Is my vagina no longer like a self-cleaning oven?

[Surly Chick]

I recently had to have hysterectomy, during which my cervix was removed. So now my va-jay-jay is essentially a dead-end flesh tunnel. My gynie always said that vaginas were like self-cleaning ovens and expelled most everything eventually. Whether that has to do with the connection to the uterus or not, I don't know. So now I'm wondering whether I still have the self-cleaning function or not. I forgot to ask when I was in for my follow-up visit.

Anyone know out there? Just wondering...

[Moonlitherial]

It's been about a year and a half since my hysterctomy and mine still appears to have the self cleaning function. I do still have a cervix however.

[Wheelz]

I saw the Dead-End Flesh Tunnels play live at Cabaret Metro in 1986. Great show.

[Zsofia]

Just idly speculating, as long as it's still self-lubricating I can't see why it wouldn't work.

[Southern Yankee]

I saw the Dead-End Flesh Tunnels play live at Cabaret Metro in 1986. Great show.

Didn't the Meat Curtains open for them that night?

[Onomatopoeia]

Didn't the Meat Curtains open for them that night?I think that was the Meat Puppets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Puppets).

[Tom Tildrum]

My understanding is that a self-cleaning oven does so by getting really, really hot inside, so that anything crusted on its walls actually vaporizes.

[purplehorseshoe]

Just idly speculating, as long as it's still self-lubricating I can't see why it wouldn't work.

Is that produced by the cervix or the vaginal walls? (Or ... both?)

[Zsofia]

It isn't like an hourglass up in there - the fluid doesn't drip on down from the uterus.

[Ferret Herder]

Is that produced by the cervix or the vaginal walls? (Or ... both?)
Vaginal walls, as they're mucous membranes IIRC.

[Elysium]

It isn't like an hourglass up in there - the fluid doesn't drip on down from the uterus.

Wait, so I can't use mine as a time-keeping device?

Maybe that's why I'm always late for things.

[Kalypso]

Well if you still have a uterus and your cycle is fairly regular you can use it as a rough timekeeping device. I can often be heard exclaiming, "Has it been 28 days already??!!"

I would think the vagina would be still self cleaning. If you haven't got a cervix anymore you won't have cervical mucus, but there are still the fluids secreted by the vaginal walls, along with the natural good bacteria/yeast balance that keep the bad bacteria and yeast overgrowth at bay.

[Fear Itself]

Didn't the Meat Curtains open for them that night?No, it was Lady Huha and the Sugar Walls.

[irishgirl]

You're still good.
No douches are required- maintain the status quo.
See a dr if you have any issues with lubrication, sexual satisfaction, pain, discharge or itch.

Otherwise- wash regularly with plain water, keep wiping front to back, wear cotton underwear and your feminine anatomy will be happy and self regulating.

[Zsofia]

So, when they do that, do they stitch it up or something? What, exactly, does a post-hysterectomy vagina end in? (Are you finally free from that whole "ow you're hitting my cervix" thing?)

[purplehorseshoe]

So, when they do that, do they stitch it up or something? What, exactly, does a post-hysterectomy vagina end in? ...

A question that never occurred to me to ask, and now I HAVE to know the answer! Someone: fight our collective ignorance?

[Surly Chick]

Yep, they just sew it up and apparently attach some ligaments or something (in the abdominal cavity) to prevent bladder prolapse. Or I could be making that up but that was my understanding at the time. I had the new robotic kind and it pretty much was a breeze. I had hardly any pain or soreness afterwards. In an amusing side note, the stiches eventually come out looking like white worms. Gave me quite a turn, it did!

[EvilTOJ]

Wait, so I can't use mine as a time-keeping device?

Maybe that's why I'm always late for things.

And why you're always bitchy.

[Autolycus]

If you don't have a cervix anymore, does that mean you can handle really monstrous men without what I hear is excruciating pain?

Oh damnit upon review I see ZSofia beat me to it. And here I was worried it was a tasteless question.

[Becky2844]

<long-time hysterectomy survivor....the vagina has muscles, which undulate. not unlike the bowel around the corner. you don't need a uterus for your body to "sweep up, clean house, & push it out." I've never had a douche and ALWAYS questioned, "Is it in the Bible that I'm supposed to squirt vinegar water up my vay-jay-jay?" the answer is No. in most cases-- if you don't pick at it, it'll do ok on it's own

[romansperson]

A question that never occurred to me to ask, and now I HAVE to know the answer! Someone: fight our collective ignorance?

