Painful sex years after c section?

[welshmum1230]

Has anyone experienced this? I had a section over 3 years ago now and sex ever since has been excruciating. I didn't have the best sex drive before and now it's non existent as my body subconsciously shuts everything down to protect itself.

I had a smear test a few months ago which was also really painful and uncomfortable, whereas my last one before pregnancy was absolutely fine with no pain.

I've tried everything to try and help (lube, coming off the pill etc) and nothing works - I've read there could be issues with the scar and wondering whether to push for a scan at the GP? Just got dismissed that "nothing was wrong with the swabs sorry". Also just got private health at work so could begrudgingly use that.

I would definitely go back and ask for further tests. I had some pain during sex within the first 3 months after my c section and the gp was great help. It thankfully got better on its own but the gp listened and explained that it was not normal so needed to be investigated.
Explain how much it’s also impacting your mood and if you get nowhere then I would use your private health care.

It may be low oestrogen causing some vaginal atrophy - have a google. You might benefit from getting some Ovestin prescribed.

If you have suffered from this and got better what helped?
Also does a csection cause vaginal atrophy?

I didn’t do anything actually, just over the course of a few months I realised it wasn’t as painful and then the pain disappeared altogether.

I’ve had a couple of c sections and I’ve not developed it.

Would a blood test pick up the oestrogen? I did have a blood test about a year ago to try and work out some fatigue stuff which was vitamin B deficiency, but no change to the pain with supplements etc, and nothing else flagged up (unless they didn't test for it?)

I have had significant pain with sex although in my case it was endo no a c section.

Scar tissue could be a problem,

We saw a sex therapist who referred me on to a private gynae physio who was able to help a bit.

The pain never really went away but sometimes it was better than others.

I have no problems 15 months later. I think go back to gp x

I had this after I had a difficult first labour that ended in an emergency section. GP’s couldn’t help so I saw a private gynae and he was able to tell me that I had vaginismus, where the muscles basically tense up so much it’s difficult to have smears, sex etc. My muscles were rock hard. I think I was mentally traumatised from all the examinations etc during a difficult labour and this caused physical symptoms and my body involuntarily tensed up so nothing could get up there. It was very painful.

I then saw a private gynae physio for a few months and she did a lot of pelvic exercises and relaxation techniques with me which helped massively and I had to practice these at home on my own too. I have to make sure I’m relaxed now before sex or my muscles can still become tense. It was the best money I’ve spent and even her just explaining what my body was doing because of my mental state was such a relief.

Also I make sure to tell whoever is doing my smear that I have have/had vaginismus and they’re great. Lots of deep breathing, use your hands to prop up your bum and also ask them to go slowly and use the longer speculum as my cervix is quite high up and the normal sized one was painful.

Go back to your GP and keep at them - it was all over the news the other day about how poor maternity care has let women down (the Birth Trauma Inquiry). They might be a bit more motivated to listen to you.

Definitely use private medical. There are lots of great gynaes out there. You might need to fudge the timings for an old problem to be covered.