with thrthe anger and depression (yes me, Pollyanna} and she told me and my husband that I must be angry with him and this was my way of punishing him. Seven years, a trip to Dr. Berman at UVLA for tests to confirm my lack of genital sensation and the testimony of many other women later my husband finally believes me but, we have been in marriage counceling for five years trying to repair the damage it did to our relationship. A friend who has also had a hysterectomy said five years after hers, when she complained about her lack of a sex life and her depression her doctor told her that he hadn't told her before hand but, the divorce rate is really high for women who have had hysterectomies. I'm certainly not surprised!! Shouldn't that be part of that so called, FULL disclosure along with just how many of us are taking or have taken antidepressants since our surgeries. We should be told about what we can really expect afterwards. We are deceived in every possible way leaving us questioning our judgement and even, our sanity, so for the sake of our marriages and our lives we don't broadcast what is happening to us and some of us even lie. I have vowed to share anything I can to prevent other women from being in my position. By the way, eight years prior to my hysterectomy, I had a myomectomy for my fibroids. My doctor wanted to do the hysterectomy then but was willing to refer me to another doctor who understood my concerns and agreed to do the other proceedure. The surgery was as rough as any invasive surgery but, after my recovery I had no ill efffects. Both the fibroids and the endometrial cancer I developed later, it is my understanding, develope from having an imbalance of estrogen in proportion to progesterone. Not enough progesterone is my understanding. I do wonder if anyone is doing research into treating these conditions with hormone balancing instead of this awful, life altering surgery. No one can decide for you how much you may suffer from symptoms but, please, think hard and long before you sacrifice what might be so much more than you could ever guess. Good luck!! Be your own advocate, no one else will.
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2009): thanks for the info. right now they have me on med. that are putting me into menopause and they are trying that until next month so they are going to see how its going with that method. its not helping the pain is worse now than it was before i started the med. i am going to find another doctor. they dr. are crazy anyway. one of the dr. in the office with my dr. told my mother she just needed a hys. and she would be fine. well my mother is dead now because she had cancer and by the time they realize that it was too late. so i am going to another dr. thanks again.
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2009): Flowerbt: I remember reading about a procedure in my doctor's office where they can only remove the endometrial lining. Maybe that's something you want to look into? I don't think (and I'm no doctor) that you have to get your whole uterus removed for endometriosis.
OP: I had fibroids last year... 17 to be exact of all sizes (golf ball size to baseball size), in all areas of my uterus (inside, outside, in the muscle). In any case, my doctor did a myomectomy. Perhaps you can if your doctor will do that instead or maybe find a doctor who will.
Also at the Mayo Clinic they do a non-invasive ultrasound procedure (http://www.mayoclinic.org/uterine-fibroids/treatment.html) to get rid of them. Also, like another poster mentioned, when you hit menopause, the fibroids will naturally shrink anyway, so perhaps it shouldn't be necessary to take this step.
I'm not a doctor, but I think you should look into the alternatives before getting a full hysterectomy.
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2009): i have endometriosis and only 27 years old. my doctor recommended this surgery. i have read every single post on here and well my mind is made up. i rather hurt like hell than go through this. thank you all for your responses. and thanks to the original poster for asking that question you have helped someone by asking it. again thank you.
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2009): The answer to your question depends on what you are really asking. The surgeon will answer this question (as he/she has many times before) that you should not have any issues sexually. Technically, will someone still be able to have intercourse with you - of course. But the real question, I believe you are asking is will you still be able to have the full experience of female sexual function. To that, while a surgeon should be able to fully answer given they have the technical training and experience of the organs to be removed, the nerves severed, the structural alertations, the endocrine/hormonal alterations, etc., but they fail to answer this question approprately. But the women who have posted have tried to give you a glimpse as to the consequences to full female sexual function post surgery. It is immensely tragic, and it matters not that you can no longer become pregnant, or how you imagine your partner may now think of you, or even how you think of yourself. The results are only the direct consequences of female reproductive/sexual organ removal.
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reader, wonderingcat +, writes (18 April 2009):
 I would suggest that you start googling for more information on hysterectomy, then make a list of the pros and cons from as many sources as you can think of. Make sure inputs from all these sources can be verified and/or are from reputable sources.
These links can start you off, after which, you can deepen your research (internet, interviews, etc) based on your specific condition.
