This is a reality for many women post hysterectomy. The uterus is a muscle that responds rythmically with intercourse producing orgasm for many women. Once the uterus is removed women routinely report lack of sexual response, sensation or desire. Many gynecologists refuse to address this topic or accept this fact. This week we had a patient call the office in tears asking why her gyn had repeatedly denied any association between sexual dysfunction and hysterectomy and yet she was now void of any response or sensation after removing her uterus. She was angry and desperate! This serious and potentially life changing side effect is a reality for many many women. Before removing your uterus…do your research. Hysterectomy can and may alter your life and not in the way you anticipate.
Hysterectomy Side Effects
As we approach the end of this decade, I am sad to report we are still performing almost 700,000 hysterectomies annually; 500,000 are for non-cancerous diseases like Fibroid Tumors, Endometriosis, and Adenomyosis. Many side effects associated with hysterectomy are irreversible and/or negative like: bladder incontinence, constipation, hormone imbalance and sexual dysfunction-no desire or feeling, as well as emotional and psychological damage. If you are interested in a holistic medical approach and want to keep your organs, please do your research. Our practice as been offering women a laser surgical holistic alternative to hysterectomy for over 15 years. Do not agree to a surgery unless you know it is right for you…..
Fertility after Ovarian Cancer-A New Study
Young women might be able to preserve their fertility despite a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Recent studies, based on a publication this month in Cancer, have found that 5 year survival rates are the same for both patients that remove all female organs (both ovaries and uterus) and those that only removed the affected ovary. This is strictly for early diagnosed Stage 1 (one) malignancies in premenopausal women . This is great news for women hoping to preserve their female organs. Regardless of fertility desires, prematurely removing the uterus and ovaries can thrust women into early menopause. This can expose the woman to all the negative side effects of early castration: hot flashes, dry vagina, osteoporosis, heart disease and early death and dementia. Ask your doctor is you can be a candidate to preserve your female organs.
Complications associated with Hysterectomy
The complications associated with a hysterectomy, removal of the uterus, are multiple. Up to 75% of women have negative long term effects after this procedure. Most commonly seen are hormone imbalance (even when ovaries are saved), depression, bladder problems with either incomplete emptying of urine or incontinence, constipation and sexual dysfunction. Short of cancer, and sometimes uterine prolapse, we recommend saving the uterus. If you are having monthly problems……or have been diagnosed with a benign disease like fibroids or adenomyosis, treat the diseases but do NOT remove the uterus, especially as the first line of attack.
