Pelvic floor, activity, sex and contraception
Leaking urine, pelvic pain or heaviness can happen after birth, and help is available, including pelvic-floor assessment. Talk with your care team about when to return to exercise, sex and contraception.
Most important
Mention symptoms
Tell your clinician about leaking, pain or bowel changes. They are common but treatable.
What may happen
- Some leaking when coughing or lifting.
- Questions about contraception at your follow-up.
Why
Pregnancy and birth stretch and sometimes injure pelvic tissues.
What varies
When to resume sex and exercise depends on your healing and your clinician's advice.
Questions to ask
- I am leaking urine. Can I be referred for pelvic-floor care?
- When is it safe for me to have sex or exercise again?
- What contraception options suit me?
Prototype draft. Not yet clinically reviewed. Your own care team's instructions come first. About this app
Sources
Summaries are drafted from these public sources. No hospital has endorsed this app.
University of Michigan Health · Ann Arbor / regional specialty care
Healthy Healing After Delivery Program(opens in a new tab)- Published
- Date not stated
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Read from a search index copy
Applies to: Published by one health system. Procedures at your hospital may differ.
Limitations: Program says available regardless of delivery hospital; verify current scheduling and coverage.
ACOG · National professional guidance
Optimizing Postpartum Care(opens in a new tab)- Published
- 2018-05
- Checked
- 2026-10-24
- Access
- Search index copy only; full page is paywalled
Applies to: National or state guidance, not a hospital procedure.
Limitations: General timing is not sufficient for high-risk patients; verify current guideline at implementation.