Many women experience painful sex after birth. This does not have to be long-term, and there are steps that can help make it better.
Pain during penetration or sex after giving birth is called dyspareunia. It can be caused by hormonal changes associated with breastfeeding, which can lead to dryness and lack of lubrication.
Hot Bath
After you have a baby, sexual desires may increase. However, vaginal pain after childbirth can make sexual intercourse difficult. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever before you have sex can help ease the discomfort. A hot bath before sex can also help relax the body. Alternatively, if your lady parts hurt after sex, you can apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the area to reduce the burning sensation and pain. You can also stimulate yourself by engaging in oral sex.
Ice Pack
After nine months of pregnancy, breastfeeding and the sleepless nights that come with it, you might be surprised to find that sex doesn’t feel the same after delivery. Pelvic pain and vaginal dryness are common after birth, but there are ways to manage them that can make sex less painful.
Start by using a personal lubricant, which will help decrease friction during penetration. Estrogen levels drop after birth and breastfeeding, making the area drier. If this is a problem, talk to your doctor about using vaginal estrogen cream.
You can also use an ice pack wrapped in a towel to reduce inflammation and pain during sex. This can be especially helpful if you had an episiotomy or perineal tear after birth. You can even try some pelvic floor exercises like Kegels to strengthen the muscles of the region.
It’s important to be patient and to wait until your doctor has cleared you to have sex again. Women who return to sex too soon can develop complications, such as uterine hemorrhage and a groin infection. Those who had a cesarean section will need to wait until they are physically ready, which may be as long as six weeks after birth. You can get a better idea of how your body is recovering by talking to your OB/GYN at your postpartum checkup.
Massage
During pregnancy, it’s a good idea to massage your perineum to prepare the tissues for childbirth. Studies have shown that massaging the area may reduce the risk of tearing and lessen the need for stitches after delivery. It also increases skin and tissue elasticity, which can help the muscles and organs stretch easily and more comfortably during childbirth.
To perform a perineal massage, wash your hands and apply a light lubricant to the lower part of your vagina. Then, lie down in a comfortable position. You can use a pillow to support your head or a blanket to cover up. You can even have your partner massage the area, but they should use their index fingers instead of thumbs and insert them into the lower part of your vagina up to the knuckle (think of a clock face).
Then, push down with one or two thumbs. If you feel a slight stretching sensation, that’s fine; but if the sensation becomes painful, stop the massage. Don’t overdo it, as too much pressure can cause bruising and swelling.
Perineal massage may be done daily or as often as you like, but it’s important to do it consistently. The goal is to keep the area as limber as possible to prevent a tear or an episiotomy during birth and to make it easier to resume sex once you’re ready. It’s also a good idea to strengthen your pelvic floor by doing Kegel exercises.
Exercise
Every woman’s body, pregnancy and childbirth experience are different. That’s why it’s important to remember that there is no set timeline for returning to sex after birth. Instead, it’s better to take things slow and listen to your body.
If penetrative sex is painful, consider using a lubricant such as water-based lube that is available from pharmacies. Avoid oil-based lubricants as they can irritate the vaginal area and can damage latex condoms or diaphragms.
Aside from lubrication, you can also try doing pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels to help strengthen your muscles. This can make sex more pleasurable and less painful in the future.
You may also want to consider getting a prescription for a hormone treatment. This can be a great option for some women who suffer from pelvic pain after birth that does not improve with other methods of treatment.
One of the best ways to deal with pelvic pain after birth is to talk about it. Often, women feel uncomfortable discussing the changes in their bodies with their partners but it is important to open the lines of communication and find out what is making sex painful for you. It’s also a good idea to find other ways to be intimate with your partner without penetration such as kissing, mutual masturbation or massaging.