How soon after childbirth can one resume sexual intercourse?
Disease description:
My wife and I have just welcomed our new baby, and my wife is currently in the postpartum recovery phase. We would like to know how long we should wait before resuming sexual intercourse after childbirth. I understand that the body needs time to recover after delivery, and I'm concerned that resuming intercourse too soon might affect my wife's health. Therefore, we would appreciate it if you could advise us on an appropriate time frame.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
How long after childbirth before resuming sexual intercourse depends on the overall recovery of the mother's body. Generally, it is recommended to wait 2-3 months postpartum before resuming sexual activity.
For women who experienced a vaginal delivery, if their bodies have recovered normally, sexual intercourse can be considered approximately two months after childbirth. This is because vaginal delivery may cause some damage to the reproductive organs, including the vagina, and lochia (postpartum vaginal discharge) will be present. Around 6-8 weeks postpartum, the reproductive system usually recovers largely to its pre-pregnancy state, and the lochia has typically cleared, making sexual intercourse relatively safe at this time.
For cesarean section mothers, due to wounds in the abdomen and uterus, the recovery period is longer, and it is recommended to wait three months postpartum before resuming sexual activity. The uterine incision requires adequate time to heal completely; early resumption of sexual intercourse may lead to infections, impair uterine recovery, and even result in severe complications such as uterine rupture.
In addition, attention should be paid to the mother's physical condition. If during postpartum follow-up examinations, the doctor identifies issues such as infection or poor uterine involution, the resumption of sexual activity should be postponed until full recovery. Also, hormonal changes after childbirth may lead to decreased libido or vaginal dryness, which requires mutual understanding and communication between the couple. Adequate preparation should be made to ensure that sexual intercourse is comfortable and safe.
