When can I have sex after an episiotomy? Sex after an episiotomy. How long will the stitches on the vagina heal after an episiotomy

29.06.2020 Heaters

Childbirth is a great stress for a woman's body, requiring a rehabilitation period. In the presence of surgical manipulations, such as dissection of the perineum, the recovery becomes longer and more difficult. Wounds need to heal, and tissues need to recover. If the birth went with complications, there are prohibitions in the postpartum period. It is allowed to restore sex after an episiotomy after two months.

When making an incision in the perineum and suturing, scars form on the tissues, which prevent the skin from stretching. The lack of elasticity creates discomfort during sexual intercourse in the first months of the postpartum period. The appearance of a seam entails a temporary numbness of the nerve endings around it, so the woman does not get the same pleasure from sex.

How soon can I have sex after an episiotomy? It is recommended to refrain from sexual intercourse for 2 months. This is approximately, some women do not feel discomfort until after 60 days. When you can have sex after an episiotomy, nothing bothers your wife, and the process brings her pleasure.

The duration of sexual rest depends on the severity of the birth complication. At the end of delivery, the uterus is a bleeding and wounded organ. Early sex after an incision during childbirth has consequences. It causes bleeding or infection.

As a rule, by the 6th week after childbirth, the woman ceases to stand out lochia. The uterus returns to its previous size, and its upper layer of myometrium is completely restored. At this stage, sex after childbirth with an incision is allowed to resume, in terms of medical indications.

Feel

A woman should come to the restoration of sexual intercourse on her own, as it can be painful to have sex after an episiotomy. Sometimes it is not the pain itself, but the expectation of it that provokes discomfort. To relax as much as possible, you need to completely trust your husband. You should ask your partner to be more careful and careful.

Pain occurs due to the lack of elasticity of scar tissue. Intimacy will become more pleasant when the seams are tightened. In the first time after childbirth, a woman does not produce lubrication, so it is recommended to use artificial means to reduce friction, possibly with an analgesic effect.

It often happens that the reason for the pause in the intimate life of a couple is changes in the life of a woman. On her shoulders are not only household chores, but also care for the baby appears, so there is no strength left for sexual relations. Episiotomy and sex are quite compatible concepts, the main thing is to allow the mother to rest and get enough sleep, then she will have a desire to have fun and relax.

Discharge is another nuisance that interferes with the sexual life of a woman in labor. A woman will not experience true pleasure if there is intense discharge from the vagina during sex. For both partners, this condition creates discomfort. In addition, during the period of lochia, the entrance to the uterus is completely open to infections. Therefore, a woman should not have sex after an episiotomy on the medical side.

Not every woman in labor feels pain and experiences discomfort during sexual intercourse after childbirth with a perineal incision. But even in the absence of signs of pain or discomfort, it is better to wait a little with the resumption of intimacy.

Before returning to life sex, you should consult a doctor. Only a gynecologist will give an adequate assessment of the state of the female reproductive system. Women in labor have different pain thresholds and physiological characteristics of the body. Anal sex after an epizotomy is also prohibited, in order to avoid injury to the sutures. It is better to refrain from it for about six months, because the pressure on the scars provokes new cracks.

Emotional barrier

It happens that the terms of the medical ban on sex have already passed, and the wife does not let her husband near her. You should not be afraid of such a state, you just need to figure out what is the basis for the lack of desire to have sexual contact. The reason may be in banal fatigue or everything is regulated at a subconscious level.

Nature has laid down that while the baby needs maternal care 24 hours a day, there is no question of any next child. Therefore, in the female body at this time, the level of estrogen is reduced (as a result of which the vagina is excessively dry even when aroused). If the delivery went with complications, the woman in labor, on a subconscious level, takes revenge on her partner in such a way that she had to go through difficult moments.

Often the lack of sexual activity after an episiotomy or other birth complications is due to a feeling of own unattractiveness. In the postpartum period, the figure does not acquire the best forms, but this does not mean that men consider their wives ugly.

Postpartum depression often becomes the basis for dulling sexual desire. If a woman is dissatisfied with life, does not cope with household duties, and everything around her is a burden, we are not talking about sex at all. Sometimes a mother thinks up fears that prevent her from enjoying an intimate life. Many are unreasonable, but some are justified.

Why is the mother afraid to have sex after childbirth with an incision:

  1. fear of pain;
  2. fear of waking up the baby;
  3. occurrence of a new pregnancy.

Many mothers in the first months of a child's life feel an emotional barrier before the resumption of sexual intercourse. You need to find a rational way out of the situation and apply it.

Methods for overcoming the problem

There are several effective ways to combat the lack of sexual desire. It is only required to choose a method for a particular case, depending on the nature of the occurrence of the trouble.
Takes to the doctor. If the reason for the lack of libido is the fear of feeling pain again, it is better to find out the condition of the genitals, the readiness for intimacy from the doctor. When the gynecologist gives permission and does not reveal pathologies, fear will disappear by itself.

