What I'm the most worried about...

Hi ladies-

I'm seeing my doctor on June 4th to discuss a repeat ablation vs. vag hyster. I've been through so much, I'm really ready for my uterus to come out. I also need a repair of a rectocele and other associated "childbirth trauma".

What I'm the most worried about, and the most afraid to discuss with my physician is this...

What is sex like after a hysterectomy?

Is penetration painful?

I'd be losing my cervix as well. How is the sensation different? Does the vagina shorten? Do orgasms change?

I'm so nervous about this! I'm only 31, single again, and certainly don't want to lose my sexuality!

Please ladies, fill me in on all the details!

THANK YOU!

This was my biggest fear also. But I can honestly say that sex is better now than ever. There's no continual bleeding, so we can do it whenever we want. I've had no pain, no problem with dryness, and orgasms are as strong as ever. This surgery was the best thing I've ever done.

I know this isn't probably what you want to hear, but here goes.... "it depends".

The reason I say this is when you ask this question you'll get every answer from "Sex is better than ever" to "My sex life has been ruined". Your results will depend on your actual procedure, your physical condition at the time of surgery, and a whole host of other variables.

I can tell you that the average vagina is about 3-1/2 inches long to begin with -- although as with everything, there are variations among women. (For some reason, this fact surprised me.) What happens with sexual excitement is that the vagina expands and lengthens to accomodate your partner. So your vagina will continue to be able to stretch to accomodate your partner after surgery. This was a great relief to me.

I can say that my post-op sex life is different than it was before. It isn't better or worse -- but it is different. It took several months before I really knew how my body was going to react.

One thing's for sure -- you need to have this surgery for medical reasons. If having a hysterectomy is the best thing for you in a medical sense (and you would be well served by getting several opinions on this before proceeding), then it's much easier to take whatever consequences may result. Most women do very well after hysterectomy, but a percentage do not, and if you're in that percentage, it won't matter one bit if "most" women have no problems.

hello , i had TAH best thing i had done, my surgery was 4-26-07 so no sex yet, still recovering but i do feel better, i think the not knowing is scary , i was scared to death before my surgery, but im glad i had done,