5 Reasons to Avoid Sex Until You Feel Better

Introduction

“Mom, what is sex?” My eight-year-old son asked me recently.  After almost drowning with my Cheerios, I was able to investigate further and discovered that, luckily, it only referred to gender. I had gained a little more time to prepare for a bigger conversation. I admit it, I felt relieved. While sex is a normal and healthy part of life, talking about it can sometimes be a bit awkward. Still, if you have medical concerns about this, you should talk to your doctor. One of the questions I hear from my patients is whether it is safe to be intimate at certain times. Medically, there are only a few cases in which sex should be avoided.

1. Before a Pap Test: Avoid Sex and Follow These Tips

The Pap test has improved over the years, but basic technology still involves the analysis of individual cells under the microscope. Semen can make the Pap test less sensitive, so you should avoid sex the night before your annual exam. Honestly, your gynecologist would probably prefer not to find semen during an exam, so it would be polite to abstain before any pelvic exam, Pap test or not.

2. Unexplained Vaginal Bleeding or Pain During Sex

Most women will experience occasional stains or pangs of pain with ovulation, but if you experience persistent pain or bleeding, then you should avoid having this. Pain during sexual intercourse or bleeding after sexual intercourse may be signs of cervical abnormalities and should request a visit from your provider.

3. Postpartum Sex and Recovery

Women’s Health will experience a certain amount of tears after a vaginal birth, and even patients who are lucky to avoid stitches often have abrasions on the lips that can be very sensitive. Being intimate before the vagina is fully healed can cause wounds to reopen and increase the risk of infection, not to mention pain as well.

4. Avoid Sex When You Have an Infection

If you experience symptoms of pelvic or vaginal infection, such as a foul-smelling discharge, severe vaginal itching, burning, or pelvic pain, you should avoid having this until you see a doctor. Having sex with a vaginal infection is not only painful, but it can cause the infection to spread to the pelvic organs and become more serious, and obviously, if it is a contagious infection, you will not want your partner to be exposed.

5. Avoid Sex During Recovery After Surgery

This may seem common sense, but on several occasions I have had patients with significant complications after hysterectomies caused by having this too soon. Surgical advances have allowed patients to recover faster and return to normal much faster than before. However, sometimes, even if someone feels good, their guts continue to heal. With all surgeries, you should consult with your surgeon when it would be appropriate to resume sexual intercourse.

When to See a Doctor

One should visit a doctor in case of sudden pain, bleeding, and other uncomfortable feelings that may appear while doing intimate acts. Moreover, one needs to visit a doctor in case of unusual discharge, sores, or infections. Besides, after childbirth or surgery, you need to consult your doctor before having sexual acts. Also, never neglect such problems as erectile dysfunction and lack of interest in sex life. Thus, seeking medical advice will help you solve the problem quickly and maintain your health.

Conclusion

It is very important to know when one should avoid sex acts in order to be physically healthy and safe. Thus, one should always listen to his/her body and rest if he/she feels unwell. Moreover, open discussion with your partner is an effective way to prevent any difficulties in the future and build strong trust. So whenever you have doubts, visit a doctor in order not to get serious health problems. At Oms99, we suggest you make wise decisions concerning your intimate life.

FAQs

Q1. May I have sex if I am extremely tired?

Ans. No. Your body requires sleep for good health. Thus, it would be best to take sleep and gain energy before engaging in intimacy.

Q2. Is it wise not to have sexual intercourse during a yeast infection?

Ans. Yes. It will worsen the pain and itchiness that you may experience. Furthermore, you may also transmit the infection to your partner; hence, wait until healed.

Q3. Is it safe to engage in sexual intercourse after having a heart attack?

Ans. You should first consult with your doctor. Typically, engaging in physical activities prematurely places excessive pressure on your recovering heart.

Q4. Must I stop immediately in case of unusual bleeding?

Ans. Yes. Unusual bleeding is definitely a warning signal. Hence, you need to stop immediately and seek a professional’s help to determine the cause.

Q5. What should I do if sex hurts every time?

Ans. You should never force it. Since regular pain is not normal, you must visit a doctor to find the problem and get treatment.