Why does a woman's sex drive drop after she gives birth?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Because of a dramatic falloff in estrogen, it's likely your sex drive will drop dramatically immediately after birth and remain low for several months if you are breastfeeding. You lose your libido and the lining of your vaginal canal thins out, making sex feel like you're losing your virginity all over again (plus there's added pain if you've had stitches or an episiotomy).
Also, because a pregnancy so soon after delivery would mean that nutrients would be diverted to one offspring at the expense of another, and because your body needs extra time to heal after the rigors of childbirth, your sex drive drops as a hormonally mediated protective mechanism.
Now add in other, more subtle complications of post-pregnancy libido: You may feel guilty because you haven't had sex in a long time, and he has conflicted thoughts about going back in to the place where he watched his child come out. It's tricky all the way around.
Find out more about this book: YOU: Having a Baby: The Owner's Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy
Because of a dramatic falloff in estrogen, it's likely your sex drive will drop dramatically immediately after birth and remain low for several months if you are breastfeeding. You lose your libido and the lining of your vaginal canal thins out,... More -
Dr. Hilda Hutcherson of Good In Bed answered:You’ve gotten the go-ahead for sex from your physician. But a green light doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to step on the gas. Although your partner may be raring to go (and maybe he isn’t, either), sex might be the last thing on your mind. Here’s why: Hormones, hormones, hormones. It makes sense: The hormone levels that skyrocketed during pregnancy now plummet, taking your sex drive with them. If you’re breastfeeding, your libido can take another hit as your body starts releasing prolactin, a hormone associated with decreased sexual desire. Once you finish nursing and your hormone levels even out, your libido should return.
You’ve gotten the go-ahead for sex from your physician. But a green light doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to step on the gas. Although your partner may be raring to go (and maybe he isn’t, either), sex might be the... More
