

You should wait before resuming sexual intercourse after the postpartum period. There is no need to worry if you feel a decrease in desire after childbirth during the first weeks; this is normal and will improve with time. As the days passed, the birth wound healed, and our friend began to recover and gradually regain her health, but something was not the same! She did not realize this until her husband, who insisted on returning to their private relationship, alerted her to it, only to discover that she was suffering from a decrease in desire after childbirth. Over time, the situation did not improve, and this problem became a source of concern for both of them. In this article, through the Dalili Medical website, we will discuss the topic of decreased desire after childbirth, and we will review its causes, the reasons for the husband's lack of desire for intercourse after childbirth, in addition to how to restore desire and return to a stable intimate relationship. Follow us
In this text, we will discuss when marital relations can be resumed after natural childbirth according to the opinions of scholars. It is considered that there is no legal impediment preventing a woman from returning to sexual relations with her husband after the end of the postpartum period, which is usually set at 40 days. It is preferable for the woman and her husband to wait until this period has passed before resuming intercourse, as having intercourse before the end of the postpartum period is considered disliked.
Initially, the man's sexual desire towards his wife may be affected as well as the wife's desire. However, with time and the effects of childbirth receding, desire may return to normal.
Yes, the increase in the dimensions and expansion of the vagina as a result of natural childbirth can affect the satisfaction of both parties in sexual intercourse, which may cause anxiety about the marital relationship after childbirth. There is no harm in resorting to methods to tighten the vagina after childbirth.
It is important to ensure that the cesarean section wound has completely healed, which usually takes about six weeks. It is important to choose positions that do not put pressure on the wound, so you can try several positions with your husband until you find a comfortable position for you, such as the rider position. It is recommended to practice Kegel exercises, as these exercises help restore the flexibility of the vaginal muscles and strengthen the pelvic muscles, which contributes to accelerating the healing process after a cesarean section. It is also preferable to use an intimate lubricant, as you may suffer from vaginal dryness due to hormonal changes, even if you have not had a natural birth.
There is not enough evidence to suggest that low sexual desire after childbirth is related to the type of birth. Just as you need a period of waiting after a natural birth until the uterus returns to its normal size, the cervix closes, the birth wounds heal, if any, and the postpartum bleeding stops, you also need approximately the same period to recover from the cesarean section wound, and the genitals return to their normal place and size, in addition to stopping the bleeding.
You should wait for six weeks before returning to sexual intercourse after childbirth, whether natural or cesarean. In some cases, it may take longer for the wound to heal, based on your doctor's advice.
But this does not mean that you should stay away from your husband completely during this period. You can enhance intimacy between you through hugging, kissing and caressing, as this helps to gradually restore desire over time, and facilitates the return to the marital relationship after the postpartum period.
Many women face a great challenge when they expect to return to the same desire they had before childbirth.
You may start waiting and repeating attempts, but to no avail, which raises doubts about your level of satisfaction with the relationship, and you may feel shy or frustrated. Therefore, it is important to correct this concept; nothing returns to the way it was. What happened is a change in the nature of the relationship, and what you have to do is rediscover your preferences and reach satisfaction again, and redefine those concepts within you. This does not mean that you will not be able to reach orgasm or enjoy the relationship as before, but you may discover new positions that you prefer, times and ways of satisfaction without comparing them to what was. So, stop building expectations, and start your new journey with an exploratory spirit!
In the weeks immediately following childbirth, you may experience some natural bleeding as a result of the uterus healing process, which is known as the postpartum period. Intercourse after childbirth may result in additional blood loss. In the first weeks after childbirth, the vagina may be drier and more sensitive, making its tissues thinner, which may lead to tears or injuries. In such cases, inflammation and swelling may occur in the vagina, which increases the likelihood of bleeding. If bleeding during intercourse continues after childbirth for a period of 4 to 6 weeks, or if it worsens over time, it is necessary to consult your doctor before resuming sexual intercourse, as you may have a tear or irritation that needs treatment.
