Sex??

If I could put in my 2 cents:

My Dr has not yet released me for full blown intercourse. However, I have to say that I still have desire. In fact, I have much more desire than before the hyster.

You see, before surgery, I was in so much pain, I couldn't stand it. I spent over 6 months on narcotic pain meds just to get through my days. I am SOOOO much better now.

It all depends on what is wrong before the hyster. Keep in mind that everyone has a different story. Mine has turned out to be the best decision I ever made.

I can truthfully say that I do not have a lube problem, that part is obvious. I am still capable of orgasm. It is different, but still pleasurable. I can't wait the 10 more days until DH and I have the go-ahead - that will be 8 weeks.

Listen to your body. Try everything else you can until there is nothing left to try. Then let your Dr do the hyster when you can't stand it any more. That's what I didn.

This is a very interesting thread to me, as I face surgery in a few weeks. I've decided tokeep my ovaries, but even so it sounds as though maybe they'll not be back to normal for awhile - maybe never! Great sex is a very important part of our relationship and would be devastating to have it destroyed.

However, here's my question: I been told I have adenomyosis, and though my periods are still relatively normal, the pain is constant and increasing. The strange thing is that only recently I seem to have lost all desire. I don't know if it's just the pain, or if natural menopause is already setting in, or something else wierd is going on. When I do have an orgasm, it's uncomfortable just as it's building up to a climax! . Intercourse is now also uncomfortable now, and I pay for it later with increased pain. The only reason we're even having sex is that I'm making a conscious effort - I haven't had the heart to confess this yet to my DH - he's already anxious and skeptical about surgery providing relief!

So, I'm hoping that after I've recovered from surgery everything will get back to normal or some semblance thereof, but if it doesn't, believe me, my husband and I will do what it takes to make adjustments. HRT, counseling, candles and porno movies and a positive attitude - maybe even Viagra for women!

Thanks all of you for sharing the good, bad, and ugly - and I wish the best for myself and all ofyou!

Let me just say that this is a woman helping woman website and is not supposed to replace good medical data and sound medical opinions.

Bear in mind that some of the women here are several months/years down the road from hysterectomy and oophorectomy and some of them are just a few weeks post op. It can take several months to get problems accurately diagnosed. And likewise it can take several months to accurately assess a physical condition of your own.

We do not speak in absolutes here, because one statement doesn't cover everyone...nor does one set of medical data. There is one fact that applies - there have been VERY few reliable studies done on women pre hysterectomy and post hysterectomy and likewise pre-oopherectomy and post-oopherectomy to determine if hysterectomy adversely affects sexuality. There does seem to be two questions that are asked when sexuality is negatively impacted: Is it hormonal? - or - Is it physical damage? (physical damage not being neglegence of the surgeon in any way but just from the physical trauma of the surgery itself). If it's hormonal, then that can be remedied (in most cases), if it's not and there has been physical damage (nerve damage or reduced blood flow) that is not so easily remedied. Those things are very real risks. No one is saying to avoid hysterectomy at all costs because of those risks, just merely that they should be considered along with the potential benefits.

For accurate information based on many, many studies please check out www.hormonejungle.com for the libido article by Trish. Trish worked very hard to get the article together and wracked her brain trying to decipher the information and whether or not it was indeed reliable.

Thanks trish!!