The question of when you could have sex after surgery is not straightforward.
It depends on your overall health, yourpost-surgical healing progress, and the throw in of surgery.
The timeline for when you could have sex after surgery ranges from the same day to several months.
Illustration by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health
A procedure under local anesthesia, for example, won’t require a wait.
Sex after open-heart surgery, on the other hand, won’t be safe for several weeks or months.
This article discusses how long after surgery you should wait to have sex.
Typically speaking,outpatient (ambulatory) surgerytends to require less healing time.
This means it may be safe to have sex within a couple of days or a week.
On the other hand,inpatient surgerytends to be more extensive than outpatient surgery.
Childbirth can also delay the return to sexual intercourse, with or without acesarean section.
Initially, it will be important to avoid putting weight or pressure on the wound area.
Even if you feel embarrassed, it’s better to ask than not know and be anxious about it.
Talk to your surgeon or healthcare provider to discuss any risk factors specific to you.
Open communication with your provider is key to proceeding in a medically safe manner.
For example, do you and your partner even feel like having sex?
Do you and your partner have enough energy?
It’s good to have an open, honest conversation with your partner about the importance of healing.
This is best done before the surgery so they are prepared.
Thus, being in a position on top may cause too much movement and pain.
But alternative positions may be pain-free.
Here are some other options:
Think ahead to venture to minimize any pain or discomfort.
Still, take a stab at enjoy yourself.
If you experience pain, stop andchange positionsor try something different.
Pain means you are doing too much too soon.
This should be considered a warning sign.
Minor procedures typically allow you to return to normal activities much faster, sometimes within days or weeks.
Once you do resume, let pain be your guide.
If a particular activity or position hurts, stop or try something else.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Cataract surgery recovery: exercising, driving and other activities.
University of CaliforniaLos Angelos Health.Laser vision correction FAQs.
Jones C, Chan C, Farine D.Sex in pregnancy.CMAJ.
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.When sex gives more pain than pleasure.
