Is there really no hope?

I am now 6 months post op and am depressed thinking that this is me for the rest of my life. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought the removal of my uterus would affect my sexuality so much. I mean seriously, how is it that not having a uterus affected my arousal, my dreams, my nipple sensitivity?? How!!?? Is there anyone on this board who was like this but it eventually came back? I get kissed and where before you feel it deep in the pit of your stomach, that rush of adrenalin.. now, nothing. I’m so devastated. I feel broken..and resigned.

There really is hope, but it can take time, patience and also trial and error in figuring out which hormones at which doses and in which method of delivery is best. I see from previous posts of yours that you are using progesterone and testosterone, plus you still have have your ovaries which may or may not have resumed producing hormones at levels they did before your surgery. That is a lot to balance.

If you aren't keeping a symptom journal, you may want to start one. Also, generally it's best to start out with using just one hormone and work on balancing with it before adding in another. My doctor had me wait 3 months before making changes with my hormone therapy so that each change had time to work/reach optimal levels.

You mentioned in a previous post you made not too long ago that your testosterone level was too high. Too much testosterone isn't any better than not having enough. Has your doctor advised you to cut back on how much of it you use and/or how often you use it?

It did take time for me to feel right after my surgery, and it involved a fair amount of tinkering to get there, but it's absolutely possible, so don't give up. In the general scheme of things you really aren't all that far post-op, though it probably seems a lot longer than six months.

Thanks so much for responding. I guess I’m hanging on to so much regret and anxiety for choosing to remove my uterus that I’m stressing myself with grief. I miss my sexuality, my uterine orgasms, my butterflies when I get kussed, my arousal. I miss my vibrant dreams. I feel sad that I have to try and find the way here with no support from my dr’s.

In regards to the testosterone, after researching it, I don’t think my dr even read much about it. It’s tostran gel and seems to be a high dose for men. She told me to apply it every day but it looks like I should havd either done it every day or oæin smaller doses.
My new labs as of 15th aug shows estrogen-.71 (up from .07) with no reference levels, shbg at 25 (range is 23-100), they didn’t test my fsh levels this time around.

I guess I am a little impatient, bug if I knew for sure things would be better at 1-2 years, then I could calm down a little and be patient

Thanks again!

I wonder if your doctor would be open to prescribing compounded testosterone for you? I used it in a cream form. In a cream base, it can be applied directly to the vulva--something that can't be done with the Tostran Gel because it would burn. A compounding pharmacist can also make the cream in a dose that is suitable for women. Too much testosterone can have unpleasant side effects, but of course not having enough isn't fun either.

You might find it helpful to journal your symptoms and refer to this list: Hormones | Too Much, Too Little.

Hang in there!

I was exactly like that. I was NUMB. Zero sensation. Zero arousal. Nothing!!! I actually had a 4 hour MRI to rule out different diseases because I was numb from head to toe! My skin had no feeling. My vagina and nipples didn't either. I was literally devastated. Hang in there!!! I found several things that gave me that zing and tingle in the pit of my belly when my husband kisses me. TESTOSTERONE! You will need estrogen first as estrogen also contributes to libido. But I use oral slow release testosterone. The other thing for me is vaginal products. I use vaginal estrogen twice a week. I also use a very LOW DOSE vaginal testosterone cream. It must be low dose or you will overdose because the vaginal tissues soak it up more than your inner thigh would. It took me years and many Drs and trial and error. I am 52 years old and happy to say, "YES, you can have your libido back." Let me say though as a side note. I cannot guaranteed you will. Everyone is different. But in my case it worked. Have your testosterone levels checked. Look at the range. Lets say the range is 5 to 55 for the total testosterone. Most of the Drs I've seen want it up at the upper end for an amazing libido. When mine gets up around 40 that's when I feel the sparks.

Yikes. Be careful on the testosterone for men. If you use too much it will have the opposite effect. It will take your libido away even more. How much of that are you using?? A testosterone meant for men is hard to measure. Can you find out your ranges for your estrogen too? Estrogen is also important for libido.

Thank you so much for responding! I’m starting to think it’s probably hormone related. Finding specialists in biodentical/compounding hormones here in Norway is like trying to find snow in the desert lol. I have one who only does progesterone and that has helped with my mood/slerp and night sweats, but struggling with finding anyone knowledgeable about the rest. It’s so frustrating! I pay to send my blood to the US for a more detailed look and I think I need to do that again to see where I am at. I did try an estrogen pill (vaginal) and a cream but I itched so bad I had to stop. I wish I had a good dr in the US that could compound a cream with everything I need!

Will keep trying to find something that works, but good to know that you got those feelings back and there is hope!

And get your testosterone checked! I've had mine too high and I actually had less of a libido when it was too high than I did when it was low. Have you ever had it checked and compared to the ranges? I'm not close to where I need to be that's for sure. But I have seen a light in the distance. Hang in there.

Hey there! Yes, Had a huge blood panel done in nov, testosterone was way too high so have been off it since. Only just started back again, but tiny doses. This hormone guessing game is no picnic! Getting new bloodwork done in a couple months.

Did they test your testosterone level?? I've read that a low SHBG like you have is from high testosterone. I would definitely get mine checked. High testosterone will kill your libido.

Some women are allergic to estrogen vaginal creams BUTTTT I will say that for me when I had vaginal atrophy the first 2 times I used the cream I thought I would scream. I itched so bad it took my breath away. But in 2 more applications the itch was gone and never returned. So for me the itch was the nerves waking up.

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Originally Posted by Lisa----- I am now 6 months post op and am depressed thinking that this is me for the rest of my life. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought the removal of my uterus would affect my sexuality so much. I mean seriously, how is it that not having a uterus affected my arousal, my dreams, my nipple sensitivity?? How!!?? Is there anyone on this board who was like this but it eventually came back? I get kissed and where before you feel it deep in the pit of your stomach, that rush of adrenalin.. now, nothing. I’m so devastated. I feel broken..and resigned.

I am 3 years out. I never knew it was going to be the end for me, but it is so incredibly painful, there is just nothing to enjoy. I have brought it up to my doctor and he just shrugged and said it's not anything he can help me with. I have come to accept that part of my life is over.