Getting Your Sexual Health Back on Track After Having a Baby

Everyone experiences and recovers from childbirth at a different pace. Everything from your hormones to whether you want to breastfeed can affect your sexual health after having a baby.

There are many physical and psychological factors at play after you give birth, and these affect both your desire to have sex and the experience.

Many women experience feelings like shame and guilt around sexual health after giving birth. However, you can find help to manage your symptoms and improve your experience.

At Markidan Gynecology and Women’s Health, our gynecologist, Dr. Yana Markidan, and our team provide a range of women’s health and gynecology services at our office in Princeton, New Jersey.

How does having a baby affect your sexual health?

Just like your sexual health, the process of giving birth is complex and involves many physical, mental, and emotional factors. 

Depending on your circumstances, we will recommend how long you should wait before resuming sexual activity after giving birth. Generally, the range is between two to six weeks, but the timeline will vary for every woman.

When you give birth, the muscles that support the uterus and surrounding organs (the pelvic floor) sometimes undergo strain, bruising, and tearing. The cervix also becomes enlarged. 

Your body needs time to heal and recover to lower your risk of experiencing complications like infection and bleeding after giving birth.

Your hormones also play a significant role in how you feel after you give birth, especially if you choose to breastfeed. Many women experience vaginal dryness and soreness that can make sex painful and uncomfortable.

Emotional factors like stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep can also have a negative impact on your sexual health.

Getting your sexual health back after giving birth

Many women are uncomfortable and embarrassed to talk about postpartum symptoms and sexual health after childbirth.

Depending on your symptoms, there are ways to improve your sexual health, including pelvic floor exercises, physical therapy, birth control, counseling, and lifestyle adjustments to address factors like fatigue and lack of self-esteem.

Therapy and medication also help with symptoms related to postpartum depression, which affects approximately 15% of new mothers.

Everyone heals at a different pace, so the first step in improving your sexual health is to be patient and give your body the time it needs to recover after having a baby. Keep track of your symptoms, as well as your thoughts and feelings regarding your sexual health and activity.

Don’t wait to get help if you experience prolonged symptoms that interfere with your normal sexual activity, such as pain, discomfort, or lack of desire and interest in sex.

For more information about how to maintain and improve your sexual health after giving birth, contact Markidan Gynecology and Women’s Health today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Markidan at our office in Princeton, New Jersey.