Breastfeeding can reduce sexual desire, how to deal with it?

Many things affect why a woman's sex drive decreases, one of which is because she is breastfeeding. According to Susan Kellog, Ph.D. from Healthy Women, it is true that breastfeeding reduces a woman's sexual desire. This is caused by hormonal changes during breastfeeding that can reduce a woman's sex drive. How can breastfeeding decrease sexual desire and change the balance of female hormones? Check out the full review below.

Why breastfeeding can reduce a woman's sexual desire?

During breastfeeding, the hormones in a woman's body will change. One of them is the hormone estrogen, which is known as a hormone to generate sex drive. This estrogen hormone will shrink while you are breastfeeding.

Apart from affecting the desire to have sex, this hormone also functions to maintain vaginal moisture and flexibility. Now, when this hormone is reduced, the vagina can become drier. Not infrequently when the penis penetrates, this will cause pain in the woman's vagina. This is what ultimately makes breastfeeding mothers less likely to have sex.

It should also be noted that during breastfeeding, the hormone prolactin is very dominant in a woman's body. This hormone is also needed in more levels to produce as much milk as possible for the baby.

In addition to the hormone estrogen which is inferior to the hormone prolactin, dopamine during a woman's breastfeeding also decreases. What does dopamine do? Yes, dopamine is a substance or compound in the brain that also plays a role in generating the desire to have sex with a partner and creating pleasure when doing it. This decreased dopamine condition usually occurs in women who are breastfeeding or have recently given birth. This will last for about 1-3 months.

Sometimes the pain in the breasts also increases the feeling of reluctance to have sex with a partner. Not to mention that the activity of being a new mom might overwhelm you, leaving you tired easily. Various kinds of factors are what ultimately reduce the sexual desire of breastfeeding mothers.

Maintain sex drive to stay hot during breastfeeding

The decrease in sexual desire while breastfeeding is normal, not your intention is deliberate, and it is natural.

So that your partner is not disappointed and the intimacy is more awake, it is better if you talk to your partner carefully. Explain until your partner understands how your body is doing now. You can also share this article with your husband so that he understands what is happening to the body of a nursing woman.

Then, don't forget to also find solutions so that your warmth and intimacy with your partner in bed are maintained. You can follow a few tips to stay excited and be able to have sex comfortably while breastfeeding in the following ways.

1. Try changing to a new position

The sex position you choose with your partner turns out to be one of the keys so that sex is not painful for breastfeeding women. Now, since breastfeeding will hurt, look for a safer position. Usually a position woman on top (woman above) or spooning (the husband hugs his wife from behind) can be a delicious alternative to making love.

In this position, the hands, knees, and the sides of the body (when doing the position spooning), will hold the body parts, especially the breasts. Breasts also do not receive too much friction or touch during sex.

2. Use sex lubricants

As mentioned above, during breastfeeding, the vagina will not release enough fluid as a natural lubricant. Not infrequently, women will feel pain during penetration. To outsmart, try using sex lubricants. Lubricants are designed to facilitate penetration in the vagina. Use a water-based lubricant to make it safer and more comfortable.

3. Reduce stimulation in the breast area

To avoid further decline in sex drive, you better avoid first or touch or foreplayin the breast area as a whole. Breasts are not only sore, they will usually get wet during breastfeeding.

However, this does not mean that you cannot maximize your sexual satisfaction with your partner. You can try touching, oral sex, or even longer kissing to satisfy foreplay with a partner.