I have a friend who had a hysterectomy. She claims that men cannot feel her orgasms because without a uterus, you do not get the muscular vibrations that a woman with a uterus gets. Is that true?

Most men cannot "feel" a woman's orgasm whether or not she has had a hysterectomy. Men can be taught to "know" when their partner experiences an orgasm, regardless of her actual experience, as long as she is consistent in her reaction. For example, if every time she has an orgasm she "shudders", her male partner will learn that this is a sign of orgasm and then he will begin to look for it. - Answer provided by Michael Gonzales, Ph.D., mfgonzal@speakeasy.net, www.upasoc.com.
 

Most times when a woman has a hysterectomy the doctor doesn't take out her vagina.  Usually, what is removed, depending on the reason for the hysterectomy, is the uterus, and sometimes the cervix and ovaries or one ovary. The muscular contractions from orgasm are in the vagina whether she has had a hysterectomy or not and if she is having an orgasm her partner should feel the contractions of her vagina.  However, many men need the stimulation on the head of the penis, not the shaft, since they are more sensitive there.  So as long as he has friction on the head of the penis he should be able to have a great orgasm.
- Answer provided by Dr. Shay Roop, shay@drshay.org, www.drshay.org.

Usually, when men refer to feeling a woman's orgasm they are referring to involuntary contractions of vaginal muscles and pelvic thrusting. It is highly unlikely that uterine contractions or "vibrations" can be detected by a male partner. - Answer provided by Tim Britton, Ph.D., AASECT, ABS, timbritton@yahoo.com.

Though the uterus does experience contractions during orgasm, it is not the only place muscle contractions occur. During orgasm, blood that has engorged the genitals is released and strong contractions of the pelvic floor muscle occurs. Contractions also occur in the vagina and the cervix. Unfortunately, there are times when nerve damage occurs during hysterectomy. If this is the case then the woman can experience difficulties in achieving orgasm. In addition, the decrease in estrogen can lessen the flow of blood to the genitals resulting in less intense orgasms. It is important to note that a hysterectomy is not an automatic death of sex sentence. Studies have found that for many women sex improves after a hysterectomy! - Answer provided by Lynne Angela Santiago, LMHC, lynne@lynnesantiagolmhc.com, www.lynnesantiagolmhc.com.

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