HYSTERECTOMY FAQ http://www.femisa.org.uk/hysterectomy_faq.htm
Hysterectomy and Postoperative Problems http://www.wdxcyber.com/mhyst.htm
Hysterectomy - Before you decide http://www.womhealth.org.au/factsheets/hysterectomy.htm
What is a hysterectomy? What are the reasons to have a hysterectomy procedure? http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/hysterectomy.html
Sex After a Hysterectomy http://www.estronaut.com/a/post_hysterectomy_sex.htm
Uterine Fibroids and Hysterectomy http://adam.about.com/reports/000073_10.htm
SIDESTEP THAT HYSTERECTOMY http://www.asetbooks.com/Us/Mall/Woman.html#anchor102021
Hysterectomy Resources http://www.hysterectomyresources.com/hysterectomy_help.html
"Options besides Hysterectomy for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding" http://www.obgyn.net/displaytranscript.asp?page=/avtranscripts/speyer_brill_indman
Far Too Many Hysterectomies Still Being Performed http://www.rense.com/health3/hyster.htm
Woman tells of despair after hysterectomy left her infertile http://www.independent.co.uk/news/woman-tells-of-despair-after-hysterectomy-left-her-infertile-1130975.html
Hysterectomy can be risky business http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_health_news_details.asp?news_id=11446&channel_id=7
Your further research should include option or alternatives as keywords. Perhaps also include a research in a library to see if there are books on this also.
An invasive surgery, if can be avoided, should be avoided. A good doctor also should take the time to inform the patients on options and alternatives, but unfortunately, not too many doctors do this for their patients.
Good luck, and please take your time to make an informed decision.
Cat
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): YES, your sex life will change and drastically! As most posts indicate, a hysterectomy with or without ovary removal severs nerves and blood vessels affecting sensation throughout your body. You will lose the upper body / lower body sensation connection. And you won't have the desire for sex either.And that's just one aspect of your life that will change (as if that isn't enough!). You'll also AGE RAPIDLY - major hair loss and graying, skin thinning / collagen loss / sagging, loss of muscle mass, insomnia, inability to concentrate, inability to socialize, loss of maternal / loving feelings. depression and anxiety, personality changes, changes to physique (the loss of the uterus will cause your spine to compress and you'll get a post-hyst belly making it look like you're pregnant). Don't count on hysterectomized women you know telling you the truth. They're embarrassed to admit that they were tricked into having something so horrible happen. Or, they figure "misery loves company." Or, they're jealous that you're intact and want you to join their "club." Sick but true! I can honestly say that I'm not one of those women - I have been on a mission since my hyst 3 years ago to prevent it from happening to other women. I've posted on many websites and have been banned from some for being so vocal. I've also been honest with friends and coworkers. The hyst industry is very profitable and the perpetrators will go to great lengths to protect their lucrative revenue stream. Not sure why the insurance companies continue to approve these surgeries no questions asked! And don't count on a 2nd, 3rd, 4th... opinion to be different because they're all in it together. Instead, call the HERS Foundation at www.hersfoundation.com to schedule a consultation. Read the adverse effects and blog entries of women's stories of how they were lied to in order to get their consent. And, if you do go in for a procedure of some sort, get your consent form beforehand and write in that NO ORGANS ARE TO BE REMOVED and, if I were you, I'd have it reviewed and signed by an attorney. Consent forms are written to protect the doctors and hospitals, not to protect you.And bottom line, keep in mind that surgeons earn their living by doing surgeries; it's their bread and butter!I hope I saved another woman from this permanently damaging surgery! And it would be great if you would go to the HERS Foundation's website and sign the petition to require that women be provided with a DVD of the female anatomy. Get your friends and family members to do the same.
