25th
July
2007
posted in Sexuality |
Rate of recovery and return to sexual activity after surgery varies. Thorough explanation of surgical procedures, together with practical advice and emotional support before and after surgery, can enhance recovery and the return to previous levels of sexual activity (see also Heart Disease under EFFECTS OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS ON SEXUALITY, above).
Hysterectomy
Refraining from sexual activity for 6 to 8 wk after hysterectomy is usually advised to allow the surgical wounds to heal. Feelings of depression after hysterectomy are common and usually last from 2 to 10 days, although some women report them for 6 mo or longer. Hysterectomy without oophorectomy does not usually impair sexual function. However, women who are highly sensitive to cervical and uterine sensations during orgasm are aware of the loss. Although oophorectomy decreases testosterone and other androgen levels fas well as estrogen and progesterone levels), the effects on sexuality have not been well studied.
Mastectomy
The loss of one or both breasts can make a woman feel sexually mutilated, and the psychologic effects may be severe. Sexual desire may be lost because of embarrassment, inability to accept the loss of the breast, or fear of being less attractive to a partner. Periodic depression is common and should be expected during the first year or two after mastectomy.
Rehabilitation programs, such as the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program, help women and their spouses deal with the physical, psychologic, and cosmetic concerns of breast surgery. Couples should share feelings openly and support each other emotionally.
Prostatectomy
Potency is rarely affected by the most common form of prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate, although retrograde ejaculation is common. Healing usually takes up to 6 wk, after which sexual activity can be resumed. Men often assume incorrectly that sexual impairment is inevitable because of the physical proximity of the prostate to the penis. Factual information from physicians can alleviate fears. About 10% of men lose some ability to achieve an erection, although most men return to their presurgery level of sexual functioning. Most impotence after transurethral resection of the prostate is psychologic: about 3% to 5% of men develop nonpsychologic impotence. Suprapubic or retropubic prostate surgery may result in impotence.
Orchiectomy
The psychologic impact of this procedure can be devastating. Emotional preparation before and counseling after surgery are essential. Physiologic impotence does occur, but some men are able to have normal erections. When testosterone can be given soon after orchiectomy, potency may be retained. However, replacement testosterone therapy is usually contraindicated because in the elderly, orchiectomy is usually performed to treat prostate cancer.
Colostomy and Ileostomy
Patients who are sexually active before surgery usually can continue to be so afterward, although the adjustment can be complex. Couples should be given medical guidance and offered psychologic counseling. Some 250 ostomy support groups throughout the USA provide information and help.
Rectal Cancer Surgery
In men, removal of the rectum and anus with a permanent colostomy may result in total impotence. The proximity of male genital organs to the lower rectum leaves essential nerve fibers vulnerable to damage. In women who undergo this procedure, capacity for sexual arousal and orgasm is usually retained, since essential nerves are further from the surgical site.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 3:52 am and is filed under Sexuality.
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You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
25th
July
2007
posted in Sexuality |
Rate of recovery and return to sexual activity after surgery varies. Thorough explanation of surgical procedures, together with practical advice and emotional support before and after surgery, can enhance recovery and the return to previous levels of sexual activity (see also Heart Disease under EFFECTS OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS ON SEXUALITY, above).
Hysterectomy
Refraining from sexual activity for 6 to 8 wk after hysterectomy is usually advised to allow the surgical wounds to heal. Feelings of depression after hysterectomy are common and usually last from 2 to 10 days, although some women report them for 6 mo or longer. Hysterectomy without oophorectomy does not usually impair sexual function. However, women who are highly sensitive to cervical and uterine sensations during orgasm are aware of the loss. Although oophorectomy decreases testosterone and other androgen levels fas well as estrogen and progesterone levels), the effects on sexuality have not been well studied.
Mastectomy
The loss of one or both breasts can make a woman feel sexually mutilated, and the psychologic effects may be severe. Sexual desire may be lost because of embarrassment, inability to accept the loss of the breast, or fear of being less attractive to a partner. Periodic depression is common and should be expected during the first year or two after mastectomy.
Rehabilitation programs, such as the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program, help women and their spouses deal with the physical, psychologic, and cosmetic concerns of breast surgery. Couples should share feelings openly and support each other emotionally.
Prostatectomy
Potency is rarely affected by the most common form of prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate, although retrograde ejaculation is common. Healing usually takes up to 6 wk, after which sexual activity can be resumed. Men often assume incorrectly that sexual impairment is inevitable because of the physical proximity of the prostate to the penis. Factual information from physicians can alleviate fears. About 10% of men lose some ability to achieve an erection, although most men return to their presurgery level of sexual functioning. Most impotence after transurethral resection of the prostate is psychologic: about 3% to 5% of men develop nonpsychologic impotence. Suprapubic or retropubic prostate surgery may result in impotence.
Orchiectomy
The psychologic impact of this procedure can be devastating. Emotional preparation before and counseling after surgery are essential. Physiologic impotence does occur, but some men are able to have normal erections. When testosterone can be given soon after orchiectomy, potency may be retained. However, replacement testosterone therapy is usually contraindicated because in the elderly, orchiectomy is usually performed to treat prostate cancer.
Colostomy and Ileostomy
Patients who are sexually active before surgery usually can continue to be so afterward, although the adjustment can be complex. Couples should be given medical guidance and offered psychologic counseling. Some 250 ostomy support groups throughout the USA provide information and help.
Rectal Cancer Surgery
In men, removal of the rectum and anus with a permanent colostomy may result in total impotence. The proximity of male genital organs to the lower rectum leaves essential nerve fibers vulnerable to damage. In women who undergo this procedure, capacity for sexual arousal and orgasm is usually retained, since essential nerves are further from the surgical site.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 3:52 am and is filed under Sexuality.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
