Some husbands feel nervous about sex after their wife has a hysterectomy. However, they should know that a hysterectomy does not necessarily change their sexual relationship.
In most cases, a hysterectomy does not impact sex much, unless the surgeon also removes the ovaries and fallopian tubes. In such cases, the surgery can cause a dramatic drop in female hormones and trigger surgical menopause.
Talk to Your Surgeon
If you’re concerned about how a hysterectomy will impact your sexual experience, or have questions or concerns about what to expect, talk to your surgeon. They can help ease your mind and make the transition as smooth as possible for both you and your partner.
For example, women who have had a total hysterectomy, where the entire uterus and cervix are removed, may notice that their orgasms don’t feel as satisfying. That’s because ovaries produce hormones like estrogen and testosterone that fuel sex drive, and without those hormones, orgasms may feel less exciting and intense.
It’s important to talk to your doctor if you have any lingering pain or discomfort after your surgery, especially around the surgical site. It could be a sign of infection or another condition that needs to be addressed.
When it comes to sex, the most important thing is to be open and honest with your partner about how you’re feeling. It’s also important to use personal lubricants during intercourse, and if you have issues with your pelvic floor strength after surgery, try Kegel muscle drills or other core-building exercises to strengthen it. With patience, communication, and preparation, sex after a hysterectomy can still be very pleasurable for both partners. Just remember that it takes time to get back to a normal level of physical activity, and don’t push yourself too hard before your body is ready.
Talk to Your Partner
Women often find that their sexual drive is different after a hysterectomy, and this can cause some tension in relationships. It is important for both partners to understand what is happening and be willing to take some time before having sex. This can also be a great opportunity to talk about any long-term problems in the relationship and to seek help if needed.
During the initial healing period, it is common for women to experience a loss of natural lubrication and may have difficulty getting orgasms. It is important to try a variety of methods and be patient. This is not necessarily because she is less interested in sex, but because various hormonal changes can make it harder to get orgasms and may interfere with a woman’s ability to enjoy sexual pleasure.
If your wife is having a hard time enjoying sex, it may be because of a hormone imbalance or she has entered menopause as a result of her hysterectomy. In most cases, this can be resolved with a whole health plan and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Some women who have had a hysterectomy say they enjoy sex more because they do not have to worry about becoming pregnant. However, others say that sex is less pleasurable since the uterus was removed and there is no longer an orgasm to look forward to. Talking openly with your partner and using lubrication can help ease this discomfort. It is also a good idea to avoid positions that rub on incision areas.
Start Slowly
A hysterectomy may temporarily put your sex life on hold, but it should not end it. In fact, many women say their sex drive stayed the same or even improved after having this surgery. They were free of pain and heavy bleeding that often caused sexual dysfunction before. If your ovaries were removed, though, this could dampen your desire for sex because the ovaries produce estrogen and testosterone, hormones that influence your libido. Some women also experience less intense orgasms after a hysterectomy, and vaginal dryness can make sex painful unless you use lubrication.
Most doctors recommend waiting six weeks before resuming penetrative sex after a hysterectomy to give the incisions time to heal and for any post-surgery discharge to stop. However, every woman is different and may feel ready to begin sexual activity earlier.
If you do want to start sex before the recommended wait, try slow penetration with your partner’s fingers or small toys to see how it feels. You should always use lubrication for intercourse after a hysterectomy to avoid friction, and you can do Kegel muscle drills and other core-building exercises to improve your pelvic floor function. If you still feel a loss of libido, consider counseling or visiting a sex therapist to help deal with psychological blocks and emotional trauma. Treating menopausal symptoms can also boost libido, and the extra energy from better health can also enhance your performance in the bedroom.
Take It Easy
When a woman undergoes a total hysterectomy, her surgeon removes her uterus, fallopian tubes, and, if necessary, her ovaries. This surgery is often a life or death situation for women who are suffering from serious health issues like cancer, which can lead to a hysterectomy as a last resort. For most women, a hysterectomy won’t impact their sex lives at all, and it may even make things better.
When the ovaries are removed during a hysterectomy, the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are lost as well. This is a condition called surgical menopause, and it can affect sexual desire, as well as bone and joint health. Some women feel a decrease in their sexual enjoyment after a hysterectomy, but it’s not necessarily permanent. The sex they enjoyed before the surgery may have been painful or unpleasant due to pain and bleeding, so this change can actually improve sex for them.
It’s a good idea for women to wait six weeks before having penetrative sex after a hysterectomy. This gives the incisions time to heal, and it’s important that women avoid positions that rub against these areas. It’s also important for women to speak with their doctors about using lubricants and other products to keep the vaginal area moist, which can help improve sex. The majority of women will find that their sex lives remain unchanged or even become more pleasurable after a hysterectomy.