You may experience many problems that hinder the practice of a satisfying sexual relationship for you and your husband, as some of these problems may improve over time, while others may require medical intervention. These problems include:
- Hypoactive sexual desire disorder, which is the absence or weakness of desire for six months or more after childbirth.
- Absence of orgasm (orgasm).
- Sexual arousal disorder, where you do not feel sufficient stimulation from sexual acts performed by your husband.
- Vaginal dryness after childbirth, or in some cases, its expansion.
- Feeling pain during sexual intercourse, which may be accompanied by bleedingF or vaginal irritation.
There are many reasons that lead to a decrease in sexual desire in women after childbirth, including psychological, physical and hormonal factors, whether the birth was natural or cesarean. The most prominent of these reasons are:
. **Breastfeeding**: During the breastfeeding period, the body secretes the hormone prolactin, known as a milk-producing hormone. This hormone hinders the secretion of estrogen, which plays an important role in enhancing sexual desire in women. Therefore, women may suffer from decreased sexual desire during the breastfeeding period.
. **Psychological changes**: Many women suffer from postpartum depression after childbirth, which is a common condition that is considered a natural complication of the operation. This depression can lead to mood swings, and decreased sexual desire is one of the symptoms associated with it.
. **Sleep disorders**: Sleep problems are one of the main factors that affect sexual desire, especially in new mothers. The baby often wakes up several times during the night, requiring the mother to stay up and take care of him, which leads to her feeling tired and exhausted, and thus a decrease in her energy and sexual desire.
**Feeling pain during intercourse:** After childbirth, low estrogen levels lead to vaginal dryness and swelling, and the stitches resulting from natural childbirth in the perineum area may cause pain, causing a feeling of discomfort during intercourse. This can lead to a decrease in the desire to have sex and the occurrence of frigidity.
**Loss of self-confidence:** The physical changes that occur after childbirth, such as sagging in the abdomen and thighs, in addition to the widening and looseness of the vagina, may negatively affect a woman's self-confidence, making her less willing to have sex.
**Difficulty reaching orgasm:** Low estrogen levels, along with fatigue and depression, in addition to the widening of the vagina after childbirth, can lead to difficulty achieving orgasm. This is due to the lack of friction between the penis and the vaginal walls, which may lead to a decrease in the desire to have sexual intercourse.
**Resentment towards the husband** Poor sexual desire after childbirth may be due to your resentment towards your husband, due to his lack of participation in the new responsibilities you face, and his frequent escape from the house. Some husbands may become an additional burden, as they demand that their wives not neglect housework without appreciating their efforts or showing any sympathy.
**Fear of a new pregnancy** After experiencing motherhood, you may start to worry about the idea of having another child soon. With the spread of stories of unplanned pregnancy in the first months after childbirth in women's conversations, this anxiety may turn into terror that makes you avoid marital relations most of the time. Therefore, it is important to choose an appropriate method of contraception before returning to relations after childbirth.
**Diseases that affect sexual desire** There are many non-sexual diseases that can affect sexual desire, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and neurological diseases. After giving birth, a woman may suffer from one of these diseases, which leads to a decrease in her desire for intimacy.
**Benefits of waiting for a period before resuming marital relations after natural childbirth**
The benefits of waiting for a period ranging from 4 to 6 weeks before resuming marital relations after natural childbirth appear in several aspects, the most prominent of which are:
. **The importance of recovery after natural childbirth** The waiting period is necessary for healing and recovery from the effects of natural childbirth. Many women suffer from symptoms that may hinder the practice of marital relations, including:
- Feeling exhausted and tired
- Pain and dryness in the vagina
- Postpartum secretions
- The presence of vaginal tears
- Decreased sexual desire
- Postpartum depression, which is a common symptom.
