I awoke from a radical hysterectomy aged 49, and thought, ‘Well, that’s it, no more cervix – orgasms will be a thing of the past.’ Wrong! I had always been a very sexual person up until my 40s, when I seemed to lose interest. But just a few days after my operation, I had strong sexual urges and experienced my first post-op orgasm soon after. It was a different sensation, but now after five years’ practice, my orgasms, although over within seconds, feel deeper and more satisfying than ever. I feel sexual every day (as opposed to sexy – I am a fat, scarred old grandmother after all!) and truly hope that this youthful feeling that having a strong libido provides lasts well into old age. Having lost my libido before my surgery, I do understand where Steinem is coming from. It is liberating, mentally and physically, to be free of your own body’s sexual demands. However, having had a re-charged super-libido literally thrust upon me out of the blue, I will be forever grateful (no matter how long these feelings last) for the ‘second chance’ sex life, and all the thrills and excitement that it is bringing to my life right now. – Eloise, 54, Dorset, UK