Discussion with a partner. Family conversations will help a woman feel needed and attractive. A husband should encourage his wife in every possible way and show signs of attention. The only condition is that a woman needs to tell her partner what is bothering her. Then really solve the problem.

Having sex during the day. You can ask the grandmother to take a little walk with the baby on the street, and in the meantime have sex. This will remove two difficulties at once: in the middle of the day, the mother will not get tired yet, and will also relax, because she will not worry that the child will wake up.

Use of contraceptives. It is better to start immediately to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy so that the wife is not haunted by fear. At this stage, another baby is completely out of place. Use a spiral, hormonal pills, condoms and other contraceptives that are acceptable for breastfeeding. Only a gynecologist has the right to attribute a contraceptive, because there are many details, including weight gain due to taking hormonal medications.

For medical reasons, sex after an episiotomy is allowed to resume from 7-8 weeks. There are other reasons for the lack of sexual activity in the postpartum period. This is the pain of sexual intercourse, discharge, emotional unpreparedness for intimate relationships.

The husband should help to overcome the fears of the mother. It is important to support the wife, to reveal love, to participate in the care of the newborn. Then the appearance of a new family member will not adversely affect the sexual life of partners.

After childbirth, a lot of changes occur in the physiology of a woman, especially if the baby born is the firstborn. Pregnancy and childbirth is the biggest burden that a woman’s body endures in her entire life. Understanding when to decide sexual life after episiotomy.

Childbirth and pregnancy affect the sexual relationship of spouses very strongly. There are many factors influencing these processes: this is the nature of the course of pregnancy, and the state of the body during the postpartum period.

If the birth proceeded normally, without surgical intervention, then the uterus is cleared of blood remnants and returns to its normal state in 4-6 weeks. During this time, the uterus contracts, damaged tissues are restored.

During this period, it is recommended to refrain from intimacy. The genitals of a woman are susceptible to all kinds of infections, which can cause inflammation of the uterus. Also, during intercourse, bleeding from damaged areas may resume. In the event that childbirth took place with complications, the period of abstinence from sexual intercourse should be increased. In this case, only a gynecologist can determine the exact timing. Also, trust your gut. But don't forget to see your doctor!

You have probably heard that after giving birth, intimate life is already different. According to statistics, more than half of women after childbirth have a negative attitude towards intimacy during the first three months, and 18% during the year. This is explained by the fact that physical contact of this kind after the birth of a child can cause pain. If you were stitched, then damaged nerve endings could be clamped in them - it is they who will cause concern. This is why intimacy after an episiotomy needs special attention.

Often, pain sensations disappear with time - the nerves adapt to new conditions. You can also soften the suture area with special ointments, such as Solcoseryl, Kontratubeks and others.

After childbirth, the vagina becomes less elastic than before. But do not sound the alarm, usually the vagina returns to normal fairly quickly. You can speed up the process if you do Kegel exercises, which a woman usually performs during pregnancy.

Remember that discomfort during sexual intercourse can be associated with serious violations of the anatomy of the vagina. Sometimes, to help a couple to establish a sexual life, it comes down to operations.

If your birth was by caesarean section, you may not face problems with vaginal elasticity. But it is quite possible that the stitch on the uterus will bring you concern. The restoration of such a suture usually takes longer than the solution of problems in women who have given birth in the usual way.

Often women in the postpartum period are faced with a lack of extragenic hormones. This leads to depression and even vaginal dryness. This problem is solved simply with the help of various gels and ointments. The main thing is to carefully consider the composition of the drugs, especially if you are still breastfeeding.

And please do not be afraid after reading this article, some ladies, on the contrary, do not experience any problems with their sex life after childbirth. We are all individuals, but caution in such a delicate matter does not hurt anyone.

Be sure to read!

An episiotomy is a forced incision in the muscles between the vagina and the anus. The need for such a surgical intervention arises if a woman is to give birth to a large child or if it is necessary to speed up the birth. Usually, an episiotomy is resorted to extremely rarely, since the consequences of such an operation are unpleasant:

  • pain;
  • and feces;
  • poorly healing seam;
  • possible complications;
  • sex after an episiotomy brings quite noticeable pain.

After undergoing surgery, when the pain subsides, the couple begins to worry about the question of when it is possible to have sex after an episiotomy and how to do it painlessly. It is necessary to prepare for the fact that the sensations will bear little resemblance to those remembered, but this is a matter of time. But first things first.

How long will the stitches on the vagina take to heal after an episiotomy?

