Hysterectomy keep or not keep cervix

[Shazzy786]

Hi ladies
I’m 46 and just really worried about up coming laparoscopic hysterectomy due to heavy prolonged periods/ anemia in next few months.
did you keep cervix or not . Does it affect sex/orgasm? Any other sexual changes.Do you still have premenstrual symptoms ( sore boobs mood swings gas etc) after hysterectomy .
how long is hospital stay. Any complications . Would you recommend it over abalation. Thank you so very much in advance for your replies! From a very confused and worried lady.

I had a total hysterectomy 3 weeks ago, plus fallopian tubes. Recovery has been fine so far, pretty easy in fact. Stayed 2 mights in hospital. I’m tired but doing normal stuff now except any lifting of course. Feeling good. Too early about the rest I’m afraid!

I've decided to write my experience to give another perspective. I had terrible fibroids & extreme bleeding so chose to have a hysterectomy. During the consultation I brought up the issue of sex because for me, the cervix is key to my orgasm. There were students in the room and it was used as a teaching point. During orgasm the female vaginal contractions make the cervix 'flutter' and it tips forwards to facilitate contact with sperm. Some people are very aware of this fluttering, others, less so. If they'd taken my cervix out that would have been the end of the deepest sensation of my orgasms. I kept my ovaries and had a natural menopause. The surgery was successful but took a good 6 months to get over.

On a 2nd note, ask how they're going to close the scar. I had mine glued shut and it's the most perfect tiny thin line. No stitches needed.

Hi longtompot I’m in east London! It’s ongoing pre covid kept cancelling appointments and then needed further ultrasound and mris to check everything else was fine. Finally last week after discussion with consultant ( who was pushing for abalation) did I I get go ahead for hysterectomy which I believe is better for my at my stage of life cannot stand periods anymore . Started periods at 12 and have always been heavy with large clotts and very very painful. Prefer labour pain to periods. 6 pregnancy’s and loved every min of them all.

I wish you all the best and a very healthy recovery. Please keep me updated. Thank you

Thank you so much for your detailed experience . I too have very strong orgasms radiating through to my uterus whic contrast really strongly! I was leaning towards having my cervix removed too now I’m not so sure will discuss with surgeon have requested a phone consultation. Will mention the scar too.

Thank you for your kind words!

I’m so glad it worked out for you

I had a hysterectomy and cervix removed, due to cervical cancer so no option to keep cervix. I do still have vault smears.

Orgasms definitely feel different without the contractions of the cervix. I find I orgasm more easily but it's not as intense. I'm used to it now and have a healthy sex life, but found it quite upsetting at first.

I had a total hysterectomy including cervix removed due to massive fibroids. The scar is from the bottom of my ribcage to the bottom of my public bone, it's huge. My vagina feels much shorter and sex is difficult now. I'm pleased to hear that this isn't other people's experience.

I had a fibroid which went rogue - should have had it cauterised but didn't have any advice to that effect. It grew and I had a total hysterectomy. There is a "cuff" where my cervix was. Because of the unknown nature of the fibroid at the time it all had to go and I had to have a horizontal scar - not pretty. However my orgasms and sex are as good if not better than before . I am on HRT gel.

Hi Appin, Thank you for your honesty. It was quite embarrassing for me to ask on here about this situation which is really playing my mind, it’s one of those things you can’t really ask anyone close to you openly. I am really glad it worked out for you. My only problem is painful prolonged heavy periods due to which I’m constantly on iron meds and feel awful all the time. Maybe I will speak with consultant regarding keeping my cervix as have read numerous times it can affect orgasms through nerve damage but no conclusive evidence found. Let’s hope my fears come untrue. All the best.

I would say, the fact I don't have periods has done wonders for my sex life! Taking everything into account, my sex life now is better than before, even with slightly less powerful orgasms.

I kept my ovaries, as they are useful in terms of hormones. I had hysterectomy four years ago and am not yet menopausal. Though it is hard to tell!

