After surgery to remove the uterus, also called a total hysterectomy, a woman’s body undergoes changes that can influence her physical and mental health, from changes in libido to sudden changes in the menstrual cycle, for example.
Generally, recovery after surgery lasts 6 to 8 weeks, but some changes may last longer, one of the most important recommendations is that women receive emotional support to learn how to cope with all the changes, avoiding emotions. negative conditions that can lead to depression.
Learn more about how surgery is performed and what recovery looks like.
Once the uterus is removed, the woman stops bleeding during menstruation because there is no uterine tissue to remove, although the menstrual cycle continues.
However, if the ovaries are also removed, such as in a total hysterectomy, the woman may experience sudden menopause symptoms, even if she is not older, because the ovaries no longer produce the necessary hormones. So, to relieve symptoms, such as hot flashes and excessive sweating, your gynecologist may recommend a hormone replacement.
Look for signs that you are entering early menopause
Most women who have surgery to remove the uterus do not have any alterations in their private lives, as surgery is usually performed in severe cases of cancer and therefore many women may even experience an increase in sexual pleasure due to lack of absence. pain during intimate contact.
However, women who are not yet in menopause when undergoing surgery may feel less willing to have sex due to a decrease in vaginal lubrication that can cause severe pain. However, this problem can be mitigated by using water-based lubricants, for example. See also other natural ways to combat vaginal dryness.
In addition, due to certain emotional changes, the woman may also feel less feminine due to a lack of uterus and may unconsciously alter the woman’s sexual will. In these cases, it is ideal to talk to a psychologist or therapist, in an attempt to overcome this emotional barrier.
After surgery, the woman goes through a period of mixed emotions during which she begins to feel relief because she has treated the cancer, or the problem that caused the surgery, and because she no longer has symptoms. However, this well-being can easily be replaced by the feeling of being less feminine due to the absence of the uterus and therefore causing negative feelings.
Thus, after a hysterectomy, many doctors recommend that women perform psychotherapy sessions to learn how to identify their emotions and prevent them from controlling their lives, avoiding the development of serious problems, such as depression.
Here’s how to identify if you develop depression: 7 signs of depression.
Some women may report easier weight gain after surgery, especially during the recovery period, but there is still no specific cause for weight to appear.
However, some theories that have been emphasized include the imbalance of sex hormones and there are more male hormones in the body. When this happens, many women tend to accumulate more fat in the abdominal area, which also happens in men.
Also, because the recovery period can also be quite long, some women may no longer be as active as they were before surgery, which eventually contributes to body weight gain.