Hysterectomy: Does it Change Sex?

A hysterectomy is not something that any woman should take lightly. It is also something that many women feel torn about when they are told by their doctor that they could benefit from getting one. Our uterus is part of our sexual anatomy and our sexual identity and the thought of losing this can be devastating to some. Especially when one reads that this operation can affect the sex drive.

The vast majority of women who have a hysterectomy will not suffer sexually from the operation, in fact some may even be more sexually responsive. But that is not always the case. The good news is that new studies are being done everyday and some are leading experts to believe that the loss of sensation and sexual drive could be a psychological factor rather than a physical sexual anatomy one.

When a woman feels less feminine it is only natural that she feels less sexy and this loss of confidence in itself can often lead to poor sex drive and poor sexual response. This is not physically due to the hysterectomy but rather it is psychologically linked to it.

Many women enjoy sex more after their hysterectomy because now that their sexual anatomy is changed they no longer have to worry about becoming pregnant or menstruating. The freedom that is endowed upon women sexually after such an operation is enormous and can be quite heady.

If you are not overly familiar with the sexual anatomy of a woman then you may not be aware of the change in lubrication after a hysterectomy has taken place. The ovaries are not always removed during this procedure and if they are left in place then there should not be a problem with vaginal dryness during sex, if they were removed on the other hand then one may need to use lubricants or estrogen cream. Some women also notice a change in the feel of their orgasms. Orgasms often lead to contractions of the uterus and with no uterus there can no longer be any of these contractions. But this is just one small aspect of orgasms and many women do not even notice.

It is also true that the doctor will remove vaginal tissue during the operation and as a result the vagina may be shorter than it was pre operation. In cases such as these couples may need to get creative in finding new positions for sex. Some of the previous positions enjoyed may not be comfortable anymore.

When all is said and done the biggest problem when it comes to sex after a hysterectomy is depression. Women who strongly believe that their ability to reproduce is what makes them a woman may find it hard to adjust to their new form of sexual anatomy. Hormonal issues can also arise which can lead to depression and a feeling of loss or sadness.

If you have had a hysterectomy and are feeling depressed or you have noticed a significant drop in your sex drive and/or sexual responsiveness talk to your doctor about it. He or she may be able to help you deal with the problem and get you feeling good about yourself again.