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): Danielepew, it's not uncommon for both women and men to be misled about this surgery, as you have been (thinking that nothing changes), so don't be sorry. Because it's so embarrassing and mutilating, many women are too embarrassed to admit what it has done to them. Doctors have kept both women and men in the dark about this surgery for many years which has allowed them to perform millions of unnecessary surgeries on unsuspecting women. At this time, ob/gyn's have removed the reproductive sex organs of over 1/3 of the population of women in the U.S under the age of 60. That number is staggering! It's an atrocity. Only 10% of these surgeries every year are related to cancer, the other 90% are mostly unnecessary, usually done for fibroids and ovarian cysts which can simply be removed by myomectomy and cystectomy, but doctors are not informing women of the alternate procedures, or the functions of the female sex organs. Men are just as much a victim of this, as women are. Hysterectomy and ovary removal (female castration) is big business in the U.S. worth billions of dollars every year. It's no different than pharmaceutical companies selling drugs that they know cause strokes or heart attacks, but they can't seem to police themselves when there is big money to be made. Everyone can help by signing the petition to stop uninformed consent by visiting: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saynotilyouknow/
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male
reader, Danielepew  +, writes (18 April 2009):
 To answer one of the people here, yes, it would feel bad to have the testicles and half the penis removed. However, I would ask you not to believe that I would recommend hysterectomy out of some evil pleasure of mutilating a woman. To say that is to go too far, I'm afraid; give me the benefit of doubt. I have never been married and have never had the experience of sexual life with a woman before hysterectomy and after it. Like I said, and I was clear about it, I repeated what a woman said, in the way she said it. When she said she felt "hollow", maybe she was referring to what some posters say? Maybe her thinking that her husband would complain about sex with her was her way to hide what she truly wanted to say, but didn't say in the presence of a man?
I am sorry if your sexual lives have changed. I did not perform the hysterectomy, you know? As far as I know, it's a medical procedure used for cancer.
The part that was worse was the one about enjoying sex even more. Sorry, that's what I had heard. Maybe, as is often the case, the people who said that to me were not that sincere, and they were actually saying the opposite of what they really thought, because, again, they didn't want to say what they really felt in the presence of a man.
I honestly apologize for what I have to apologize, but for nothing else. I won't apologize for the fact that doctors, who are not myself, gave wrong or careless advice. It's not my fault. I do have a lot to apologize for, but it's limited to giving an opinion on the basis of hearsay.
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male
reader, Danielepew +, writes (18 April 2009):
I find the posts by the many women very educating and enlightening, and am sorry if I misled the poster. I gave the information I had at hand about this, in the way it was given to me by a woman. Maybe, as someone wrote, the person didn't say all she was feeling. Sorry, I am very sorry.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): I have not had intercourse for many years due to vaginal pain. I did have my uterus removed due to fibroid tumors thru the vagina the doctor had to cut my uterus in half to get it out. The doctor said if he had known how large it was he would have done an abdominal. Not one doctor can tell me why I have pain so to answer the question is your sex life better I don't have a sex life. That is what a hysterectomy can do to a person. I wish I had known about myomectomy. Hard to find a doctor that does this.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): I can say my sex life is definately NOT the same!! I have almost no interest, almost no response and my husband says that intercourse doesn't feel as good for him either. Your vagina will be repositioned which can reduce friction on his penis and without hormones, do we produce feramones to attract him in the first place? Many men think our lack of interest or response means we don't love them and their lack of attraction means they don't love us. We are also often depressed which is unattractive. A lot of divorces and emotional divorces are the result. Avoid it if you can!!
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): I hope you can see with reading the comments posted here, to not have a Hysterectomy. I am bothered that the men who have responded here do not have "personal experiences". It makes me sick, literally, to hear what happens to a woman's body with being put through a surgery as this. To play with a woman's sexual organs is hideous, and is in comparison to removing a man's testicles, and half of his penis. Ask the men who have posted here to respond on how they would feel if they had this done to them, and then... ask them if they feel their 'sex life' would change? It is the same, if even not more damaging. I am not making this up. It happened to me...
