Sex after c-section?

[JusttheTonic9]

I had an ELCS 9 weeks ago. DH and I had sex last week and again this weekend but both times it was pretty painful for me. I'm not talking about the scar or my tummy, but about my vagina. It felt incredibly tight and painful.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Why would my vagina be sore when I had a c-section?? It was really uncomfortable. Needless to say we used a ton of lube. We were also using condoms for context.

Before 8 weeks post partum we last had sex at 37 weeks pregnant and it was all fine.

Bumping this

Has the bleeding stopped? I mean totally stopped, no spotting etc?

I bled for more than three months after mine, so we had sex more than 12 weeks after but I remember the first time being uncomfortable as well. We took things really slow but I didn´t enjoy it.

Similar thing happened after my miscarriage this summer. It wasn´t as painful as after C section, but I did feel some discomfort.

I´m guessing it´s somewhat normal as your vagina is connected to your uterus and your uterus just had a surgery.
We kept trying both times, it was less uncomfortable with each time and at one point everything got back to normal.
If that´s not the case with you, I´d suggest to see a doctor.

Thanks @yodl the bleeding had stopped I thought - last bit of spotting a week ago though so perhaps you are right. Thank you, that sounds like what we will need to do.

I had an emergency section as DD got stuck in the birth canal but we have had the same thing. Very tight and painful afterwards. It’s still a bit tight/sore a year later. I do think it could be due to hormonal changes and pelvic floor being weakened during pregnancy in general.

Interesting. I'm exactly the same to the point that my son is nearly 7 months and we've barely had sex despite have good sex all the way through pregnancy. If anyone had any solutions I'd love to hear them too!

Yes, I've had this.

We got back to sex a bit quicker (under a couple of weeks), and it took about 3 times before it was back to normal.

Within a month - 6 weeks it was fine with me. Idon't know if that's a time thing, or just that the first couple of times are tricky, but it's quite common apparently.

This is interesting. I didn't know that the vagina would be affected after c-section. Does lube and regular practice help?

Hi OP, I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling. Although the baby was born by c section, the body has prepared itself for 9 months so the vagina will still go through the changes, as though you were going to deliver vaginally. Blood vessels engorge etc which can make that area feel tighter and more sore. Hormonal changes will still have occurred too. Maybe have a chat with the Health Visitor or GP if it persists but usually things settle down.