You describe cramps, not unlike menstrual cramps, after masturbation. Orgasm includes contraction of pelvic floor muscles, and it sounds like you're experiencing some spasms of those muscles. Radical hysterectomies often require tissue removal or dissection surrounding the uterus and ovaries. It's likely your spasms are caused within nerves and muscles that are still healing.
I suspect this will improve with continued healing, but using an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen may help relieve the pain. If, three months or so after surgery, when most healing has taken place, the spasms and pain persist, a consultation with a pelvic floor physical therapist may be helpful. They can assess the muscles and nerves of the pelvic floor and often remedy persistent pain.
Continue that healing work! I'm hopeful the pain will resolve itself.
Dr. Barb DePree, M.D., has been a gynecologist and women’s health provider for almost 30 years and a menopause care specialist for the past ten.
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Denise, Given your history, it would be worthwhile to have an evaluation by your health care provider. Don’t be shy about describing your symptoms! More information will help him or her understand what’s causing your discomfort and determine what therapy would be beneficial.
I am almost 5 years post op from a partial hysterectomy in 2014. I am also a cervical and vaginal cancer survivor! I am experiencing a lot of menstrual cramping and vaginal pain every month. I just don’t know or understand what’s going on?
Jenny, it’s difficult to say why you may have cramping. If you are premenopausal and there is still ovarian function then this wouldn’t be a big surprise, but if you are postmenopausal it is less likely. The next step should be a pelvic exam to determine if there is anything going on to contribute to the discomfort. It can be pelvic floor muscles, it could be GI related so make sure you see your provider to try to determine what might be going on.
I had a partial hysterectomy Nov. 13 of 04. I’m having a lot of cramping. Could I be having trouble with my Ovaries now?
Autumn, it isn’t too surprising that intercourse wasn’t completely comfortable this soon after surgery. That doesn’t necessarily mean there was any harm done, 6 weeks following surgery a lot of healing has occurred and it isn’t likely you can cause any ‘damage’. The cause of pain after surgery can be from an array of possibilities and likely just the healing process that will improve over time. An exam by the surgeon would be helpful to carefully assess to make sure there aren’t other factors that may be causing pain, and that it is just in fact a healing/time related matter.