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): No, your sex life won't be the same. Uterine orgasm isn't possible without a uterus. Sexual function is lost in hysterectomized women, the same as sexual function in lost in prostatectomized men. For more on this, read THE H WORD at wwwDOThersfoundationDOTorg/hword.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): Suggest trying alternatives..homeopathy..nutrition doctors etc
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): A women's body is unique and males can only imagine. Hysterectomy is a destructive barbaric "practice"..it treats men's "pregnancy anxiety" while destroying completely the God-made natural flow of women..creating serious ill health due to the amputations involved. Protect yourself and guard what you have..Also scar tissue causes innumerable health problems
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): A woman's sex life will not be the same after sex organ removal/hysterectomy. Hysterectomy compromises the function of the ovaries. Oophorectomy is Castration, look it up in the dictionary.The endocrine system regulates a woman's bodily function and emotions through all of the human hormone receptors. I am convinced hiding the endocrine system from women through routine gynecological exams is vital to the gynecologists female iatrogenic illness contribution to the medical industry. The Gynecologist surgeons are "handing chronically ill woman (via: sex organ, endocrine organ amputation) to the medical industry for a life-time of various CAUSED (iatrogenic) HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS...This is what the Gynecologists are doing to women. The negligence of not informing women of the known medical facts regarding the amputation of the female sex organs including the endocrine system (ovaries) by deceit must be eradicated immediately. The known gynecological iatrogenic illness epidemic is embarrassing for the entire medical industry at this point and is "THE MOST HEINOUS ACT OF MEDICAL DECEIT RECORDED IN HISTORY-FEMALE SEX ORGAN AMPUTATION/CASTRATION BY MEDICAL DECEIT FOR PROFIT". I believe every branch of medicine would be positively affected if the biggest "best kept secret" in medical history "female sex organ amputation/castration by medical deceit for profit" is brought "out" and ended by law. Sign the HERS Foundation-Petition to add informed consent to the gynecological consent form. Watch the "Female Anatomy" vidio at, HERS Foundation, and you will never need to ask a question about sex being the same again after your sex organ is amputated from your body. The gynecologists call it hysterectomy because they can trick you easier. Hysterectomy is sex organ amputation.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): Yes, your sex life will change to non existent after hysterectomy with or without removal of the ovaries. Hysterectomy is never justified for fibroids which are never cancerous . They have a growing spurt just before menopause and usually shrink after menopause. After hysterectomy, not only will your shortened vagina become dry from the removal of the cervix and uterus (because the 1000's of cells and glands will not secrete lubrication from the cervix when becoming arouse), but also, the blood and nerve supple that is connected from the cervix and uterus will be greatly compromised to the clitoris. The clitoris will become flacid and not be able to become erect if aroused, just as a man who has been castrated cannot become erect or have an ejaculation. The former ecstatic feeling from orgasm will be weak at best (post hysterectomy), and will not be the same-you will be robbed of your sex life and sexuality. It will never be as good as before or the same. In fact, nothing will be the same. The hair thins and turns gray, gums receed rapidly, teeth become more carious, catarachts become prevalent, vision become worse, bones become osteoporatic, skin cancer/changes/ problems are extremely prevalent, insomnia is a big problem, tinitus is highly prevalent, stamina is decreased, muscles and tissues become fatty and loose their muscle tone, the skin hangs and looses its elasticity, incontinence becomes worsened, life becomes more stressful and it is harder to cope with simple situations. Many women get severely depressed. This all boils down to RAPID PREMATURE AGING with years taken off of one's life. Many women become severely depressed from post hysterectomy traumatic stress syndrome and permanent physical change/damage. All the nerves and blood supply to any ovary or any bit of ovary that might be left will be compromised, and the ovaries will die off sooner than if naturally aged with uterus in tact, producing intolerable hot flashes plus such great fatigue that you will not have the interest, energy, or sexual feeling to want to have intercourse. You will tire more easily. If you take hormones, you will worry constantly that any ovary you have left will get cancer from taking the hormones. You will be so dry that you will bleed from intercourse and it will hurt greatly. No artificial lubricant or hormone can replicate a woman's natural hormonal system that is released in a pulsating fashion and is beneficial for a lifetime in every part of the body. Also, almost every woman I know that has taken pharmoceutically produced exogenous(not produced by one's own body) estrogen has gotten breast cancer or uterine cancer. Pharmaceutical companies write patient education distributed in gynes offices pushing hysterectomy by saying that women who have had their uteruses removed do not have to worry about getting cancer of the uterus thus pushing their hormones to women who have been hysterectomized.
