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Loss of vaginal sensation after cervical biopsy

Sent to Health Experts August 28 01:01 PM

What causes vaginal desensitivity after a cervical biopsy? It has been 4-5 years since my biopsy and the sensation during sex has yet to come back or be anything close to what it was before the surgery. I've been told it's all mental, but certain positions and speeds can duplicate the sensation I experienced pre-surgery, but they cannot be sustained for very long. Staying lubricated was also never a problem pre-surgery but is impossible post-surgery. It is not an issue of my partner, as he is supportive, but it is becoming an issue for him since he can't make me feel what I could feel previously. Please help with any advice, thank you so much. (I see I make an offer to pay if I am satisfied with the answer. If the answer solves my problem I would pay a lot, but I'll just put $20 down for now)

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
August 28 1:46 PM (45 minutes and 10 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

Cryosurgery, biopsies and other cervical procedures can all cause cervical scarring. This is pretty common. With this scarring can come some changes. You might find it more painful when you go for a pap smear or you might even have some problems with lubrication.

You should not be experiencing any vaginal desensitivity after the biopsy. You COULD have some loss of sensation around the cervix but this should not affect sexual pleasure.

I suggest that you start to use some of the products made for artificial wetness. They work quite well and usually don't wear off too quickly.

Keep in mind that varying "speeds" can dry you out as well. Any time that there is sustained friction, this can be a concern.

I would wager that your changes are as much because of age as they are because of the biopsy. As our bodies change, so does the way our body reacts in certain situations.

I hope this helps some!

Let me know if you still have questions.

Reply
August 28 6:14 PM (4 hours and 28 minutes and 18 seconds later)
         
Reply to Tammy Falkner's Post: Tammy,
I want to thank you for responding, but I really need more information on my situation. I was only 19 when the biopsy was performed, and the sex immediately before gave me so much more sensation than the sex two and a half weeks after the surgery, and all sex since then, I can't imagine it had anything to do with my age. I am now 23 and the lack of feeling has not gone away. Also, in regards to "speeds" it is actually the faster speeds that keep me lubricated, not dry me out, since those faster speeds come the closest to the feeling I had before the biopsy. This is something I used to cry about, so any help you can give would be great, I just don't see how it can be age related, with me being so young. Thanks.
Answer
August 28 6:31 PM (16 minutes and 27 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

Hi

It could be possible there was some nerve damage as a result of the biopsy, but then you say you do feel the sensations some times and not others.

I'm also very glad to hear that you have a supportive partner in all of this. Very probably you have already experimented to try different positions and such to improve this sensation.

Here are some suggestions I found doing research on your question:

The amount of vaginal sensation that a woman feels during intercourse can be directly related to the strength of her pelvic floor muscles. Women with strong pelvic floor muscles may enjoy the additional benefits of better sexual response, as well as an increase in sexual confidence. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles (pubococcygeus muscles), which surround the opening of the vagina, can help women with arousal and intensify orgasm.

When women become sexually excited, the body produces an increase in blood flow to the genitals, heightening vaginal sensation. With pelvic muscle exercise, circulation is further improved. This increase in blood flow stimulates lubrication through a process called transudation, which is a release of moisture, creating a slippery fluid across the vaginal lining. Increased lubrication is also directly responsible for improving the health of the tissues lining the vagina.

The vagina, clitoris, and labia respond by swelling and the pelvic muscles may begin to twitch or contract. As pelvic floor muscles become stronger and more toned, sexual response is improved. Nerve endings of the pelvic floor muscles respond to being stretched, heightening arousal. The vagina's ability to grasp an erect penis improves, enhancing sensation for both individuals. A woman's ability to achieve orgasm is also amplified, and more powerful contractions may lead to more intense orgasms.

The effects of strong pelvic muscles on sexual response:

  • improved blood circulation to genital area
  • increased vaginal tone and lubrication
  • heightened sensitivity to touch
  • greater ability to achieve orgasm
  • stronger, more intense orgasms
  • prevention of urination during intercourse
  • increased sexual confidence

    http://www.dependonmyself.com/pelvic_health_sexual.html

Please note that I do not endorse any product sold on any web site. I'm only trying to glean information for you from various sources, which I will name.