I don't think of a cervix as being useful like ovaries. And there will always be a risk of cancer. But I didn't have any option, so can't pretend to understand how you feel.

Personally, I'd have my cervix removed. It doesn't really have a 'purpose' like your ovaries (you'd go into immediate menopause) and it removes one of the places you can get cancer. It may change the way you orgasm or the sensation of them but shouldn't stop you from being able to overall so something you'd get used to. I imagine things also changed after birthing DC if you had a vaginal birth!

One last question ladies, does hysterectomy shorten your vagina. Please answer honestly. Thank you.

I wasn't aware of how long my vagina was before my hysterectomy but my new partner after was very well endowed and it didn't cause a problem.

I can't see how it would. If you Google image the anatomy the cervix isn't the 'top' like a lid. It's to the side. After all if you use a menstrual disc you push it past the cervical opening to the top of your vagina to place it in. Plus the vagina is super stretchy so maybe some positions may feel shorter if at all but not others.

I had a hysterectomy a little while ago, I kept my cervix. Ultimately the less removed the better in my view, all these things help to keep your structures in place surely.

And yes @longtompot you should keep your ovaries too as they release hormones and keep you going a good while. Otherwise you head right into menopause.

I've had the lot out due to endometrial cancer. I was worried that my vagina would be shorter - not the case, and that orgasms would be different - also not the case. Good luck with the op OP.

Thank you so much FestivePinkFairy, it really means a lot to hear from ladies like you who have actually had the procedure and can honestly reassure others like myself. I too have been double minded about a few aspects of the op but day by day am starting to feel more confident. Can I ask if you don’t mind how long ago did you have yours and any problems with any kind of prolapse before or after as I have both Rectocele and uterine. Consultant only wants to deal with removing the womb and not fix prolapse which I understand can be done at same time. She insisted that it can happen again if they fix it. Any info would be great.

Just to reiterate what others have said

I haven't had the procedure myself but one of my best friends has. She chose to have her cervix removed so she didn't need to worry about cervical cancer and she has a very active and enjoyable sex life (far better than mine and I still have my cervix!)

She said sex didn't feel any different afterwards

Odd what our minds wander to thinking of things in the small hours when sleep isn't forthcoming.
I'm having uterus, cervix and ovaries removed and did wonder if there'd be a gap, would other internal organs move and fill it...Will it just be a gap forever.
Strange thoughts

My feeling from the NHS was that if they are going in to do surgery that they then remove most parts as they " don't want to have to go back in again later". This was said to me and I understood that as I had a suspicious mass.The most important part of all of this is that you push for HRT if you will go into a surgical menopause and be vigilant about any things that happened eg common UTIs.

Hi ladies just got my surgery date on 16th March, please give me reassurance as now it’s more real to me than before and I’m really all over the place even considering backing out which I know I can’t/won’t as my quality of life at the moment is really really low due to heavy/painful prolonged periods. Please tell me your experience before during and after. Thank you so much for all your help.

@Shazzy786 I had a hysterectomy about 7 or 8 years ago. I chose not to keep my cervix for the simple reason that it meant no more smears. Sex was unchanged afterwards although I'm 54 now so my libido has naturally reduced. My recovery was very quick, apart from being tired I had no symptoms and it was a walk in the park compared to two C sections.

I'll give a different perspective on it.

I'm 32 and had a hysterectomy due to endometriosis 3 or 4 months ago. It was never a question if I would keep my cervix because it was so heavily affected (I had the choice with ovaries and chose to get rid but that's another thread). To be honest, apart from the medically induced menopause which was just something else, not having my cervix has been the worst part.
Yes there's no more smears or risk of cancer which is exactly how I've lost relatives but sex just isn't the same. My vagina is shorter and just ends. Like a sudden end. There's no give in the cuff at all and it causes pain if trying to do anything more that low and slow and it just doesn't feel good at all. I've been reassured it all looks and acts as it should so I can only assume this is how it is.
It's unfortunate and irritating but I don't have endo which was so much worse.