This is collusion between the gynes and the pharmaceutical companies. Plus, studies are always slanted in favor of the pharmaceutical companies. They give Drs. all kinds of perks, trips, gifts, gourmet meals etc. to push their drugs/hormones. A woman's hormonal system is the most complex in the animal kingdom. Why do MD's want to remove a gift of nature to womankind? One cannot even call hysterectomy a surgical menopause. It is not surgical menopause. It is something so bad for a woman that there should be another term for it. It should be called a criminal, damaging, unnatural, debilitating change to a woman's right to a normal life/sex life and healthy natural aging process. It is a radical unnecessary surgery for benign conditions, especially fibroids that are never malignant. Gynes will not give up this lucrative practice, the gold mine of gynecology. Even intelligent women succumb to this criminal surgery and lie die like sacrificial lambs relinquishing their precious reproductive organs to the gynes knife. We are fools to enrich their coffers at the expense of our reproductive organs! We need to become educated and fight this curse to womankind! Men refer to their reproductive organs as crown jewels. Women should value their reproductive organs as men do theirs. Also, we need to value a natural aging process, aging in tact, the way God made us. We must not let gynes redesign our innards by their inventions, interventions, surgeries, endometrial ablations, endometrial resections, laprascopes, tubal ligations, uterine artery injections with plastic, myomectomies, tubal ligations, loops, and many many more damaging procedures, all created to make money for their industry at the expense or our precious sex organs. One should try non surgical alternative treatments as life style changes, diet change, homeopathic remedies, psychotropic drugs, exercise, tranquillizers, stress incontinence clinic, bladder medications and much, much more. A medical doctor told me once to stay away from doctors and I wish I had listed to him especially in the case of the gynecologist that did me in. The mind body connection is overwhelming. Hypochondrias makes us worry unnecessarily and the gynes plant seeds in our minds for the final pelvic clean out. When men have a stomach problem the dr. tells them to take a vacation. When a woman thinks she has a female problem, the dr. rushes her into surgery. If she took a vacation, her symptoms would go away. (mind/body connection 100%). Often, stress can make menstruation worse. Hysterectomy is a human rights issue for womankind and must cease for benign conditions. We are sterilizing our woman at a rate of 1 per minute of every hour of every day. We are the laughing stock of the world sterlizing and removing reproductive organs of our women in the usa at this rate, more than any country in the world. It is no wonder our medical care system is broke. Hysterectomized women in this country spend more money on their health care than any other group in the world. If hysterectomy ceased for benign conditions, we would be a healthier, more productive, and wealthier nation from money saved on keeping healthy women healthy by not removing their sexual organs and eliminating hysterectomy for non cancerous/benign conditions.After a natural menopause, there are many attractive older women(totally in tact) who are still highly sexually active way into old age as the ovaries and uterus continue to secrete beneficial hormones and enzymes as testosterone, estrogen prostaglandin and prostacylin, all beneficial to the heart, sexuality, skin, teeth, bones, hair, and every cell and system of the entire body which help to promote a healthy mind and body. All of the changes after this barbaric, damaging, messy, mutilating, 98% unnecessary surgery for benign conditions, especially for fibroids, and, which often causes death, is the biggest waste of a healthy woman/humanity. It is incomprehensible. It is hard to believe in this modern day and age that this barbaric, inhumane, unwarranted practice is still being performed. Buyer beware! Hysterectomy must cease for benign conditions!
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female
reader, kiwi777 +, writes (18 April 2009):
I had asked my doctor if my sex life will be the same after the hysterectomy and she told me yes. I asked if sex will be the same for my husband and it isn’t. The cervix plays a roll with my husband. So my doctor was not honest with me. Some doctors do vaginal repairs so the vagina won’t fall down after a hysterectomy. I have had vaginal repairs done and they cause me pain. I have seen many doctors for this and they say it could be many reasons. I can’t get a doctor to tell me why I have pain with intercourse. I have read that the nerves are cut so you can have pain and less feelings vaginaly. I do not recommend a hysterectomy. You trade one problem for many more problems that the doctor won’t tell you and can’t fix after surgery. Hersfoundation have pictures of the nerves they cut during a hysterectomy. I would recommend going to a medical library and ask for specific questions. Ask to find that the uterus is a sex organ. You will be surprised what you find. I would also recommend call the Hersfoundation. It can’t hurt to find out more information.
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female
reader, See Dandy +, writes (18 April 2009):
Hello Anonymous,
I am so glad I am able to respond to help you and offer advice. I had a Hysterectomy due to two fibroids. I was told by the GYN who performed this, "I had to have a Hyst.", but he never went over any other options; i.e., alternatives, but also any complications, problems I might be faced with. I state this first to let you know that I speak with knowledge and 'first hand', personal experience.
I cannot tell you enough, stress enough to not have a Hyst., and please research the alternatives available to save your body from castration and life long negative outcome. Your question was related to your sex life changing afterwards...
