4 Reasons why sex hurts after baby... and what to do about it!

Did you know that 86% of women have pain with first vaginal sex after childbirth and nearly 1 in 4 still report pain at 18 months postpartum¹? Although it's quite common, sex shouldn’t have to hurt after childbirth! Here are some reasons why it might and what to do about it:

• Hormone changes result in decreased estrogen in the vulvar tissues which can result in thinning and dryness. Fix = Try a quality water-based lubricant such as Slippery Stuff. This is the one I use for my exams and recommend to clients all the time. You can easily order it from Amazon.

 

• Perineal tearing during delivery is quite common and can heal without issues. But some perineal scars can be sensitive and not move well which creates persistent discomfort with intercourse. Fix = A pelvic PT can perform hands on treatment to desensitize the scar and get it moving freely without pain.

 

• The pelvic floor muscles can be tender, shortened, or irritated after childbirth. Even if you’ve had a C-section, you can still experience difficulties from these muscles working extra hard to make up for other weak links in the core system. Fix = A pelvic PT can perform a hands on release for these muscles and also teach exercises to retrain how they are working as part of the core.

 

• Sexual desire and arousal can be lower than pre-baby from the exhaustion that accompanies being a new parent. Try having your partner take over for the bedtime routine so you can have 15 minutes of quiet relaxation time. This could look like a warm shower or using a small vibrator to help with arousal.

Whatever you do, don’t suffer in silence! As you can see, there are many reasons why sex may not feel the same as pre-baby so it is definitely worth reaching out to a trained professional like a pelvic floor PT. We perform a thorough evaluation to determine which reason(s) are wreaking havoc in the sheets and will provide you with a customized action plan to take back the bedroom. 

¹McDonald EA, Gartland D, Small R, Brown SJ. Dyspareunia and childbirth: a prospective cohort study. BJOG 2015: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.13263