It’s important to wait until your scars have healed and any discharge has stopped before resuming penetrative sexual activity. This typically takes 4-6 weeks.
Most doctors advise waiting until then to have sex. However, some women will feel ready sooner than that. It’s important to take it slowly, be patient, communicate and experiment with positions to find what feels comfortable.
Take it Slow
It’s normal to have some mental reservations when it comes to sex after your wife has had a hysterectomy. However, you should not let these concerns completely derail your sexual relationship with her. If you take it slow, and listen to your body, the both of you will enjoy sex more in the long run.
The most important thing is to understand the changes that happen during a hysterectomy. The uterus is removed, but the fallopian tubes and ovaries are often left intact. This means you will no longer be able to get pregnant, but you can still have orgasms. However, the vagina can become tight and dry after a hysterectomy, and natural lubrication levels are reduced. Using a water-based lubricant during sex may help to combat these effects, and you should also avoid positions that rub on the surgical area.
Women who have a hysterectomy usually experience a drop in estrogen and testosterone, which can cause vaginal tightness and dryness. This change in hormones can also lead to a loss of libido and decreased orgasm. Having an open and honest discussion with your partner about these issues can be very helpful, as well as exploring alternative forms of intimacy like cuddling or massage. If these symptoms persist, a doctor can help with hormonal therapy.
Be Patient
It’s important not to rush sexual activity after a hysterectomy. You should wait until you have the doctor’s clear to resume sexual activity, and you may not feel ready right away. In fact, if you go into sex too quickly, it can actually increase your pain and discomfort.
It can also decrease your enjoyment of the experience. You can help your wife find joy again in sexual intimacy by focusing on the positive changes the surgery has made in her life, such as not having to worry about painful intercourse or menstrual bleeding. You can also focus on the benefits of the hysterectomy that have nothing to do with sex, such as being able to get treatment for medical conditions like uterine fibroids or endometriosis, or avoiding the inconvenience of monthly periods.
Some women may experience a decrease in orgasms after a hysterectomy. This is because the removal of the uterus means that the nerves in the area are no longer stimulated. However, this is not true for all women and is only the case when the ovaries are removed as well. Using a vaginal lubricant can help make this type of sensation less intense and can even lead to more orgasms in some women. It is also important to remember that having a hysterectomy does not mean that you are unable to have children. If you are interested in having more children, there are many options available, including adoption.
Listen to Your Body
Many women who have hysterectomies report a renewed interest in sexual activity. This is especially true if they were suffering from pain, bleeding, or fear of becoming pregnant before the surgery.
For women who have ovaries removed during a total hysterectomy, the sudden drop in estrogen and other hormones can cause painful sex. However, this is not inevitable and can be addressed by using a lubricant during sex to prevent friction from rubbing on healing incision areas.
If you’re having trouble getting orgasms, try a different position and/or toys to see if it helps. It’s also important to avoid positions that strain the incision sites until they heal. If you’re having lingering pain, talk to your doctor right away.
While most women know on a logical level that their femininity is not tied to having a uterus, it can be hard to break down years of social and cultural conditioning that link sex to fertility. Fortunately, most men find that sex after a hysterectomy is not significantly different or that their partners are less interested in them as a result of the surgery. The most important thing is to take it slow and listen to your body. With patience and good communication, your sex life will return to normal in no time. Korin Miller is a freelance writer and wellness advocate with work published in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She specializes in relationships and personal development, with a particular focus on female sexuality.
Talk to Your Partner
The best way to help your partner during this time is through open communication. Make sure to discuss the physical, emotional and sexual aspects of your relationship with your wife so that you both understand what she is experiencing during sex after hysterectomy and what you can do to make it more enjoyable for her. For example, some women experience changes in natural lubrication and might find that penetrative sex feels uncomfortable or painful. This can be eased by using lubrication and trying different positions.
During surgery, doctors may also remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes, which can lead to a loss of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. This can result in the woman feeling less sexually satisfied and can also cause symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and changes in libido.
Some women who have had a hysterectomy say that their sex life is the same or even better after the procedure, but it is important for patients to listen to their body and to take things slowly. It is also recommended that patients wait until their scars have healed and any discharge has stopped before resuming sexual activity. For many women, this can be around 4-6 weeks. For others, it might take longer. However, it is crucial that the patient and their doctor are in agreement about when to recommence sexual activity.
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