Yes it does!!! You sound so similiar to me. I had fibroids. I am married and my husband and I HAD a very active sex life before the Hyst., but do not now - hardly at all. We have been married for many years. Up until the Hyst., we averaged love making at least twice a week. Sometimes more, and it was spontaneous too. (Like catch me in the shower and join me; I surprise him with putting on my 'French Maid' outfit and walk in front of him as he was watching a T.V. program at night in his favorite chair in the family room (after the kids were in bed and asleep), and do love making right there. By the way, these two times I bring up happened right before my Hyst..
Since the Hyst., I do not believe we have made love/had sex more than nine times. It has been 4 1/2 years. I also was usually the one who instigated it. If this does not concern you enough, I do not know what would. But, the change in your sex life and wanting it will not be the only problem you will realize. The other physical problems I deal with are hideous. Hideous not only because I am dealing with these, but also because I was never told of these problems which can happen after having a Hyst., and had I known; I never would have had one. The sex factor alone would have been enough for me to seek alternatives. There is no going back either.
I can have my husband post here also, so you can hear from a male's viewpoint. Thank goodness he is a loving husband and my best friend. He supports me because he knew the person I was before, and only since the Hyst. have I realized all these horrific problems.
Don't do it. I implore you! I will ask my husband to post also, as I said. I will not say a word to him either about what I have posted. You will hear it 'straight' and unprompted from him. I will rest easier with knowing I may have 'saved' you. Take care, and I wish you the best of outcome with your decision(s). I wish I would have had someone provide me with the information I share with you. I would have ran (not walked) out of that GYN's office, with my husband leading the way...
(P.S. Any men posting here who have not had 'personal experiences' with this, I do not feel qualified to comment. To also state that not having to worry about getting pregnant any longer as a benefit is nothing to outweigh the complications a woman will suffer with, with having a Hyst.. I would also rather live with concerns of becoming pregnant, if I did not want to be, and taking care of that; i.e., birth control measures; rather than the other. It truly is not a comparison of a benefit - trust me - I even thought this too before I had my Hyst..)
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female
reader, See Dandy +, writes (18 April 2009):
Hello Anonymous,
I am so glad I am able to respond to help you and offer advice. I had a Hysterectomy due to two fibroids. I was told by the GYN who performed this, "I had to have a Hyst.", but he never went over any other options; i.e., alternatives, but also any complications, problems I might be faced with. I state this first to let you know that I speak with knowledge and 'first hand', personal experience.
I cannot tell you enough, stress enough to not have a Hyst., and please research the alternatives available to save your body from castration and life long negative outcome. Your question was related to your sex life changing afterwards...
Yes it does!!! You sound so similiar to me. I had fibroids. I am married and my husband and I HAD a very active sex life before the Hyst., but do not now - hardly at all. We have been married for many years. Up until the Hyst., we averaged love making at least twice a week. Sometimes more, and it was spontaneous too. (Like catch me in the shower and join me; I surprise him with putting on my 'French Maid' outfit and walk in front of him as he was watching a T.V. program at night in his favorite chair in the family room (after the kids were in bed and asleep), and do love making right there. By the way, these two times I bring up happened right before my Hyst..
Since the Hyst., I do not believe we have made love/had sex more than nine times. It has been 4 1/2 years. I also was usually the one who instigated it. If this does not concern you enough, I do not know what would. But, the change in your sex life and wanting it will not be the only problem you will realize. The other physical problems I deal with are hideous. Hideous not only because I am dealing with these, but also because I was never told of these problems which can happen after having a Hyst., and had I known; I never would have had one. The sex factor alone would have been enough for me to seek alternatives. There is no going back either.
I can have my husband post here also, so you can hear from a male's viewpoint. Thank goodness he is a loving husband and my best friend. He supports me because he knew the person I was before, and only since the Hyst. have I realized all these horrific problems.
Don't do it. I implore you! I will ask my husband to post also, as I said. I will not say a word to him either about what I have posted. You will hear it 'straight' and unprompted from him. I will rest easier with knowing I may have 'saved' you. Take care, and I wish you the best of outcome with your decision(s). I wish I would have had someone provide me with the information I share with you. I would have ran (not walked) out of that GYN's office, with my husband leading the way...
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female
reader, Gracienikki +, writes (18 April 2009):
Sex is not the same after they remove your ovaries, uterus and cervix. These are all sex organs. If they castrate a man, what happens? The same for a women. The cervix grabs the penis during intercourse so how can anyone say sex is the same.
Please go to HERSFoundation web site and watch the DVD 'female anatomy', then hit the blog and read what thousands of women all over the world are saying after they have been castrated (removal of ovaries). Even removing one ovary and the cervix will totally change everything about your sex life.
