Returning to sex after having a baby

For many women, returning to sex after having a baby isn't as straightforward as they expected.

You might feel dry, tight, uncomfortable or worried that something just doesn't feel right. You may have been told to "wait six weeks", but months later, intimacy still doesn't feel comfortable. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

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At The Physiotherapy Clinic, we understand that pain with sex after birth is common, but it isn't something you simply have to put up with.

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There are many reasons intimacy can feel different postpartum. Hormonal changes, breastfeeding, scar tissue, pelvic floor muscle overactivity, changes to the abdominal wall, and altered movement patterns can all contribute. Our role is to identify what is contributing to your symptoms and help you return to comfortable, confident intimacy.

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A whole-body approach to postpartum recovery

 

Your pelvic floor is only one part of the picture.​

 

Our physiotherapists assess how your pelvic floor, abdominal wall, breathing, posture, hips, spine and overall movement are working together. Rather than simply strengthening your pelvic floor, treatment is tailored to your individual presentation. For many women, this involves helping the pelvic floor learn to relax and move normally again.

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Your assessment may include:

• Pelvic floor assessment using real-time ultrasound, transperineal ultrasound and, where appropriate and with your consent, an internal examination.

• Assessment of pelvic floor muscle overactivity, coordination and relaxation.

• External and internal pelvic floor release techniques where indicated.

• Assessment of your abdominal wall, including muscle function and abdominal separation (diastasis recti).

• Assessment of your hips, spine and thorax to identify stiffness or movement restrictions that may be contributing to pelvic floor tension.

• A whole-body musculoskeletal assessment to identify areas of weakness, overload or altered movement patterns.

• An individualised treatment plan based on your goals, whether that's returning to comfortable intimacy, exercising confidently, or simply feeling more like yourself again.

 

Our treatment may include pelvic floor down-training, breathing strategies, mobility exercises, manual therapy, graded return to intimacy, education and a progressive exercise program designed specifically for your body and your stage of recovery.

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You don't have to navigate this part of postpartum alone. If returning to intimacy doesn't feel the way you expected, we're here to help.