The unique physiological processes of pregnancy and childbirth cause varying degrees of physical strain on women, particularly subjecting pelvic floor muscles and the reproductive tract to significant stress. Older mothers inherently have weaker recovery capabilities, making many more prone to postpartum issues like perineal pain, dyspareunia, and uterine prolapse. Obstetricians and gynecologists emphasize that postpartum women should promptly address pelvic floor muscle relaxation.
Postpartum Injury #1: Vaginal Damage Leading to Dyspareunia
While sexual activity may resume one month postpartum under normal circumstances, most women fear intercourse afterward. This is because 63% of women experience perineal pain postpartum, with 10% still reporting pain 12 to 18 months later. This is often linked to episiotomy wounds in primiparous women.Due to the tightness of the perineum in primiparous women, varying degrees of tearing often occur during delivery. To prevent irregular tearing and protect the fetal head from excessive pressure, doctors frequently perform episiotomies during childbirth, creating wounds 3 to 5 centimeters long. Some women experience lingering discomfort at the episiotomy site even one month postpartum, leading to pain during intercourse.
Expert Advice
1. Persistent perineal pain may indicate infection; consult an OB/GYN promptly.
2. For dyspareunia, electrical stimulation therapy can induce passive contraction of pelvic floor muscles. This enables reflexive muscle contraction during intercourse, potentially facilitating orgasm.
Postpartum Injury #2: Uterine Prolapse After Delivery
The uterus is a remarkable organ. Before pregnancy, it is only egg-sized, but during pregnancy, it gradually expands, increasing its volume by 200 times before delivery. During pregnancy and childbirth, the ligaments supporting the uterus become overstretched or torn.By 36 weeks of pregnancy, the incidence of uterine prolapse reaches 52.2%, while anterior vaginal wall prolapse occurs in 37% of cases.
A 32-year-old woman sought medical attention after childbirth due to dissatisfaction with her sexual life. Examination revealed anterior vaginal wall prolapse, relative vaginal shortening, and mild uterine descent. Experts explain that lack of exercise and pelvic floor muscle weakness throughout pregnancy and postpartum are contributing factors to uterine descent. Women who are underweight or overweight, as well as older mothers, are more prone to uterine prolapse due to diminished muscle strength.
Expert Recommendations
1. Use a vaginal dumbbell for pelvic floor rehabilitation: Lie on your back, apply lubricant to the specialized vaginal dumbbell, insert it into the vagina, contract your muscles to pull the dumbbell upward, then stand up to begin the exercise. This helps restore and strengthen pelvic floor muscle tone, tighten the vaginal walls, and improve vaginal laxity.
2. Employ biofeedback technology to activate both deep and superficial muscles, targeting underutilized muscles (abdominals, adductors, etc.) for contraction. Rehabilitation training achieves approximately 50% effectiveness for mild pelvic floor muscle relaxation.
Postpartum Injury #3: Diastasis Recti after Delivery
Normally, the rectus abdominis muscles on both sides meet at the midline of the abdomen. Whether delivered vaginally or via cesarean section, approximately 60% to 70% of women show a two-finger-width separation between these muscles when tested on the third postpartum day. Even after the postpartum confinement period, 30% of mothers fail to achieve full recovery.
Expert Analysis: The uterus stretches and loosens the rectus abdominis muscles, sometimes causing partial muscle fiber tears. Postpartum abdominal muscle laxity and weakened contraction reduce abdominal pressure, leading many women to develop umbilical hernias—where the small intestine protrudes through the navel—due to this separation.
Expert Recommendations
1. Begin postpartum exercises starting on the third day after delivery to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles.
2. After completing the postpartum confinement period and recovering, incorporate swimming to specifically target abdominal muscle training.
3. Utilize biofeedback technology to enhance coordinated contraction of pelvic floor and abdominal-back muscles for treating abdominal muscle separation.
This pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy is suitable for:
- Women who have given birth vaginally or via cesarean section
- Young to middle-aged married women experiencing vaginal laxity
- Women with dyspareunia (painful intercourse) or low libido
- Women with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease or recurrent vaginitis affecting sexual function.