NTM 561: The Hysterectomy Questions Everyone Wants to Ask (But Doesn't)

In this deeply personal solo episode, Julie responds to listener questions about her hysterectomy experience four years after surgery. From the realities of recovery and unexpected complications to the impact on sex, orgasm, identity, and womanhood, she shares the parts few people talk about openly. This is a candid conversation about what she gained, what she lost, what surprised her most, and why she would still make the same decision again. Fair warning: there is plenty of TMI in this episode - including discussions about vaginas, orgasms, catheters, numbness, butt pain, and all the messy, human realities of healing.In this episode, Julie discusses:- Why she ultimately chose hysterectomy after 17 years of prolapse and adenomyosis- The years-long decision-making process leading up to surgery- The unexpected emotional impact of community criticism and losing friendships- What happened when her urethra stopped functioning after surgery- Why self-catheterisation became a surprisingly empowering experience- The reality of recovery versus the commonly promoted six-week timeline- Significant fatigue and healing challenges during the first six months- The surgical complexity of removing a severely enlarged uterus- What nobody told her about post-surgical butt pain- Developing vaginismus for the first time after surgery- Nerve healing, numbness, and changing sensation inside the vagina- The loss of cervical orgasm and how that affected her sexuality- Whether orgasmic capacity can be rebuilt after hysterectomy- The surprising sexual benefits she experienced post-surgery- Using tantra, somatic practice, toys, vibrators and blindfolds to support recovery- Rewiring pleasure pathways and treating sexual healing as neurorehabilitation- Navigating identity without a uterus while still feeling deeply connected to womanhood- Continuing womb-space practices despite no longer having a womb- The overlap between hysterectomy recovery and perimenopause- What she wishes she'd known before surgery- The advice she would give any woman considering a hysterectomy today- Why, despite the trade-offs, she has never regretted her decisionOther episodes on Julie's hysterectomy journey:351https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ntm-351-lets-lift-the-veil-on-the-shame-of-post-partum-healing/id1013746031?i=1000554021072356https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ntm-356-post-birth-pelvic-pain-shame-and-dysfunction/id1013746031?i=1000557953386357https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ntm-357-post-birth-pelvic-pain-shame-and-dysfunction/id1013746031?i=1000558686443378https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ntm-378-when-you-dance-with-becoming-what-youve-always/id1013746031?i=1000579970437385https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nourishing-the-mother/id1013746031?i=1000585379354NTM 443: Healing from pelvic surgery - what’s it like, one year on?https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ntm-443-healing-from-pelvic-surgery-whats-it-like-one-year-on/id1013746031?i=1000638978979Want support on this journey? Come join us inside Honey Club - where we melt these blocks together, one breath, one practice, one deep remembering at a time. Find out more at julietenner.love or visit: https://julie-tenner.newzenler.com/courses/honeyclubReach out to Bridget for 1:1 coaching - bridgetwood.life