{"id":40497,"date":"2024-10-02T18:54:35","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T18:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=40497"},"modified":"2024-10-02T18:54:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T18:54:36","slug":"postpartum-sex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/postpartum-sex\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex Postpartum: What to Expect Revisiting Intimacy After Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"

After giving birth, your body, lifestyle, and emotions undergo significant changes. From hormonal fluctuations to sleep<\/a> deprivation, the postpartum<\/a> period<\/a> brings various physical and mental shifts. Having sex for the first time, for example, can bring unexpected feelings, physically and mentally. Therefore, knowing what to expect and preparing for this moment can help ease some anxieties. Here\u2019s what you can expect and some tips for a more comfortable experience.<\/p>\n\n\n

How Soon Can I Have Sex After Giving Birth?<\/h2>\n\n\n

There\u2019s no set timeline for when a woman should start having sex after childbirth. According to the American Pregnancy Association<\/a>, experts recommend waiting four to six weeks before resuming sexual activity. This is to ensure your body has had time to heal and recover, especially since you\u2019ll still be bleeding, and your risk of hemorrhage or uterine infection is high during the first two weeks postpartum.<\/p>\n\n\n

The same rules apply to those who have a c-section, too. OBGYN and sexual health expert Dr. Sadaf Lodhi<\/a> explains, \u201cAlthough a C-section doesn\u2019t involve the vagina directly, it\u2019s still possible to experience vaginal discomfort due to hormonal changes and the physical recovery process after childbirth. Hormonal shifts, like decreased estrogen levels, can lead to vaginal dryness and pain, regardless of whether you have had a C-section or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Waiting until your postpartum appointment (approximately six weeks) to get the green light from your healthcare provider may be the safest option. This checkup ensures your body is healing properly and that you\u2019re physically ready to resume sexual activity. However, if you\u2019ve had an episiotomy or vaginal tears, you may need additional time for the stitches to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n

Will It Hurt?<\/h2>\n\n\n

It\u2019s natural to wonder if sex will hurt after giving birth. Pregnancy, labor, and delivery stretch the pelvic floor muscles<\/a>, which support vital organs such as the small intestine, uterus, bladder, and rectum. The stretching, combined with any trauma to the pelvic area, can affect how sex feels. Many women experience discomfort during sex postpartum, but there are ways to alleviate this.
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Kegel exercises are known to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles<\/a>, promote healing, and increase blood flow, which can reduce discomfort. And good news is, you can start doing kegels right away, as long as they don\u2019t cause you any pain. Pain can also come from those who have developed scar tissue from vaginal tears or c-section incisions, so take things slow and make sure you feel comfortable.
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Vaginal dryness is extremely common after giving birth, especially for breastfeeding<\/a> mothers. Lactating causes estrogen and progesterone levels to decrease, which can lead to less lubrication. This is just temporary, though. Lodhi explains, \u201cVaginal dryness often improves after breastfeeding or lactation ends. During lactation, estrogen levels drop, which can cause dryness, but as hormone levels return to normal, so does vaginal moisture.\u201d If you do feel some pain due to dryness, using a water-based lubricant can help make sex more comfortable.
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If you notice you\u2019re still having persistent pain after six weeks, it could indicate something more than normal postpartum recovery, like pelvic floor issues, infections, or nerve damage. \u201cI always encourage my patients to listen to their bodies\u2014if something feels off, it\u2019s worth getting checked,\u201d Lodhi says.<\/p>\n\n\n

Do I Need to Use Birth Control?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Whether or not you need birth control<\/a> postpartum can depend on factors like breastfeeding, future family plans, and birth control preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n

Lactational amenorrhea<\/a> (also known as the breastfeeding birth control method) occurs after giving birth, typically for the first six months, until your body begins ovulating again. Studies<\/a> have claimed this method to be as effective as hormonal birth control. However, it\u2019s not foolproof. Ovulation can resume earlier than expected, even for those breastfeeding. Therefore, it\u2019s essential to have a backup plan.
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If you\u2019re not breastfeeding, ovulation can occur just weeks after childbirth. Therefore, it\u2019s a good idea to consider other forms of birth control. Condoms and spermicides can be used immediately after birth, while other methods, such as cervical caps and diaphragms, are recommended to wait until six weeks after giving birth. Hormonal contraceptives, such as progesterone-only pills, can be taken immediately postpartum.<\/p>\n\n\n

For breastfeeding women, combined hormonal birth control methods, like pills, should be delayed until four to six weeks after delivery due to the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT)<\/a>.
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Here are all of the birth control options<\/a> to choose from after pregnancy and when it\u2019s safe to start taking them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n