Page 46 - Rana Sampson Issue (1)

Dear Dr. Sudi, Dear Dr. Sudi,
My girlfriend just had a robotic I just turned 43. Lately, I have lost the
hysterectomy. What is this type of desire to have sex with my husband . I
surgery and is it really any better than love him very much, and I feel guilty
other methods? because I know that he misses our
Your girlfriend is a lucky woman! She has intimacy. Is there something wrong
found the most innovative, least invasive with me?
way to have a hysterectomy performed. My dear, welcome to mid-life changes. As
She can expect to experience significantly women get older, quite often their levels
less pain and blood loss, a lower risk of of sexual desire and intimacy experience
infection, with a shorter hospital stay and complex changes that involve the interplay
recovery time than with other methods of between the body, mind, and spirit. These
hysterectomy. changes may take time to understand and
Robotic-assisted surgery, or the da Vinci adapt to.
System, has been in use since 2007. As the body ages, it is quite natural for
Although it is often called a “robot,” the da hormonal fluctuations to become more
Vinci System does not operate on its own; pronounced and more intense. These
instead, the surgery is performed entirely by fluctuations may have good and bad
your doctor. consequences: a woman may experience
Your surgeon views the surgery through sexual desire less frequently, but may have
46 a high-definition, three-dimensional, more intense but possibly less frequent
magnified screen and operates a console that orgasms.
translates hand movements into smaller, When the frequency of sexual arousal or
precise movements of the four robotic arms orgasm decreases, it’s natural to think that
and the tiny instruments they hold. sexual desire is lost!
This advanced technology allows your In order to adjust to mid-life changes, it is
doctor to perform complex procedures important to understand the reason for the
through tiny openings. As a result, you change. As long as there are no psychosocial
will incur smaller incisions, have minimal or medical conditions contributing to the
scarring, and may return to your regular diminished sexual desire, hormonal changes
routine faster than what is usually required in the body may usually be regulated with
following major surgery. Women who a regimen involving very small doses of
choose the da Vinci method often have bioidentical hormones, exercise, and healthy
better overall outcomes and greater nutrition.
satisfaction with their procedures. In my practice, I have found that most
The da Vinci System has been used patients who experience decreased libido are
successfully worldwide in hundreds of able to easily manage the symptoms. There
thousands of procedures to date. Please is nothing wrong with you! I believe that
remember that the outcome of any surgery with appropriate treatment and a healthy
will depend on the surgeon’s technical lifestyle, every woman may enjoy a healthy
skills and experience. To view a robotic libido throughout her life.
hysterectomy or to find a da Vinci-trained
surgeon near you, please visit:
www. daVinciHysterectomy.com.

March/April 2011