In terms of masturbating and orgasming, there have been no studies on the safety of this. It is advisable for this to be ‘self-led’ and trust your intuition. Listen to your body; if there is any pain or abnormal reactions it would be wise to wait longer for your body to heal and see a doctor if you are concerned. 

It is recommended that nothing is inserted into the vagina for at least 6 weeks after surgery (this included sex toys and menstrual cups!). This is due to the vaginal cuff (the top of your vagina where the cervix was removed is sewn into a ‘cuff’ creating an ‘end’ to your vaginal canal) needing time to heal.

For penetrative sex, a 9-10 week wait post-surgery is recommended but you can wait longer if that suits you. 

If you just had ovary removal (bilateral oophorectomy) and not a hysterectomy (with cervix removal), this time would be considerably lower as you do not have to allow extra time for the vaginal cuff to heal.

Go slow and listen to your body. You may find you need extra foreplay to get aroused initially and good lube is recommended to make intercourse/penetration more comfortable.

If you have concerns speak to your health care provider.

​Visit www.iapmd.org/surgery for lots of evidence-based information and resources for those considering, going through or recovering from surgery for PMDD/PME.