Loss of libido?

Hubby has been doing some research now that my TAH has become a reality for him. He went to one message board that was full of women who all say they have lost their libido post-hyst. My MIL who had a hyst years ago (kept one ovary) told me that the sex is great after but my FIL told hubby to be prepared because "everything stops" after they hyst.

I'd like to know from all of you who have had your hyst. Did your libido go down or up or stay the same and did you have a BSO or not?

One month post op and my libido is stronger than it has ever been. Since I havn't been able to actually "do the deed," I can't tell you what sex is like post hyst, but we have touched and petted and all works well. Orgasms are different but still wonderful.
I think that I am more aware of my body now that I have had my hysterectomy. Before, I was so wrapped up in all the female issues surrounding my uterus, cervix and ovaries that I hadn't any room left for the brain to work.
I also had really severe PMS that seemed to be present 3 weeks out of the month and my poor DH was just not interested in being told "no" so often.
I had a really hard time with the BSO decision and wavered back and forth for many weeks. I can honestly say that if I had to do it over again, I would have done it 6 years earlier.
My moods are so placid now. I still laugh. I still cry. I still get mad and stomp my feet. The difference is that I can do all these things and then let it go. Before, I would hold on to my emotions for weeks making myself and those around me miserable.
Please keep in mind that this is only my experience and the decision to keep or rid yourself of your ovaries is a serious and complicated desision that needs to be well thought out and planned. Talk to other women, discuss it with your doctor and your husband, and make sure that you and your husband are 100% sure of any decision that you make. There is no going back once you make this decision but you can always go forward and have them removed at a later time if the need arises.
Ask yourself if there is any kind of risk in keeping them. Does ovarian cancer run in your family? Do you have any kind of ovarian disease? Are you prepared for HRT and all the issues surrounding it? Will you feel like less of a woman without your ovaries? Take out paper and weigh your own individual pro's and con's. Ask lots of questions and follow those questions up with your own research.
I know that I went above and beyond what you were asking, but I know that the BSO issue is a great one with all the ladies in waiting on this site.
In a nutshell, I dotted the BSO/Increased Libido because mine has gone up. As far as everything being lost following a BSO... I guess a lot has been lost. I lost my uterus, my ovaries, my tubes, my rotten attitude, my monthly periods, my cervical cancer, my pads, my rotten attitude, my swollen and aching body, my worries, my rotten attitude, and my negative approach to sex. If I had to loose it again. I would.
WooooooHoooooo I FEEL LIKE A NEW WOMAN! Did I tell you that I lost my rotten attitude?
Great Poll!!
Hugs and loves,
Brenda
(now where is that good looking hunny of mine? )

When I voted on this poll, I accidentally marked BSO/libido down. Could somebody fix this mistake? I meant to mark BSO/libido up.
Oops and sorry about that.

Brendaanne, it's all fixed.

Hi Laura, I kept my ovaries cause I felt there were more than a few years left for them to be working for me and didn't want to start hrt sooner than I needed to. I got clearance last week for sex and it's been like being on a honeymoon . Libido is up, maybe cause having to wait so long and it has been a while since we did it! But loving it and so is dh . No problem either, was nervous at first, but once the rhythm got going, no problem! Jan

TAH/BSO on June 6. The day after my surgery, I sat up in bed and had the URGE! I couldn't believe it! Through all that medication and pain, I wanted sex. I told my DH when he arrived for a visit, and he couldn't believe it. Now, I wasn't exactly the most sexual person before my surgery, but after...well... all I can think about is SEX. I was on the Climera patch for a week, and I swear it had an effect. Now I am on the Estrace pill. I can't even watch TV when couples are kissing. I can't do anything about it yet, but when I can...

I just have to say that is thread is putting my mind "at ease" as I have heard so many different things.

One of my main concerns other than the HRT I'm going to take is, "how is the sensation going to be different?' and " is there going to be enough room with what they call the vaginal cuff?" (yucky thought)
I have my preop tomorrow-it's going to be hard to wait at least six weeks-(I think)!

Well the short-term situation can be different from the long-term situation. But loss of libido (where there was a healthy one before) would come from a hormone imbalance (or a specific prescription drug--a number of them have that side effect). So, finding the right HRT would bring back libido. I just wrote an article about it for www.hormonejungle.com (a branch of hystersisters) so I have a pretty good sense of what the research says. And having hung out in th HJ for two years, I can say that hormone balance works really well as a solution for most women.

OH I am jumping up & down with glee!!!!!!! Well I would be if it didn't hurt to do that! LOL
I have been so worried about the libido issue but afraid to ask because I was afriad of the answer!!!
Sex has been so painful for me for so long that I was thinking well as long as it doesn't hurt I can handle it even if I lose the libido! But what hope you all have given me!
I have even woke my DH up from a sound sleep to tell him about this posting!!! (I think he may think I'm losing my mind! LOL)

Now I am really counting down the days to the castle visit!!!!!

seriously ladies I sat here & cried ready all this I'm so happy. I think I may actually sleep tonight!

I think I love you all!

Kell

I have always had a very high libido, and guess what... 7 weeks post TAH/BSO and it's still VERY MUCH there. The sensations haven't changed a bit, there's plenty of room in there still (and no, my DH is not small), and orgasms are just as easily achieved and feel just as wonderful. I'm 33, on Premarin 1.25. Life is grand.