Each year, over 600,000 women lose their uterus during a surgical procedure called a hysterectomy. About 90% of these women did not require such a drastic form of treatment for their conditions. A large number of these women are treated for uterine fibroids or adenomyosis through surgery when there is a much less invasive option available.
Today we are going to talk about some potential side effects a hysterectomy can have that impact a woman’s most personal relationships and sex after a hysterectomy.
What Does A Hysterectomy Involve?
There are different methods used to perform a hysterectomy and different configurations depending on which reproductive organs are removed depending on the reasons for the surgery. It may involve removing the entire uterus and cervix, or just part of the uterus, leaving the cervix in place. Sometimes, the ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed.
There are three techniques that can be used to remove the uterus, which include:
Open or Abdominal Hysterectomy
The uterus is removed through a large incision in the lower abdomen, which allows the surgeon to have a clear view and better access to the reproductive organs. It is often used for larger uterine fibroids or when cancer is suspected.
Vaginal Hysterectomy
An incision is made in the vagina and the uterus is removed without any abdominal incisions. This technique is less invasive than an open hysterectomy and has a shorter recovery time. This method can be used if the uterus is not too large and there are no other complications.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
This hysterectomy surgery involves the surgeon making several small incisions in the abdomen and using them to insert a laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera) and other surgical instruments into the surgical site. The surgeon can view the surgery in real-time on a nearby screen and remove the uterus and other reproductive organs as needed.
What We Know About The Uterus
Researchers have discovered that the uterus is connected to many women’s health issues and is not just for reproduction. Studies show that removing the uterus, particularly at a young age, can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. They also discovered links to emotional health, depression, anxiety, premature aging, cognitive issues (like Parkinson’s disease), and memory problems. Additionally, the uterus is a structural part of a woman’s internal organs, and removing it takes away some of the support used by other organs. This can lead to vaginal or bladder prolapse, which can create situations of painful sex after a hysterectomy or the total avoidance of intimacy.
Research is ongoing, but the findings to date demonstrate how important it is to a woman’s health that they retain their uterus.
What Should I Know About Sex After A Hysterectomy?
Many women have concerns about whether anything will change in their sex life after they undergo hysterectomy surgery. Each person is different, and the truth is that no one knows for sure how the surgery will affect any specific person. The impact a hysterectomy will have on your sexual function depends on which nerves and organs are affected during your specific surgery.
For women who are dealing with debilitating bleeding and pain every month resulting from uterine fibroids, a hysterectomy might seem like a good solution, but it is important that they are aware of all the potential side effects, including those that may affect their sex life. They also need to be aware that if they have been told they need a hysterectomy to be free from fibroid symptoms, uterine fibroid embolization is a better and safer option that does not involve surgery and your uterus stays put.
What Are The Potential Issues With Sex After A Hysterectomy?
In 2015, a comprehensive study review was conducted in Iran to look at how a hysterectomy affected a woman’s quality of life and her sexual function. The study found that most women saw improvements in their sex lives because they were no longer battling terrible symptoms every month. This is understandable, but it must be acknowledged that it was the elimination of their symptoms and not their uterus that made the difference. The same outcome could have been achieved without this invasive surgery.
Other women and their sexual partners reported many concerns related to sexual dysfunction, including:
- The desire to have sex decreased.
The ovaries produce testosterone, which influences a woman’s sexual desire. If the ovaries are removed during a hysterectomy, the sudden decrease in hormone levels can reduce her sex drive.
- They experienced a decrease in vaginal sensation;
- Vaginal dryness;
- Loss of orgasm.
Depending on the method and scope of the surgery, a hysterectomy can impact a woman’s ability to have an orgasm. A study by Boston University found that during a total hysterectomy, nerves surrounding the cervix can be damaged and affect internal orgasms.
- Painful sex after the hysterectomy;
- Partners were unable to penetrate deeply because the vagina had been shortened;
- Anxiety and emotional repercussions.
The emotional toll of feeling less feminine and attractive can cause depression after a hysterectomy, which can diminish the desire for and enjoyment of sex.
You Do Not Need A Hysterectomy To Eliminate Fibroid Symptoms.
If the symptoms of fibroids are ruining your quality of life, but you don’t want to be worried about things like how to increase your sex drive after a hysterectomy, having painful sex after a hysterectomy due to vaginal dryness, or finding comfortable sex positions after a hysterectomy, then contact the Atlanta Fibroid Center right away. There is no reason to suffer for even one more day when, in under an hour, we can help you by permanently eliminating your fibroids.
We would love to tell you about a much less invasive option that can give you the sexual freedom you desire without having to sacrifice your uterus or trade one set of problems for another. Countless women have shared their stories with us during their consultation about how they were only given surgery as an option to treat their fibroids, and their OB/GYN did not inform them about uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). This is a very common story and happens because UFE is not performed by a gynecologist but by a specially trained interventional radiologist like Dr. John Lipman with the Atlanta Fibroid Center.
How Does UFE Work To Get Rid Of Fibroids Symptoms?
For women who are suffering from uterine fibroids or adenomyosis, sex can be painful and filled with anxiety because of symptoms like heavy bleeding, bloating, pelvic pressure, fatigue, and pain. These issues often lead to a decreased desire for intimacy and strain their relationships so they eventually seek help from their OB/gyn. There’s no need to rush into hysterectomy surgery, which can increase the risk of future health problems and sexual dysfunction when you have UFE as an option.
Uterine fibroid embolization is a procedure that preserves the uterus and is done as an outpatient in just under an hour. Recovery time is typically around a week, and you’ll be able to go home the same day to recover in your own comfortable space.
No one knows why fibroids grow, but we do know that they need a viable blood supply to remain alive, so they hitch themselves to the uterine artery through a smaller blood vessel and steal blood from it. UFE cuts off this blood supply by blocking these tiny blood vessels, and the fibroids shrink and die.
It is very important that the procedure be performed by an interventional radiologist who has been specially trained and has extensive experience in the UFE procedure. During the procedure, the doctor uses a special catheter that is fed through an artery in the groin and injects tiny particles into the small arteries that transport the blood to the fibroids. Once the procedure is completed, patients are observed for a few hours and then discharged to go home. Most women recover within about a week and find relief from their fibroid symptoms as early as their first menstrual cycle.
Contact The Atlanta Fibroid Center For Help
For over two decades, the professionals at the Atlanta Fibroid Center have been helping women eliminate the painful, life-interrupting symptoms of uterine fibroids.
UFE offers a safe, effective, and quick non-surgical option for treating uterine fibroids, avoiding the need for a hysterectomy. It allows you to keep your uterus and your fertility. Many women who undergo UFE later successfully conceive and deliver healthy babies.
If your OB/GYN has recommended a hysterectomy as a treatment for fibroids, you are a candidate for UFE, and the Atlanta Fibroid Center can help. Set up your consultation today to find out more about UFE and how it can help you preserve the quality of your sex life.
