Patient's question:
Other: My wife has given birth to a baby. How long before we can have sex again?Doctor's answer:
After a 42-day check-up, there will be no issues if everything is fine. From conception to delivery, a woman's body undergoes significant changes, and it takes some time for her to recover postpartum. The reproductive system undergoes the most substantial changes, and due to potential minor or major injuries during delivery, it requires a longer recovery period.Generally, sexual intercourse should be avoided within 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. During this time, the vaginal walls are relatively fragile and prone to injury, making sexual activity more likely to cause vaginal lacerations and excessive bleeding. Additionally, the uterus has not fully healed, and sexual intercourse could introduce bacteria, leading to endometritis and inflammation of associated organs. Furthermore, injuries to the external genitalia and vagina sustained during childbirth may delay healing if sexual activity occurs too soon, potentially causing infection.
Therefore, women should avoid sexual intercourse within 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. During sexual activity, husbands should pay special attention to the following:
① The duration of sexual activity should not be too long to avoid disrupting the wife's rest and excessive energy expenditure. Each session should ideally last 20 to 30 minutes, with more emphasis on affectionate gestures.
② Husbands should avoid being overly aggressive during intercourse to prevent harming the wife's recently healed vagina.
③ Husbands should take care to protect their wives' breasts during sexual activity. At this stage, the breasts are often full of milk, and pressure can lead to breast conditions.