IANAD, but I recently had a hysterectomy and this is what I know from my research.

When the uterus is removed, it is detached from the ligaments that suspend it in the abdomen and the cervix is detached from the top of the vaginal canal. The canal is then attached to the ligaments. In my surgery, it was also sewn to the rear peritoneum (I don't know if that happens with all surgeries, but I do know it happened with mine).

This is done to prevent the vaginal canal from collapsing in on itself and to keep other abdominal organs (bladder, intestines, rectum) in their proper places. Hysterectomy can be a risk factor for the prolapse of these organs in later life, so it's important to keep your weight down, not smoke and stay in decent shape to reduce the risk as you age.

The vaginal canal (now called the vaginal cuff) is also sewn shut. If it weren't it would be open to the abdomen, which would be a Bad Thing. It's very important the cuff heal together properly. Women who are very overweight, smoke, are diabetic or have immune system problems heal more slowly and need to be more closely monitored by their doctors.

A thankfully uncommon negative outcome of hysterectomy is known as vaginal cuff dehiscence. This is where the top of the cuff is either split open (most commonly due to too early or too enthusiatic sex) or comes open spontaneously due to poor healing. This can cause severe pain, bleeding, loss of abdominal fluid through the vaginal canal and even evisceration - the small intestine can collapse into the vaginal canal. If the intestine loses its blood supply that can result in an emergency bowel resection, so it is very important to listen to your doctor and not try to have sex or do strenuous things before you are cleared to do so. Even then, it is important to use common sense. While it is typical to be cleared for full activity 6 to 8 weeks after surgery, if you don't feel 100% mentally and physically ready, listen to your body and don't let anyone pressure you into doing more than you are comfortable with doing (I know I wasn't ready for everything even after being cleared).

For traditional abdominal or vaginal hysterectomies, the incidence of dehiscence is typically around 1 percent, but for laparoscopic or robotic surgery it is higher - 4 to 5 percent. No one is really sure why at this point - it's been speculated that it's either due to the type of scalpel used to separate the cervix from the vaginal canal (it generates heat which may affect healing) or with the method of stitching or type of suture material used in these surgeries to sew the cuff shut.

The surgeon wbo did my operation published a paper wherein he and his colleagues reviewed laparoscopic surgeries done at their hospital for several years and saw that surgeries in which barbed sutures were used to close the cuff resulted in better outcomes (zero incidence of dehiscence in their review) than with other types of sutures, so they only use that type of suture material now. A study is currently being conducted at Brigham Young to see if they have the same results.

As for the OP's question, things should be cleaner now than ever before - no blood or cervical mucus, so it's actually better. And yes, the vaginal canal is self-lubricating and as long as there's estrogen to help the process along, no worries there. You don't want to do anything to dry that out.

[Rhythmdvl]

Here's a good tip: A while before dinner time, stick in several fire bricks and let the self-clean cycle run. Then, let it cool down to a proper.... a proper... what's this thread about?

[phouka]

Well, I guess I won't be having a hysterectomy any time soon, as my uterus is now hiding somewhere behind my spleen.

[Tamerlane]

Huh. Thanks romansperson, that was very informative. Also a little horrifying. But informative :).

[Little Nemo]

I wouldn't recommend any experiments with Easy-Off.

[Manduck]

It's still hot, if that's what you mean.

[romansperson]

Huh. Thanks romansperson, that was very informative. Also a little horrifying. But informative :).

Yeah, I know, and sorry, TMI and all that. A little Google goes a long way. But forewarned is forearmed in my book.

[AClockworkMelon]

If you don't have a cervix anymore, does that mean you can handle really monstrous men without what I hear is excruciating pain?This is relevant to my interests if you know what I mean.

I wonder if there are dating sites that cater to monster men and cervix-less women. I'm gonna be rich!

[Moonlitherial]

This is relevant to my interests if you know what I mean.

I wonder if there are dating sites that cater to monster men and cervix-less women. I'm gonna be rich!

Did you READ romansperson's response? No pain maybe but the risk of tearing into the abdominal cavity and EVISCERATION!

I think I'd prefer a cervix bump.
I'm still cringing after reading that post.