If there are no complications, then the operation sites will return to normal in a month. But for this, a woman needs to make some efforts. So, for example, it is recommended to avoid a sitting posture, observe thorough hygiene of the external genitalia, not have sex and treat incisions. Otherwise, it is rarely possible to avoid infection, due to which sexual activity after an episiotomy will have to be postponed for a long time. If the seams are still inflamed, then the following “home” measures can be taken:

Do not think that episiotomy and sex are incompatible concepts. After complete healing, you can again enjoy the caresses of your partner. It is likely that the first sexual contact will be accompanied by a feeling of stiffness and intense expectation of pain. Do not rush, use long foreplay, lubricants, do not neglect the relaxing effect of alcohol. Also find the safest position. This can be a cowgirl position or lying on your side, when the pressure on the perineum is minimal.

Recovery of the female body after childbirth on average takes about six weeks. During this time, the uterus acquires its original size, microcracks on the mucous membrane of the birth canal heal, and the woman begins to feel herself, as before, before pregnancy - feminine and desirable. However, under some circumstances, postpartum rehabilitation and the resumption of sexual life may take longer, for example, if an episiotomy was performed during childbirth.

Episiotomy is a surgical manipulation in the form of an incision in the soft tissues of the perineum to facilitate the passage of the fetus through the birth canal. Upon completion of childbirth, the incised wound is sutured, after which a suture is formed in the perineal region, which should be protected from tension and infection. As a rule, it is episiotomy that is one of the reasons for the late resumption of intimacy between spouses.

Sex after an episiotomy: when is it possible?

The inner surface of the uterus after childbirth is a vast wound surface susceptible to infection, so in a normal birth, you can have an intimate relationship after about six weeks. Adhering to medical recommendations, having sex after an episiotomy is allowed after about two months - according to doctors, this time is enough for the suture in the perineum to heal. Undoubtedly, in each individual case, everything is individual, because much depends on the severity of childbirth, regenerative functions, postpartum well-being, etc. If you are in doubt about whether it is time to resume sex after an episiotomy, it is better to consult a gynecologist.

Early resumption of sexual activity after childbirth is highly undesirable in the presence of:

  • pain in the lower abdomen;
  • bloody or bloody-mucous discharge from the genital tract;
  • unhealed suture after episiotomy.

Sex after episiotomy: physical discomfort

What problems do women face when having sex for the first time after an episiotomy?

  • Pain and discomfort
  • Narrow entrance to the vagina

Previously extensible and elastic tissues of the perineum after episiotomy are filled at the incision site with connective tissue, which is devoid of these properties. That is why the first sexual intercourse after childbirth in this case is often accompanied by discomfort, and sometimes severe pain, which feels comparable to the loss of innocence. Yes, and a man often has a feeling that he is depriving his chosen one of virginity, and the reason for this is an excessively narrow entrance to the vagina after an episiotomy.

What to do? Naturally, the first and most correct solution in case of problems in bed after childbirth is a visit to the doctor. During a gynecological examination, you can find out whether everything is “sewn up evenly and beautifully” or if you need the help of a plastic surgeon.

If during sex after an episiotomy a woman feels severe pain, then it may be necessary to increase the duration of foreplay, provide a romantic atmosphere and complete immersion in the process. Very often, a young mother is so afraid of pain that she cannot relax either physically or emotionally, which is detrimental to sexual relationships.

Dryness in the vagina after childbirth is a consequence of low levels of estrogen in the blood. You can fight this problem with the help of special intimate gels and lubricants, some of which also contain an anesthetic, making sexual intercourse as comfortable as possible.

A narrow vaginal opening after an episiotomy can be a real problem in the first months of sexual activity. The only sure way in this situation is to have regular sex after an episiotomy, in order to increase the extensibility of the tissues in the suture area. In most cases, after a few months of frequent intimacy, the problem resolves itself. In some medical sources there are indications that the use of special gels and ointments for the healing of postoperative sutures also helps with the problem with sex after an episiotomy. The most famous of these agents is Contractubex gel, which helps smooth out scars after an episiotomy.

Sex after an episiotomy: an emotional barrier

The first intimacy with a partner after the birth of a child in most cases causes alertness in a young mother - a woman fears that she will be hurt and uncomfortable. It should also be remembered that it can take from two weeks to six months to restore libido after childbirth, which also puts regular sex life on the back burner.

What to do? An attempt to “love each other” will be successful only if the woman relaxes as much as possible, forgetting for a while about dirty diapers, bottles and household chores. Do not forget about your femininity and attractiveness, because intimacy only strengthens feelings and gives self-confidence.

How will they return to normal life and in general, is there sex after an episiotomy? If you asked yourself this question, it means that your time for nightly love pleasures simply has not yet come. However, this does not mean that you can put an end to intimate life, just every woman needs time to resume sexual relations. You should also not delay sex after an episiotomy, as motherhood can completely absorb you, leaving your beloved man without attention for a long time.