Sex After Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is one of the most common treatment for uterine cancer. Many women fear that after hysterectomy, they might lose their desire for sex. It has been reported that some women feel a reduction in orgasm intensity after hysterectomy . But is this true?

There are a few reasons why a women may fear that hysterectomy will reduce their enjoyment of sex:
1) Hysterectomy may shorten the vagina and some women reported failure to lubricate which can cause discomfort.
2) If the ovaries are removed during the surgery (total hysterectomy), may cause a severe drop in women hormones (estrogen) which may cause vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

However, in the largest study of it's kind ever conducted, a 1999 study by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers found quite the opposite is true. The sex life of participants of the study improves positively after hysterectomy. The majority of the 1,101 women who took part in the study was followed up for 2 years after hysterectomy. Overall, the frequency of sexual relations increased after surgery.

The study also found that:
1) Sexual activity increased after hysterectomy
2) Orgasm frequency increased - 72% experienced orgasm after surgery compared with 63% before surgery.
3) Stronger orgasm - women in study reported strong orgasm almost 15% more frequently after surgery.
4) Less pain during sex - Women in the study group experiencing pain during sex drop from 41% before surgery to 15% 2 years after surgery.

All these are good news for women who have fear of the side effects of hysterectomy on their sexual life. Common beliefs that hysterectomy leads to sexual problems are proven to be the opposite by the study. Researchers of the study attributes the improvement in sexual interest to the relief of pain and discomfort from complications of the disease before surgery. The freedom from vaginal bleeding and elimination of pregnancy possibility may also contribute to the improvements.

It is also important to note that not all hysterectomy procedures are the same, thus there will be different effects on the sexual functioning of a woman who has undergone a hysterectomy procedure which removes her ovaries or one which did not. Consult your doctor and have him/her explain to you the full implications and the choices of procedure available to you before you make any decisions.