. **Avoid complications**
The waiting period after natural childbirth helps reduce the risk of complications, such as:
Bleeding that occurs after natural childbirth
Uterine inflammation
The husband plays an important role in treating the problem of his wife's lack of sexual desire after childbirth, especially when the causes are not organic. Here are some tips for the husband on how to deal with his wife's sexual frigidity after childbirth:
**Understanding and care:** Having and raising a child requires a lot of physical effort and a long time, which may cause psychological pressure on the wife and make her unable to meet the husband's sexual needs while she is busy with the child. Therefore, the husband must understand her situation and show her support, without pressuring her or making her feel that she no longer cares about him or loves him.
**Helping and supporting her:** The husband can help his wife overcome this problem by providing support in childcare or contributing to housework. This will enable her to have enough time to relax and regain her energy and sexual desire.
**Flirting:** At this stage, a woman needs psychological support to enhance her confidence in herself and her body. Some kind words and gentle flirting can contribute to enhancing her confidence in her appearance and restoring her sexual desire, which helps her overcome sexual frigidity.
**Discussing matters with the wife:** It is useful to discuss the problem with the wife and try to understand the reasons for her aversion and unwillingness to have an intimate relationship. This dialogue makes her feel important to you and enhances feelings of love and sympathy between you, which may contribute to reviving her sexual desire again.
**Avoid coercion in an intimate relationship:** The husband should refrain from forcing the wife to have an intimate relationship, as this may exacerbate the problem and increase her aversion.
There are many treatments that can beTo help treat the main causes of frigidity. It is important not to worry about a decrease in sexual desire during this period, as once breastfeeding stops or the menstrual cycle returns, the estrogen level will return to normal, which leads to the restoration of sexual desire naturally. Among the available drug treatments for the problem of frigidity after childbirth are:
- **Antidepressants**: Some antidepressants can help women overcome postpartum depression, which contributes to improving sexual desire associated with the psychological state. However, it must be emphasized that it is necessary to consult a doctor before taking any antidepressants.
- **Painkillers**: Painkillers such as paracetamol can help relieve pain during intercourse, especially if the pain is caused by stitches in the perineum after natural childbirth.
**Estrogen therapy**: Estrogen pills contribute to enhancing the secretion of lubricating substances in the vagina, and also work to increase sexual desire in women, which helps in treating the problem of frigidity. However, it is advisable not to use oral estrogen supplements during breastfeeding, as they may affect milk production. Alternatively, vaginal estrogen can be used.
**Vaginal suppositories:** Vaginal suppositories, especially those containing vitamin E, can be effective in moisturizing and tightening the vagina, which helps treat dryness and dilation, and treats the problem of frigidity resulting from these factors.
**Flibanserin:** Flibanserin is considered one of the medications that enhance sexual desire in women, especially in cases where frigidity is caused by fatigue, exhaustion, or depression after childbirth, and not due to organic problems.
There are many safe herbal treatments that can be used to treat frigidity in women, especially after childbirth. Here are some of the most effective of these herbs:
- **Fenugreek**: Fenugreek is considered one of the beneficial natural substances that are recommended to be taken after childbirth, especially for breastfeeding mothers, as it enhances milk production in the breast. Fenugreek is also considered a natural sexual stimulant that can help treat frigidity. One cup a day is enough to get the desired benefits, but it is preferable not to overdo it because it may lead to weight gain.
- **Ginger**: Ginger is considered one of the herbs rich in benefits, especially in enhancing sexual desire in men and women. It is recommended to drink one cup a day, but women who suffer from blood pressure problems should avoid it.
Ginseng: Red ginseng is one of the many types of ginseng that are used to treat frigidity and sexual weakness in women and men. However, it is recommended to avoid it by people with high blood pressure or diabetes.
Cocoa drink: Cocoa is considered a safe sexual stimulant that helps restore sexual desire after childbirth. However, it is preferable not to overdo it to avoid weight gain, as it is sufficient to drink two cups of hot cocoa daily.
Ginkgo herb: Ginkgo herb contributes to enhancing sexual desire, and it is safe for use by women during breastfeeding. This herb is available in many forms, including dried herbs, powder, and medicines.