 Vagina - Hysterectomy Make It Shorter? |
From the Post-Op Hysterectomy Articles List |
 Related Articles
Options to Hysterectomy
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor
Advertisement
I'm curious. After a hysterectomy when the cervix is removed, is the vagina shorter?
Doctors who are asked this question by their hysterectomy patients give answers which vary from, “No,” to “Possibly…but only by a few millimeters,” to “Actually, it might be a tiny bit longer after the surgery.” Unless something unusual happens, any permanent change in length of the vagina would be so negligible that, after all post-op healing occurs and the swelling of tissues subsides, it shouldn’t be detectible without utilizing a precise measuring device.
Of course, to determine any change in length, you would have had to measure your vagina before the surgery, which would be unlikely for most women to think to do.
One doctor explained it to his patient like this, “Picture a tall glass being the vagina. Now, set an apple on the opening of the glass. The apple is the uterus. The part of the apple that hangs into the glass is the cervix. Now, remove the apple. After the apple is removed, there is actually more room at the top of the glass. But then, suturing the edges of the glass (to create the vaginal cuff) takes up some of the space that remained after the apple was removed. So, the net result in vaginal length is about the same as before the surgery.”
Some newly post-op hysterectomy patients report that after they get their doctor’s clearance to resume intercourse and they do it again for the first time, they sense that their vagina is shorter - and sometimes their partner reports the same sensation. The vaginal cuff does experience quite a bit of swelling that often lasts beyond six weeks. Additionally, although vaginal tissue is extremely elastic, the cuff is quite stiff while it’s in the healing stages.
Women who experience an uncomfortable “bottoming out” in their early post-op intercourse sessions are probably having an issue with lack of elasticity rather than true shortness. With time, the tissue becomes more supple and accommodating.
But this is a very good reason to be certain that, in those first several post-surgery encounters, you make sure that you are positioned to control the depth of penetration. The use of a lubricant also proves helpful to many. Remember to be kind and gentle to your body during the early post-op time.
This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.
Sherri Levin, M.D.
929 Gessner Suite 2100
Houston TX 77024
713-464-4111 |
Mini Somasundaram, M.D.
4845 Knightsbridge Boulevard
Suite 220
Columbus OH 43214
(614) 583-5552 |
John Lenihan, M.D.
314 ML King Jr. Way
Suite 104
Tacoma WA 98465
253-403-5432 |
Jennifer Cova, M.D.
7700 Washington Village Drive Suite 210
Dayton OH 45459
937-433-6513 |
Chuong Pham, M.D.
18220 Tomball Parkway, SUite 320
Houston TX 77070
832-237-0222 |
David Mainman, M.D.
Desert Bloom Obstetrics & Gynecology
6452 E. Carondelet Drive, Suite A
Tucson AZ 85710
520-885-5300 |
Ken Sinervo, M.D.
1140 Hammond Dr., Ste. F6220
Atlanta GA 30328
770-913-0001 |
Terri B. Pustilnik, M.D.
501 Medical Center Blvd.
Deke Slayton Cancer Center
Clear Lake TX 77598
713-665-0404 |
Thomas Wolfe, M.D.
6700 N Rochester Road Ste. 112
Rochester Hills MI 48306
248-650-1534 |
|
|
|
-- January NewsletterPost Hysterectomy Fitness and Health is the theme of our January, 2012 newsletter at HysterSisters.com. Visit this link [ More]...
Advertisement
 Helpful Links
|
|
|
Store »
Hysterectomy Checkpoints
