The Impact of Birth Trauma on Sexual Health

As a licensed sex therapist, I frequently work with clients who experienced birth trauma and struggle with intimacy and sexual wellness in the aftermath of that. 

Trauma itself is a subjective experience. One woman might go through an emergency C-section and not find it traumatic. At the same time, another woman goes through that and is deeply affected and traumatised by that.

Birth trauma refers to emotional, psychological and physical distress caused by any experience during pregnancy and birth. Examples of experiences include experiences of premature labour, emergency C-section, traumatic medical intervention and anything causing fear of losing the baby.

Many women report symptoms similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a traumatic birth. 

Women find it challenging to talk about their traumatic birth, let alone seek help for it. They are told they should be grateful that they had a healthy baby. This stigma leaves many feeling unentitled to tell their stories, for fear of appearing ungrateful. In addition, women fear causing their baby harm if they talk negatively about their birth. This fear can easily leave them in the worst conditions, feeling traumatised and now alone in dealing with their trauma. 

How does birth trauma affect women?

Childbirth is a life-changing event. It shapes and shifts a woman’s sense of self, identity, perception of her body, and sexuality. And, it can change their desire for and connection with their partner. Many women are able to find their way back to their sexual self and reconnect with their own body, sexuality and their partner, but some find it impossible without seeing support. 

However, the distress caused by a traumatic birth can leave a lot of physical, emotional and psychological pain on women. They can suffer from painful sex as a result of birth trauma. They can experience flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, panic attacks, night terrors, depression, overall hypervigilance and feeling alert.

They find their symptoms not subsiding, regardless of how hard they try and how much time passes. This might cause feelings of guilt and shame for not having been able to move past their birthing experience. 

What to do next?

In discussing birth trauma, we should not forget the women’s partners. They can experience trauma as well. Seeing loved ones experiencing pain, and emergency interventions and fearing losing them is deeply traumatic. 

I would really love to help women reclaim their sexual wellness in the aftermath of birth trauma. In my capacity as a sex therapist, I can offer support to both individuals and couples to navigate this chapter, recover from birth trauma and co-create a sex life in the aftermath of that.

I wish you all the best.