# Consequences of a hysterectomy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856 "2012-05-14T07:03:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/42 "2012-05-18T18:52:36Z")
I had a friend with severe endometriosis. She was scheduled for laparascopic surgery to remove the tissue that was external to the uterus. Once the surgeon got a peek inside, she was then opened conventionally so the extensive tissue could be removed. I would think if a hysterectomy is indicated for endometriosis, the abdominal cavity would be inspected and any extraneous endometrial tissue removed as well. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![umkay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/43a26b/32.png) [@umkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umkay)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/43 "2012-05-19T00:47:58Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > Doesn’t appear to be true; what seems to be the case is that stimulation of the [nipples and genitals stimulate the same parts of the brain.](http://www.livescience.com/15380-nipples-genitals-brain-map.html) Which is interesting, and seems to indicate that if you have your uterus removed, there’s actually a great deal of sensory redundancy built in. Somewhat OT, but I am a quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury when I was 14. My cord was completely severed (which is rare) at the C4 vertebra, so I have no movement or sensation from my collarbones down. And I’ve had plenty of orgasms. I never had one as an able-bodied person, so I can’t say if it’s the same sensation as you folks have. But it is still quite pleasant. And though I can’t feel my nipples, they become erect during stimulation and orgasm. The point of this little rabbit trail? The human body is remarkably resourceful when it comes to sexual function post-illness, -surgery, or -injury. I think you’re going to be just fine. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/44 "2012-05-19T19:44:00Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > I’d be surprised if they let her do this, actually - I asked about keeping my gallstones and was told in horror that this was NOT POSSIBLE. Depends on the facility, of course. > > A question about the whole endometriosis / hysterectomy thing though: I had always thought that a big part of endometriosis was because the uterine lining got to places it didn’t belong, responded to normal monthly hormones, and that was the cause of the pain. > > So having that tissue surgically removed would help (until more grew / migrated, obviously)… but why would removing the uterus itself help? It almost makes sense to me that removing the _ovaries_ (to stop that hormonal stimulation), versus the uterus, would be a better option. > > Sorry if that sounds dense, I’m genuinely curious as to the mechanism by which a hysterectomy would help endometriosis. You know, it never occurred to me to wonder that. I just assume that if there’s no uterus, there’s no prompt for the endometrium to grow at all because it’s got no “wall” on the inside of the uterus to begin with. No uterus = no endometrium, no endometrium = no periods. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/45 "2012-05-19T20:11:28Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > You know, it never occurred to me to wonder that. I just assume that if there’s no uterus, there’s no prompt for the endometrium to grow at all because it’s got no “wall” on the inside of the uterus to begin with. No uterus = no endometrium, no endometrium = no periods. Doesn’t work like that, there are random cells that float free and then adhere to someplace in the abdominal cavity so you have to have the surgeon basically examine the cavity and scrape off/out any random visible clumps of the cells. Or at least that is what my doc explained it to me as the reason he was going to be rummaging around in my abdominal cavity for a couple hours. Near as I can tell, he got everything though I seem to have 3 places that have adhesions now. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/46 "2012-05-20T01:24:43Z")
And you thought the anti-circumcision zealots were nuts! :eek: An organization that uses the words “castrated” and “less of a woman” when referring to hysterectomies is hardly one I’d consult. I don’t know, maybe it’s me, but it doesn’t sound like they’d be very objective. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/47 "2012-05-20T01:38:02Z")
I know, right? I’m really surprised at some of this stuff. I mean, I don’t support random, elective surgery of any sort. But it’s not like doctors go around giving out hysterectomies like candy. I realize that at some points in history that sort of thing has happened. For example, didn’t a lot of kids in the 50’s and 60’s get their tonsils out just because? But it’s not like you can go down to the doc in the box and have them cut out your spleen just because you’re tired of having it. A hysterectomy isn’t a mutilation (I’d say that circumcision is, but that’s another thread) and it doesn’t make you less of a woman. Assuming it’s for a legit medical purpose, it’s a beneficial procedure that can greatly improve a woman’s quality of life. In the case of cancer, even save her life. I think some of this propaganda is coming from people who see women as baby-making machines. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/48 "2012-05-20T03:30:59Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And you thought the anti-circumcision zealots were nuts! :eek: > An organization that uses the words “castrated” and “less of a woman” when referring to hysterectomies is hardly one I’d consult. I don’t know, maybe it’s me, but it doesn’t sound like they’d be very objective. :dubious: > [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > I know, right? I’m really surprised at some of this stuff. I mean, I don’t support random, elective surgery of any sort. But it’s not like doctors go around giving out hysterectomies like candy. Assuming it’s for a legit medical purpose, it’s a beneficial procedure that can greatly improve a woman’s quality of life. In the case of cancer, even save her life. I think some of this propaganda is coming from people who see women as baby-making machines. Well, it took me a doctor willing to buck the catholic hospital system and move his practice to just get my damned tubes tied back when I was 24 … and a third pregnancy would have put my life in serious risk. The subsequent torment my damned uterus and ovaries put me through was absolutely blooming pointless. I could have had the damned uterus ripped out by its little roots for all the use one is if you have no eggs to fertilize being slithered through it monthly. It took me getting a lovely tumor on my left ovary to get a hysterectomy rushed through the authorization system. [I was given the option of just having the one with the tumor removed if everything else was clear of problems] I personally would love to sue the entire medical system about not allowing women to get elective hysterectomies or tubal ligations at will. Not every woman wants to be a walking womb. I have run into a fair number of women who have absolutely no interest in popping out an anklebiter that have to rely on hormonal birth control or barrier methods and would love to have the whole issue gone. ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/49 "2012-05-20T04:06:16Z")
Preventing babies and periods is a legit medical purpose, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/50 "2012-05-20T13:05:52Z")
> [@starwarsfreek42](#): > > Preventing babies and periods is a legit medical purpose, IMHO. Nope, we get told outright that ‘If we sterilized you now [premenopause] you would be very upset when you changed your mind and wanted to have babies.’:rolleyes: They basically assume that every female wants to pop out brats even if they _think_ that they don’t at the moment they are speaking with the gyn. I never wanted kids, ever. If I want any kids, I can borrow any of my goddaughters for a weekend and get the baby rabies over with [though I have never EVER had baby rabies in my life.] ---
**Author:** ![starwarsfreek42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@starwarsfreek42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starwarsfreek42)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/51 "2012-05-20T18:20:34Z")
Oh believe me, I know. “You’ll change your mind!” But if I were a man and I wanted a vasectomy, they’d be all, “Sign here and drop your pants.” It’s really sexist. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856/52 "2012-05-20T19:17:56Z")
“Baby rabies” ROFLMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO ~VOW [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-a-hysterectomy/621856.md?page=2)