Beyond Surgery: Keys to a Fulfilling Sex Life After Hysterectomy
On the day of your surgery, you may wake up feeling nervous, yet eager for a new beginning. The surgery goes well and initially, everything seems fine. However, as time passes, you may encounter new challenges. Perhaps you had endometriosis affecting your sex life, and even post-hysterectomy, issues persist. It's frustrating when problems continue, but I've crafted this blog to address these concerns, specifically focusing on the relationship between hysterectomy and sexual health.
Let’s start with the basic facts about hysterectomy:
What is a Hysterectomy? It's a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, often employed to treat conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, and various cancers.
How does a Hysterectomy affect sex life?
Generally, if only the uterus is removed, it might not significantly affect sexual activity. It’s recommended to refrain from sex for about six weeks post-surgery to allow for healing. After this period, many resume their sex life.
Considerations with Hysterectomy:
A notable point is that about 50% of hysterectomies include the removal of the ovaries, especially in cases involving cancer. This is known as a bilateral oophorectomy.
Why remove the ovaries? Though vital for hormone production, ovaries might be removed to reduce the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers. This drastically reduces estrogen levels, leading to changes like vaginal dryness, decreased libido, and possible painful intercourse.
Addressing Estrogen and Testosterone:
Post-hysterectomy, especially after oophorectomy, you might face a significant drop in estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen is crucial for maintaining healthy reproductive tissues, while testosterone is linked to libido.
Can I take Estrogen?
It’s generally not advised to supplement estrogen post-hysterectomy due to the increased risk of hormone-sensitive cancers. This presents a dilemma for those seeking relief from menopausal symptoms post-surgery.
What about testosterone?
While testosterone has been explored for treating sexual dysfunction, its effectiveness is limited, and the potential side effects are significant.
Exploring Non-Hormonal Options:
Fortunately, there are non-hormonal methods available that can support women facing sexual dysfunction post-hysterectomy:
- Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers
- Vaginal dilators
- Non-invasive treatments like laser therapy
- Nutritional supplements, including advanced options like NeuEve
NeuEve: A Nutritional Approach
NeuEve is designed to support issues like painful sex and vaginal dryness using nutrients similar to how calcium and vitamin D support bone health. It's a safe, natural, and hormone-free option that has been positively received by many women, including those post-hysterectomy.
There is hope and potential for a fulfilling sex life after hysterectomy, and exploring these options can be a crucial step toward recovery and comfort.
How to manage stubborn vaginal dryness and painful sex safely?
How to manage vaginal dryness and painful sex for cancer survivors?
My Hysterectomy was 10 yrs ago and I have not been with anyone since then, before the surgery My husband and I spoke with the surgeon telling him to leave my ovaries in tact unless it was absolutely necessary for example finding cancer then he was suppose to stop and explain that they found cancer and it’s important we remove everything but only if it was completely necessary but that never happened, he went ahead and removed everything leaving half a woman. I have “NO” sex drive and my husband divorced me now I used J&J Baby Powed/Talcum Powder before I had the surgery, I’m only in my 50’s and I feel like my life is over, I trusted the surgeon and now having “NO” desire for sex and other factors I hold the surgeon responsible because I never told him to take everything just a partial and now I’m I’ll and have a lot of medical problems and nobody to learn on or love me enough to deal with the amount of pain I’m dealing with!
What do you have to treat clitoris atrophy?
How soon after a total hysterectomy is it safe to use the silk suppositories and dilators? I used them for months before the surgery. A small section of the top part of my vagina was also removed. It should be healed in 4 weeks. Surgery was Jan 12, 2023.
After my historectermy I lost all desire to have sex. Is there a pill that can take to get the feeling back.
Hi Kathy, NeuEve doesn’t contain any dairy!
P. Bohmer, our products will help your vagina get restored back to normal!
Leave a comment