Women Typically Wait Six Weeks for Post-Baby Sex after Birth of First Child

Sex is certainly not the first thing on a woman's mind after she's given birth, and according to a new study from Australia, it typically won't even be a thought for at least six to eight weeks after.

A study periodically surveyed 1,507 first-time mothers living in Melbourne Australia about their sexual activity within the first year after giving birth.

Results confirmed that approximately 41 percent had resumed vaginal intercourse within a six-week period following delivery of their baby, with 65 percent at the eight week mark, 78 percent by 12 weeks and 94 percent by six months.

And, for those starting in the later periods, 56 percent of women still reported that they had engaged in some type of sexual contact by a six-week period after childbirth before resuming vaginal intercourse.

Operations such as a Caesarean section, or the use of forceps during delivery tended to delay the resumption of sex. At six weeks, 45 percent of women who had a undergone a C-section and 32 percent who had an assisted birth said they had resumed vaginal sex.

Those who had undergone problems within the region between the vagina and the anus reduced the likelihood of having sex at six weeks: just 32 percent of women who had had an incision and 35 percent who had sustained a tear had resumed sex at this time.

Because just 10 percent of women will give birth to their first child without suffering a trauma to the perineum, it is reasonable for most couples to anticipate a delay to the start of vaginal sex after childbirth, the researchers said.

"This is useful information for couples to know before their baby is born, and may help reduce feelings of anxiety and guilt about not resuming sexual activity sooner," said study researcher Ellie McDonald, of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne. 

However, as the study was conducted in Australia, it's not clear if the results apply elsewhere.