Painful postpartum sex?

Here’s a postpartum reality people don’t like to talk about: after giving birth, estrogen levels drop. Low estrogen causes vaginal dryness. Ergo, many women experience dryness postpartum. Breastfeeding further suppresses estrogen, exacerbating and extending the issue. It’s a normal thing - it is temporary - and lubricant is an inexpensive and effective solution.

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Yet. In my experience, I’ve never met anyone who was warned by her OBGYN that she might experience painful dryness during intercourse - not while being cleared to have sex at a postpartum checkup. Yes - you should wait to have intercourse until you are cleared by a healthcare provider. But they should also be giving you a lot more information about your nethers - how they’re healing, how they may be affected going forward.

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The air of secrecy around this very common, minor, health condition contributes to a culture of shame about postpartum bodies. You can help by talking about it! If you’re pregnant or newly postpartum - ask your healthcare provider about it - and if you’re feeling brave (you did just birth a human, you bad ass), ask them why they don’t volunteer the information. If you are close to someone pregnant/newly postpartum, give them a heads up (when appropriate).

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Bottom line - breastfeeding hormones can have a negative effect on arousal. Postpartum sex is best approached gently. If sex is still painful, wait a little while until you can consult with your doctor or (better yet) a certified pelvic floor PT. It’s very treatable. If you so desire, you can get back to your healthy happy sex life after baby ❤️

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