No One Talks About Vaginal Dryness After Birth, But We Should
August is National Breastfeeding Month, and this month we’re going to highlight something that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: what’s actually going on with your vulva and vagina after you’ve had a baby and you're breastfeeding.
By now, it is common knowledge that birthing people will leak after childbirth, but what about the discomfort? How come we don’t talk about why sex hurts after? We often hear, “Why didn’t anyone mention this?” and that’s because a lot of us weren’t taught that dryness, pain, and feeling like you have a UTI can happen after childbirth.
If you’ve been following along our page, we have been talking about Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause for years now. In 2024, experts have come out with a study that highlights what’s really going on with the vulva and vaginal region after childbirth, and that’s called Genitourinary Syndrome of Lactation (GSL).
What is Genitourinary Syndrome of Lactation?
During breastfeeding, your body enters a temporary hormone shift. Prolactin (the milk-making hormone) rises, and estrogen drops a lot. This low-estrogen state is actually similar to menopause in how it affects your genitourinary system.
That drop in estrogen and androgens affects your:
Vaginal tissue – leading to dryness, irritation, and thinner tissue.
Urinary system – making you more prone to leaks or urgency.
Pelvic floor healing – which can slow down recovery if you had tearing or trauma.
Sexual function – it’s common to have discomfort or even pain with intimacy.
Why does this matter?
Because you deserve to understand what’s happening in your body and to know it’s not just in your head. GSL isn’t just “new mom stuff” to be brushed off. It’s a medically recognized set of symptoms with real treatments that can help you feel better and reconnect with your body.
Common symptoms we see at The Pelvic Model:
Vaginal dryness or discomfort with penetration
Pain during or after sex
Sensitivity or burning in the vulva
Urinary leaking or urgency
Feeling like your pelvic floor never “bounced back”
And these symptoms are not your fault, nor is it a mystery as to why it’s happening. They’re not about how many kegels you’ve done, how much you care, or whether you’ve healed “fast enough.”
What you can do about it
At The Pelvic Model, we assess and address many things postpartum that are going on in your pelvis. We work with you (and your unique postpartum story) to:
Address any musculoskeletal impairments like tissue changes, scar healing, muscle tone and function, and nerve irritation.
Assess any signs of vulvar hormone deficiency due to GSL including dryness, erythema (redness), tissue atrophy, pain.
Address dryness and discomfort with manual therapy, education, and tailored exercises.
Support recovery from birth trauma or tearing.
Help you get back to intimacy and pleasure on your own timeline.
Coordinate with providers if vaginal estrogen or other treatments might help.
*Note: The above is limited to areas regarding GSL. We can do much more assessment and treatment in other areas of prenatal and postpartum care.
With all things pelvic health related, we need to raise awareness
Because GSL is a new term, unfortunately a lot of OBs don’t screen for it yet. However, we can definitely help you with navigating your pelvic healthcare with current and up to date information so you can get the care that you need. If something doesn’t feel right after birth, it’s worth a conversation, and it’s something we can work on together with you. If you have questions about this or anything pelvic related, click here and we’ll get in touch with you.
