Can someone tell me?

Is it normal to lose your sex drive after a hysterectomy? I have not had my surg yet but I am worried about this. I know that I have to have this done but I want to know what to exspect afterwards... Please let me know...

Ty for your help
Savanna aka Amanda

This is such a hard questions--no one can really predict the outcome of a hyst, and everyone's experience is unique. That being said, loss of sex drive happens to some women, but I would imagine that a lot depends on which of your "girly bits" you lose--perhaps the more hormone-producing organs that go, the greater your chance of having your libido affected? In my case, although I lost all my parts--uterus, ovaries-- my sex drive is pretty healthy. Not really any change from before the surgery, much to dh's relief. And mine.

Stella Blue,
Thank you for sharing, I too am seeking info on this. I am very concerned about this. My excessive bleeding over this past year has really put a crimp on sex and although DH is very understanding I'm hoping that things will get better rather than worse after my surgery. Any other advice or info is much appreciated.

If you are looking for more info, try clicking on the resources section at the very top of the page, under the hystersisters logo. There are several resources dealing with just this question.

Hi Savanna!

My sex drive & enjoyment has increased dramatically! I'm thinking it was the combination of estrogen (TAH+ovaries) and just plan feeling better! I had been so weak and so drained for so many years that sex was the furthest thing on my mind. Besides needing to take intercourse a bit easydue to sensitivity in the upper vagina (no pain during but sometimes after ~ nerve pain), all's really very well! I'm one year post-op and happy. Oh, I still have a few little "nerve" twinges but nothing to complain about. I'm now working my hormone levels a bit to drop down the estrogen and add progesterone so we'll see how it goes. If I don't like it, I'll switch back! I've enjoyed by WILD side again!

Best to you ~

Here's my experience:

No sex drive problems before surgery -- but of course I was uncomfortable having sex during my period because of the mess. So there wasn't much sex.

"Different" sex drive after surgery. It's not more or less, but I'm still a little tentative because I'm still healing. I must say, though -- the orgasmic response is more intense. Forget the uterine contractions -- it's all about the clitoris, in my opinion. And they didn't do anything with that.

I feel as though I'm harder to arouse, but dh says it's easier -- so who knows?

Actually, I had a really weird experience about 7 weeks post-op. For the first time in many years, I actually got aroused to the point of having to "do something about it" (sorry for the TMI) while watching a movie -- and it wasn't even erotic! That was something that used to happen to me in my twenties.

I think it just takes time for everything to get back to normal. At least that's true in my case. Of course, I still have my ovaries, so there aren't hormone considerations in my case.

Hope this helps!

HELLO WILD WOMEN!!

Sounds like we've had a lot of ESTROGEN rushes in here!

MJD, I was so WILD a few weeks after surgery that I couldn't stand myself either. I had sex on the mind 24/7 and was also acting like I was 20 again! It had to be the estrogen! In my case, I was peri-menopausal before surgery and my hormones had been decreasing rapidly. So by adding full strength estrogen (at the levels of our 20's) I went wild! My poor husband couldn't run fast enough! I think I scared him!

Anyway, this all sounds very normal until everything settles down a bit. I "ditto" so much of what you said about better organisms and feeling the intensity in the clitoris. I actually prefer it to the past uterine contractions as they actually hurt! No more of those!

I also think the lack of "inhabition" helps, too. No worry about getting pregnant or interference with periods. Also, I'm of the age that my child is grown and just about on her own that we can be much more spontaneous in the house as she's never around! Add up all that "spice" and it acts as a great motivator.

NOW to get my husband to see the MD for some Viagra!! At 52 his punch is "pale" in comparison to 5 years ago! Why is that!! We get fixed and they get disinterested! Mid-life I suppose. Now I can see why us sexy middle aged women find younger men!!

Happy enjoyment of our new bods and spicy sex lives!

HI Amanda

This is a question alot of women wonder about. Some women have no problem in this area while other women really struggle with the lack of libido. I think Alot of that depends on your ovaries. I think that if your ovaries are removed you have a better chance of loosing your sex drive verses keeping the ovaries.

I had my ovaires removed and did notice about 1 year after my hysterectomy, my sex drive was gone. I was able to replace the missing libido with a testosterone cream. Now I have a better sex drive than before my surgery.

I am 10 months post op and feel as though my sex life improved also, and I thought it was pretty good before

I had everthing removed but the cervix because my doc had to leave it, but I agree with mjd, and hvnbnd, I also have more intense orgasms, they are clitoral and I believe they are more intense than my uterine were....I used to feel cramping but not anymore...

But, its like an earlier poster said no one can predict the outcome of the surgery, or whether you will have a good sex life or not, but not all women lose their sex drive. But, even if you do, trouble tabby is right alot of women have had success with testosterone cream. Hope all goes well for you.

I'd have to say that after one year I've slowed down a bit, too. I'm WILD in my mind so that makes up for what the reality is! I'm in the middle of balancing the hormone ratios and will likely add testosterone sometime in the future. One step of "patience" at a time!