Hysterectomy
Hi, I am 36 years old with three children that are teens. I had a complete hysterectomy at the age of 29 and everything went down hill for me from that day. I lost my total sex drive, before the surgery I had a very High sex drive and all my husband had to do was touch me and we we're at it. But once I had the hysterectomy everything diminished including our 13 year marriage. I have lost all feeling in my breast and nothing turns me on anymore. I am in a relationship with someone that has a high sex drive but we never have it, and when we do, I don't enjoy it because I lost all feeling down there and theres no way I can tell him. What do you suggest I do about this. The surgery was the worst thing I could have ever done to myself.
PART 1 RESPONSE
Your gynecologic organs include the uterus, the opening of which is the cervix, the uterine tubes and the ovaries. The ovaries produce the vast majority of your body's estrogen and at least half of your body's testosterone at the age of 29. Testosterone plays a major role in sexuality - both desire for sex and sexual responsiveness, including the ability to achieve orgasm.
The term "total hysterectomy" or "complete hysterectomy" denotes removal of the uterus, including the cervix. Many hysterectomies are done with the ovaries and tubes left in, and the medically defined term for this is "total hysterectomy". The technical term for removal of the tubes and ovaries is "salpingoophorectomy'. However many non-gynecologists use the term "complete or total hysterectomy" to indicate removal of everything - the uterus and cervix, both tubes and both ovaries.
RESPONSE PART 2:
The defined medical terminology for removal of the entire uterus along with tubes and ovaries is "total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingoophorectomy". If by total hysterectomy you mean that the tubes and ovaries were removed along with the entire structure of the uterus, then you sustained a loss of estrogen and testosterone production with removal of those ovaries. Even when ovaries are left in place at the time of hysterectomy, some studies show that ovarian production of estrogen and testosterone diminishes with the loss of the uterus, possibly due to less robust blood flow to the ovaries when the uterine blood flow is interrupted. Women sustaining removal of ovaries before natural menopause may report a loss of sexual urges, or libido, in addition to diminished response to sexual stimulation. The term for this condition is "surgical menopause".
PART 3 RESPONSE:
You may benefit from a consultation with a menopause specialist with specific skills in female sexual function evaluation and management. It may be possible to restore a hormone balance that will rejuvenate your sexuality.
I am so sorry. I understand more than you might expect.
I can't add anything to the medical advice given. But let me add something else. Men and Women (and particularly women) have or don't have sex for a lot of reasons beyond self pleasure. Sometimes it has nothing to do with feeling any physical pleasure but is emotional or mental in nature. Sex is had for money, for love, for commitment, for self esteem, power and control attention, closeness, intimacy, giving, and SO many other reasons good and bad.
I suspect the surgery may have also affected your self esteem, but I also suspect there is something else missing in the marriage? Not sure just asking a question. Maybe not.
As Lauri mentioned above, not having the hormones you used to have before the surgery will significantly impact your sensation in your breasts and genitals, your level of sexual desire, as well as your ability and intensity of orgasm. Some women find that hormone replacement of testosterone is very helpful, while others do well with just estrogen replacement. If you had a hysterectomy that young, there may be reasons why hormones may not be recommended (usually just estrogen). Either way - you need to tell your Gynecologist how important this is to you so that they can work with you to get your sex life resuscitated. If your Gynecologist seems to dismiss it or just tells you to use lube, please find another Gynecologist.