A woman hasn’t had sex with her husband for 15 years and never will after having her vagina removed.
As a teenager, Natasha Owens, now 45, felt hot and sweaty, had low mood and anxiety, and never started her period.
Natasha, who claims she was abused as a teenager, was terrified of being physically examined.
But at 25, Natasha met her husband Damien Owens, 49, a decorator, and she finally decided to face her fears and seek medical help.
Doctors revealed that Natasha had gone through the menopause aged just 13 and told her she would never be able to have children.
Damien stood by Natasha and they saw their dream of having a family come true when they adopted siblings James*, 18, and Amy*, 16, in 2006.
The children’s names have been changed at the request of Natasha and Damien.
But at 30 years old Natasha was diagnosed with severe erosive lichen planus – an incurable condition that causes painful ulcers to develop in the genital area – meaning she hasn’t been able to have sex for 15 years.
Natasha Owens, 45
(Image: © Lee McLean / SWNS)
After years of unsuccessful treatment, Natasha had a hysterectomy at Liverpool Women’s Hospital in December 2017 because her vagina was full of trapped blood.
But in 2019, doctors found fluid trapped at the top of her vagina and Natasha had to have a full vasectomy in May 2019 – leaving her with only 2cm of vagina left.
Natasha will never be able to have sex again, but says her relationship with her husband has ‘never been stronger.
Natasha, a hairdresser, from, The Wirral, Merseyside said: “We just get on with it and it doesn’t matter to him or me.
“He knows it’s not that I don’t want him but because I can’t.
“I’ve got used to living without a vagina and I won’t let it define me.”
At 25 years old, Natasha was told that she had gone through menopause when she was just 13 because of her premature ovarian proficiency – a condition where the ovaries stop functioning normally before the age of 40.
She was also told that she would never have children of her own.
Natasha said: “That was a bit of a blow, I didn’t know that it was that horrendous.
“I had done a bit of processing, but it was the final nail in the coffin when somebody finally says it.
“It was awful.
“I’m quite a resilient person and I just got on with it but just to hear it was difficult.”
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At 13-years-old, Natasha started going through the menopause – but ignored her hot flushes and was too afraid to tell anyone that she hadn’t got her period.
She said: “As a teenager, I did feel off and different, I felt hot and sweaty a lot and now I know they were hot flushes.
“I didn’t know what was going on, but it went through my head that I couldn’t have children because I hadn’t got my period.
“I didn’t know anybody else who didn’t ever actually start their period and it wasn’t something that was talked about much.
“That made me feel different at school and looking back at it now, I can see it was early menopause symptoms.
“I didn’t really deal with it and process it, I just got on with it and things weren’t talked about it.”
But after meeting husband, Damien, while working in Ibiza in 2002, the couple fell in love and he encouraged her to get the help she needed.
Natasha had a hysterectomy and has had most of her vagina removed
(Image: © Natasha Owens / SWNS)
Natasha said: “After everything I’d been through as a teen I was terrified of being physically examined.
“But he held my hand the whole way through and encouraged me to do to it.
“He’s been amazing and never made me feel worried about anything and has supported me the entire time.”
The pair decided to start a family and adopt siblings James*, 18, and Amy*, 16, 2006.
She said: “It was amazing, we took on two siblings.
“It was quite a long process to get them, but it was amazing to have them and start a family.
“There was no picture initially, but it just felt right straight away.
“It’s a magical moment.”
But in 2006, Natasha was diagnosed with erosive lichen planus and osteoporosis at 30 years old – which is related to her premature ovarian proficiency.
She said: “I was in a lot of pain, and I knew that something wasn’t right.
“I was very, very sore down below.
“During sex, I would bleed and tear.
“We had a normal sex life before that, so it was a bit strange.
“I was treated for thrush initially, but it didn’t get better, and the pain wouldn’t stop.
“I had to try different medications, I had a list as long as your arm of different creams but nothing worked.
“That was a bit of a blow, and it could be uncomfortable, mine was quite severe.
“I didn’t have sex for 10 years.
“But we have just got on with it and not made it an issue at all.
“I know a lot of couples would be devastated but these things happen.
“I think that I’m more upset than he is.
“We say I love you for you.”
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At 42 years old Natasha had a hysterotomy because her pelvis was full of blood – and doctors don’t know why.
15 months later Natasha had to have her vagina removed due to more fluid trapped in the top of her pelvis.
Natasha said: “I’ve had most of my vagina removed so it’s not medically possible to have sex now.
“The bottom part of my vagina is the only bit intact, but it’s corroded and stuck together.
“Now I have to have an operation to unstick it every 12 months.
“Going to the toilet can be painful and I can bleed.
“But it’s just part of my life now.
“Looking back, I can’t believe I went through the menopause so young.
“But I’ve got the family I wanted and everything I have been through has just made mine and my husband’s relationship stronger.”
Damien said: “I love Natasha for her and not what she can give me.
“We can sort everything out whatever comes our way.
“We made our vows in sickness and in health.”
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