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Patient Questions  /  Painful sex after childbirth

Women’s Pelvic Health

Is Sex Supposed to Hurt After Childbirth?

Some discomfort the first few times is common, but ongoing pain is not something you have to accept. Healing tissue, scar tightness, dryness while breastfeeding and tense pelvic floor muscles are frequent causes, and all are treatable.

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Common causes

  • Healing tears or an episiotomy can leave tender or tight scar tissue.
  • Vaginal dryness. Estrogen levels are low after birth, especially while breastfeeding, which can make tissue drier and more sensitive.
  • Tight or guarded pelvic floor muscles. After pain, the muscles can tense up in anticipation, which causes more pain.
  • Tiredness, stress and worry about pain play a part too.

What helps

  • Wait until your provider has checked that you've healed, and go at your own pace.
  • Use plenty of lubricant, especially while breastfeeding.
  • Try positions that let you control depth and pressure.
  • If pain continues, pelvic floor physical therapy can help the muscles relax, soften scar tissue and reduce sensitivity.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor promptly if you have:

  • Fever, foul-smelling discharge, or increasing pain around a tear or incision
  • Bleeding after sex
  • A lump or new pain that keeps getting worse

How physical therapy at ARI can help

Pelvic floor therapy at ARI is for women, always one-on-one. Treatment is gentle and at your pace: your therapist explains everything first, and you decide what you're comfortable with.

At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist, and our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Read our full guide: Pelvic pain and painful sex →

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

Related questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Request an EvaluationCall (661) 282-8584

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026