Today we are going to talk about hysterectomy. Surgery that removes the uterus still raises many doubts in women and in this post I will clarify what the surgery is like, what its effects are and how to deal with recovery.
I recorded a special video for my channel talking about the topic. To watch, just click below.
Why do hysterectomy?
Surgery removes the uterus and can also remove some organs such as the tubes and ovaries. It serves to mitigate advances in cervical cancer or in cases and also assists in the treatment of pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis and uterine prolapse (when the uterus moves below the vagina because of vaginal flaccidity ).
Hysterectomy is also linked to an emotional and psychological issue, and I always like to remember that we are women not because we have an organ or not, but because of the role we play in society, in our family and in our jobs. I even advise that women who undergo this surgery seek a therapist first to help them overcome this issue.
One of the points that generates many doubts in women is hormone replacement. When only the uterus is removed, there is no need for so much replacement, but if the ovaries are also removed during surgery, then monitoring is necessary so that you can balance the medications to your routine.
Types of hysterectomy
There are three types of surgery:
- Partial hysterectomy : removal of the upper part of the uterus and cervix
- Complete hysterectomy : removal of the uterus, including the cervix
- Radical hysterectomy : removal of the uterus and ligaments of the organ, cervix and tissue of the vagina around the cervix
Remembering that it is always important to be up to date with your exams and who will recommend the surgery is the doctor.
Care after surgery
After surgery, it is normal to experience abdominal cramps, having difficulty urinating and a little bleeding through the vagina for a few days, in addition to constipation. The doctor will prescribe remedies for these symptoms, and you can help fight the problem by including fiber-rich foods in your diet and staying hydrated.
Recovery will depend on the type of surgery you have had, and varies from one to eight weeks. I will talk about some questions that women ask me about specific care:
- Dressings – it is important to keep the operation area clean, washing it with water and mild soap
- Sex – ask your doctor for guidance before resuming sexual relations, as it is necessary to respect the time for healing, and each body reacts in a different way
- Efforts – avoid carrying weights and doing physical activities for at least three months
- Cramps – if you only removed the uterus, but remained with the ovaries intact, you will continue menstruating and having cramps
- Menopause – if you removed your ovaries during surgery, it is possible that your menopause symptoms will become more pronounced, especially if you were still menstruating
How is sex after hysterectomy?
As I said, each body reacts to surgery in a different way, and you need a follow-up from your doctor to know when you can have sex again without this hindering your healing. But many students sent me messages asking if it is true that the woman has no lubrication after having the surgery.
If the cervix and ovaries were removed, there is a decrease in lubrication. With this fall, the vaginal canal becomes more dry, which causes some discomfort during sex. To help you in this situation (after all, nobody here wants to be without sex!), I will point you to two very easy solutions:
- Lubricants – there are several on the market, some water-based and others silicone. Try some of them and find out what you like best.
- Pompoarism – intimate gymnastics exercises increase blood flow in the vaginal canal, and this increase in flow helps to improve natural lubrication
Do I lose libido by removing the uterus?
This is another question that I receive a lot. Well, the answer depends. As we talked at the beginning of the text, if you only removed the uterus, there is not so much hormonal change, so the libido is maintained. However, if you have removed the ovaries, there will naturally be a drop in libido due to the hormonal gap. For this, medical monitoring is necessary so that hormone replacement is done in a manner appropriate to your body.
What about pleasure? Our pleasure is related to the stimulation of the clitoris and the vaginal canal, in addition, of course, to being relaxed. So, the pleasure is still there, it’s just a matter of you working it out on your psychological.
