Women tend to assume that after their bodies have bounced back from childbirth, their s3x lives should do the same. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen.
A lot of women soon come to realize that s3x after birth simply doesn’t feel the same. You may not have the desire, you have trouble getting or you even feel pain during s3x.
If you’re still having persistent discomfort, maybe your body just needs more time. once you get past six to eight weeks, you are expected to start getting back to your usual s3xual activity.
Knowing what causes issues with s3x after birth is a good first step in coming up with solutions.
Common causes of issues with s3x after childbirth
- The birth itself
After birth, “your v@gina is different. You had a baby. You may have had a repair. You may have a scar there.
Women who had an episiotomy—a cut below their vagina to enlarge the opening for delivery—or who experienced a tear during delivery may find s3x painful for the first few months after childbirth.
Depending upon the type of delivery and repair, the sensation may be different.
- Stress about s3x after childbirth
For many women, stress and anxiety can make s3xual challenges worse.
If you get anxious about s3x, the anxiety heightens your awareness of every twinge of discomfort. And like a destructive cycle, worrying brings about the very issue you’re concerned about.
- Changes in hormones
After giving birth, your body’s hormone levels need to readjust to their pre-pregnancy state. This readjustment can reduce your s3x drive and s3xual response.
For instance, women who breastfeed have lower estrogen levels, which can lead to v@ginal dryness.
- New relationship dynamics
Your relationship with your partner might change after childbirth, too. It will take time for a new sense of balance to emerge in your family. After all, you’ve added a whole new person—and a pretty demanding one, at that.
During this transition period, your interest in s3x may not match up with your partner’s. And that’s fine. Talk openly about expectations and what you’re experiencing to make things less confusing.
- Pelvic organ prolapse
V@ginal childbirth can injure your pelvic floor muscles, potentially leading to a condition called pelvic organ prolapse.
Symptoms range from a sense of dropping or gaping of the vagina to the appearance of a bothersome bulge near the v@ginal opening.
Many women simply don’t find s3x enjoyable when they’re dealing with pelvic organ prolapse.
When should you see a doctor for issues with s3x after childbirth?
Sometimes, all you need to get your s3x life back on track is time, but most women don’t know they can talk to their doctor about challenges with their s3x lives.
S3x may feel different, getting used to that idea and easing back into intercourse are also factors that come into play.
There’s no standard timeline for when things should start getting back to normal, however, anything that extends beyond that standard six to eight weeks of healing should prompt you to talk to your doctor.
S3xual issues after childbirth are usually not long-term. Whether you’ve had one child or several, or delivered via C-section or v@ginally, none of this should have a long-term impact on your s3xual desire, activity or satisfaction in later life.
