Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! New parents have a lot on their minds. Taking care of a new baby can be overwhelming with the new responsibilities, hormone changes and feeling exhausted. These changes can all affect your emotions and your relationships. Here’s Nancy McAlary, our Sexual Health Nurse, to answer the question that many parents ask, “when is the right time to have sex again?”
There are a few things to think about such as:
- When is it safe to have sex again?
- What if I’m not ready emotionally or am too tired?
- What about birth control?
To allow time for healing and to lower the risk of infection, it is recommended to wait four to six weeks before inserting anything into the vagina. If you have questions ask your health care provider at your follow-up postnatal appointment.
How long you wait to become sexually active again is really up to you and how you feel. It is best to talk to your partner(s) about how you are feeling and discuss ways to continue to be close and intimate. Intimacy can range from spending time together, talking, touching, to various kinds of sexual activity.
Intimacy can range from spending time together, talking, touching, to various kinds of sexual activity
Pregnancy can happen again just weeks after the birth of the baby, even if you are breastfeeding. If pregnancy is a concern, consider making a contraceptive plan and have it in place prior to sexual activity. To learn more about contraceptive choices after having a baby, talk to your postnatal care provider or connect with Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600.
For further resources on contraception and sexuality, visit www.toronto.ca/health/sexualhealth