In order to improve your tone and control begin by urinating with your legs spread apart. Start and stop the stream several times. After you have done this, get into a comfortable position when you are lying in bed. Put one or two fingers inside the vagina and imagine that you are starting and stopping the urinary stream. You will notice that the muscles on the sides of the vagina put pressure on your fingers. Experiment to determine the way of contracting these muscles that puts the maximum pressure on your fingers. Make sure you experience a drawing up or pulling inward rather than a bearing down.

You can incorporate this exercise into your daily schedule so you do it often during the day. Especially in the beginning it is important that you occasionally put one or two fingers inside the vagina to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly.

Exercises that strengthen the pelvic muscles involved in urination vaginal exercises are used to treat stress or urge incontinence.

Kegel exercises are done as follows:

~ The muscles to be exercised are the pelvic muscles. These can be felt by
purposely stopping the flow of urine in midstream and starting again. The muscles
that squeeze the urethra and anus are the ones involved.

~ Remembering what it felt like to control these muscles during urination, a woman
tries to contract them when not urinating. If the stomach or buttocks muscles
tighten, the muscles are not being exercised correctly.

~ A woman tightens these muscles for 3 seconds and then relaxes for 3 seconds.

~ The exercises should be repeated 10 to 15 times per session. A woman should do
these at least three sessions per day for it to be effective.

Kegel exercises can be performed while traveling, at work, or at odd moments during the day. No one will be aware that a woman is doing the exercises.

Kegel exercises are often combined with biofeedback techniques to teach the proper exercise methods and maintain exercise effectiveness. Biofeedback allows a person to see, feel, or hear when an exercise is being performed correctly. For women, this can be done by having her place a finger in her vagina or anus to feel it contract when the pelvic muscles are exercised. More elaborate devices can also be used that measure the pressure of the bladder and abdominal muscles or provide a measurement of the pressure within the vagina.

Another exercise technique involves using a weighted cone that is inserted into the vagina. The woman must contract the pelvic muscles to prevent the cone from dropping out of the vagina. A set of cones identical in size and shape but of increasing weight are provided. As treatment progresses, heavier cones are used that require stronger contractions to keep them in place.

http://www.holisticwisdom.com/article_sex_kegel_exercise_vaginal_tightening.htm

Please let me know if I can do more research for you!

Kerry




Kerry, RN
Please click the accept button if this has helped you. A bonus is always appreciated as well.
Reply
August 29 2:02 AM (7 hours and 30 minutes and 57 seconds later)
         
Reply to Kerry's Post: Thank you very much for that information. I am going to try the exercises without a doubt. Can I ask one last thing before I accept your answer, since I'm not sure if I can keep communicating with you after I do so? Since there are "speeds," most very fast, at which sex still feels the way it did before the biopsy, that seems to rule out nerve damage, or is it possible that the faster speeds would involve more sensation and affect the nerves that are left? Other than that, what on earth could have made a 19 year old woman suddenly lose so much sensation in her vagina? There was the biopsy, then a session where tissue in the vagina was frozen, I think a cryo procedure? Then another biopsy, and then a LEEP procedure where I was put under. This was all within about two months of time. Any thoughts before I give up on finding an answer and just start doing kegles?
Reply
August 29 2:56 AM (54 minutes and 16 seconds later)
         
Also, during the first of my two biopsies, a piece of skin the size of a quarter was taken out- is this a normal size for a biopsy. My boyfriend also says that there is what feels like scar tissue in the lower wall of my vaginal canal and a hard scar tissue-like knob in the back of my vagina (if he places his middle finger all the way up he feels it). Could this be scar tissue, and if so, why would there be this in my vaginal canal if the only procedures I had done were the biopsies, cryo, and LEEP? Thanks again for your responses.
Answer
August 29 8:32 AM (5 hours and 35 minutes and 46 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

Hi

I still think possible nerve damage, but without examination, I have no way to tell. If there is 'different' scar tissue, I'd have it checked out by someone other than the person who did your surgery.

You may never know what cause it, and only be able to speculate. I hope you do get to the bottom of it though.

Yes, once you accept the question closes. But you can always start a new one!

Best of health,

Kerry




Kerry, RN
Please click the accept button if this has helped you. A bonus is always appreciated as well.
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