How Long After Surgery Until I Can Have Sex?

After undergoing surgery, many patients are restless to get back to their day to day lives, and have lots of questions about what activities they can and can’t do. One of the most common of these questions, is “how much longer until I can have sex again?”

Unfortunately, there’s not a cut and dry answer to this question and ultimately, it all depends on the type of surgery you had, and how fast your body is healing. Some people might be able to have sex the day after they come out of the other operating room, whereas others will be forced to wait for weeks! That being said, there are a few guidelines that can help you determine when your sex life will be back to normal.

General Guidelines

For most simple surgeries, you’ll be able to have sex around the same time that you start integrating work and full physical activity back into your life. While most surgeons don’t explicitly mention sex when they discuss recovery times, they will provide a timeline for exercising and rigorous activity. If you had a day surgery, this might be one or two days, whereas if you have an intrusive surgery this will often range from 1-2 months.

As is the case with all post-surgery activity, a good gauge for whether or not you’re ready to have sex, is how much pain you’re in. If you feel like you’ve fully recovered from your surgery but still experience pain during sex, then you’re probably not ready. That said, you might be able to make some tweaks here and there that will make sex easy and comfortable during the recovery process. Even changing up your usual sex positions can make a big difference!

When You Shouldn’t Have Sex

While minor surgeries have a more flexible timeline for returning to your sex life, others require complete rest. If your surgeon tells you to stay away from activities like running, heavy lifting, and other strenuous labour, then it’s safe to say that sex is probably a no no.

Be Patient

Ultimately, the old saying “time heals all wounds” stands true, and the quickest way to get back to your normal sex life is by being patient, and giving your body the rest it needs to get back in tip top shape.