Is My Vagina Wetter Postpartum?

In an ideal world, women wouldn't compare or critique their bodies. But the truth is women not only compare their bodies to other women, but to their own figures as well. After having a baby, it's not uncommon for a woman to compare her pre- and post-baby bodies and how the changes affect their emotional and mental health, physical appearance, and sex life. Now, unless you're having a C-section, you know your vagina will be majorly affected by childbirth. But what does that mean exactly? You might wonder if you'll need to address vaginal dryness, or you perhaps you'll question, "is my vagina wetter postpartum?"

As with almost anything, your specific postpartum vagina will differ from other women's. That being said, most women experience postpartum vaginal discharge, also known as lochia, anywhere from a few days to a few months after giving birth, according to the website for March of Dimes. At the beginning, it will likely be heavier and bright red in color due to the excess blood that's being passed in addition to other tissue. Over time, the color should lighten and the amount should lessen, though for some women, postpartum vaginal discharge sticks around for quite a while. You don't really have any way of knowing how long yours will last, you just have to wait it out.

If your vaginal discharge smells awful, you have a fever, or the bleeding is heavy, however, May Clinic suggested you talk to your doctor so that they can rule out the possibility of infection or other issues. Posts on mommy boards indicate that discharge that lasts long after giving birth — even if that wasn't something you'd dealt with prior to pregnancy — does, in fact, happen for some women. Understandably, this issue can be extremely embarrassing, as well as expensive if you have to wear a pantiliner daily. For many women, this problem does eventually resolve as their hormone levels continue to change and settle in postpartum.

Beyond vaginal discharge, some postpartum women also experience increased wetness during sex. Though many women experience vaginal dryness after giving birth due to changing hormone levels, it's also possible that you'll have the opposite issue. According to eHealthForum, after giving birth, you may produce "too much" lubrication during sex, likely also due to hormonal changes. It's far more common, it seems, to experience vaginal dryness postpartum, however, so don't anticipate a wetter vagina when you and your partner resume having sex.

Your body goes through so many changes due to pregnancy and childbirth, and your vagina takes the brunt of it. Although some of the changes — like postpartum vaginal wetness or dryness — are caused by hormones, take heart in knowing that hormone levels naturally fluctuate, so any issue you're experiencing likely won't last forever.