Any doctor who will say that sex will remain the same is lying to you so you go ahead with the surgery. All the women who have written on the HERS Foundation web blog including myself do know that removing these three very important hormonal sexual organs will not only change her sexual enjoyment but also destroy her marriage, career and her health. So please listen to the experts-us-not the OBGYN'S that are trained to do surgeries. You never need a hysterectomy and castration for fibroids unless you have the wrong doctor. There are alternative surgeries for fibroids (myomectomy) and for polyps (polypectomy). You will have to search to find a skilled doctor who does them and Hers will be able to help you find one.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): I was given a hysterectomy and my ovaries and cervix were removed also. My ability to have an orgasm has diminished almost completely. I am unable to become aroused, and I do not have the maternal feelings I had before and I also have chronic pain and a host of other symptoms. At the time this was done to me, I did not understand the functions of the female organs, and had no idea that it would impact my life in such a negative way. Did you know that your uterus contracts when you orgasm and it allows the pleasure you feel to run through your body. It's all connected from your genitals up through your breasts, but when all those nerves and ligaments are severed when a hysterectomy is performed, it cuts it all off. That is why women describe this feeling of emptiness. It's like taking the engine out of the car. It still looks the same from the outside, but it no longer works. You can search the internet and read story after story of women posting about hysterectomy and the sexual dysfunction that follows. The other thing is that if you have fibroids, they can just be removed. The procedure to remove fibroids is called myomectomy. From what I've learned, many doctors do not recommend it only because they are not skilled at it, and they make much less money and it takes more time than it does to just amputate your uterus. Hysterectomy is really a barbaric surgery when you realize that the fibroids can just be removed. It might help you to view a video that the HERS Foundation has put out to educate women about female anatomy and the damage caused by hysterectomy so that you can make an informed decision. Please visit: http://www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy/index.html. On that website, there is also a blog and you can read about what other women are saying after this was done to them. The other thing that you may not know is that hysterectomy increases your risk for heart attacks, dementia and osteoporosis. If I was you, I would look for a skilled surgeon who could perform myomectomy, and keep my organs intact.
As for the other comments about this from men, I think that most people really don't hear the truth about it because women are embarrassed to admit that they lost their sexual feelings. It's pretty embarrassing.
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female
reader, norawc +, writes (18 April 2009):
Your question is very important, I'm so glad you asked. The uterus is a sex organ. Women who experience uterine orgasm will not experience it if their uterus is removed. During a hysterectomy the vagina is shortened and made into a closed pocket. All of the ligaments, nerves, and rich blood supply to the uterus are severed.
Because a woman's sex organs are internal, the functions like uterine orgasm cannot be seen. But for over a century research has clearly demonstrated that the powerful uterine contractions with orgasm are very important to women who enjoy sex.
Does every woman lose sexual feeling? You can only lose what you have, so if you've never experienced orgasm, you can't lose it. The more you enjoy sex the more you have to lose.
There's a new book "The H Word" that explains in detail why there is a loss of sexual feeling after hysterectomy, and the huge numbers of women who report a loss of physical sensation.
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male
reader, Danielepew +, writes (18 April 2009):
I hope I helped. The idea of talking to the surgeon is a great one.
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 April 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the question
Thanks to the two gentlemen that responded to my question regarding sex after a Hysterectomy. I am feeling a little less anxious regarding the procedure. I feel your responses were honest and intelligent.
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male
reader, ArmyMedic +, writes (17 April 2009):
 From what I understand it shouldn't alter the enjoyment at all, but best speak to your surgeon, he will have years of experience and it won't be the first time he's been asked this question.
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male
reader, Danielepew +, writes (17 April 2009):
It might, but not for physical reasons.
I can't speak for personal experience, but I can speak from what I have heard from other people. From people that might not be as sophisticated as you.
Once, a woman I know was complaining that her husband wouldn't want anything with her now that she was "hollow", and she also said that she was afraid her husband would feel that sex with her was like "sex with another man". The thing is, the husband wasn't complaining at all and that was not how he felt. The sex life changed, but because the woman felt that something was missing and wouldn't allow herself to really participate in the act.
For other women, however, a total hysterectomy lets them forget about becoming pregnant, so they enjoy sex even more.
In your case, it's partial hysterectomy. I don't think anything should change.
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