Why Sex Can Hurt After Pregnancy

Recovering from pregnancy is an unpredictable time in a new mom's life, and a phase that can be confusing if you don't have access to good information about what's going on with your body. During this time, your body is finding it's way back to its baseline after 10 months of pregnancy and the side effects of delivery. It's common for women to wonder about how certain things might change in the postpartum phase. If you've ever wondered, "is it normal for sex to hurt after pregnancy," you're not alone. Plenty of women are asking this question as they start to get their groove back after baby.

Even though your brain may be turned on and rearing to go, your body may need more time. According to Baby Center, if you had tearing and/or an episiotomy during the delivery of your child, it could take months for the area around your vagina to completely heal. Due to stitches and the severity of the tearing, it may be longer than the recommended six week mark before some women can resume having sex again. This may sound like a bummer, but giving your body time to heal will make it all the more enjoyable when you finally can get busy.

But it's not just stitches that can lead to discomfort during sex for new moms, even women who delivered via C-section can experience vaginal pain during penetration, as Dr. Baharak Amir-Wornell explained to Today's Parent. In fact, one reason that sex can cause cringing is universal for postpartum women, regardless of how they delivered. In this phase, your hormones are attempting to return to a balanced state after surging and falling during pregnancy and delivery. These hormonal changes can lead to vaginal dryness, as Healthline explained. If you're not using lubrication, this could mean more pain than necessary in your lady parts.

It's totally normal for sex to hurt after pregnancy, but keep in mind, things won't be this way forever. You're still in transition. And during this transition you can experiment with different positions, explore alternatives to penetration, and spend time cuddling and making out until your ready to go all the way, as What To Expect suggested. With a little patience and lot of communication with your partner, you'll be back to enjoying your fun (and pleasurable) sex life before you know it.