First time mothers who had a Caesarean are more likely to report pain during sex even 18 months after having the baby. A new study found the majority of women resumed having sex three months after giving birth.
The study examined data from 1,244 first time mothers across six maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. The mothers filled in questionnaires at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. This was compared to women who had a normal vaginal birth.
Result showed that C-section mums had double the risk of pain during sex even compared to women who had a vaginal birth but who suffered a tear in their perineum the area between the vagina and anus but didn't need stitches.
By six months, 94 per cent of women had resumed having sex; 97 per cent resumed 12 months after giving birth and 98 per cent 18 months afterwards. However most of the women (86 per cent) who had started having sex again 12 months after the birth experienced pain. And nearly 45 per cent reported pain at three months after the birth.
Of those that reported pain during sex at six months after having their baby, a third said this pain persisted a year later. Women who had an elective Caesarean section, an emergency Caesarean section or a vaginal birth with vaccum extraction were twice as likely to report pain during sex 18 months after giving birth. The researchers said other factors may be associated with pain during sex at this time.
However, the study did not look at women who had had a difficult vaginal birth.
The researchers also did not offer an explanation as to why certain deliveries led to more pain than others. However they concluded that more understanding about how a birth can affect a mother is needed, and ways to prevent pain during sex should be explored.
Read more: Caesarean section - NHS Choices
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