How long after giving birth does ovulation begin?

The so-called ovulation is the process of the eggs in a woman's ovaries being discharged. Only mature eggs will be discharged. During a woman's lifetime, about 400 mature follicles are discharged from the ovaries. This is the so-called ovulation. If a woman has sex during ovulation, the probability of pregnancy is the highest. She will definitely not ovulate during pregnancy, so how long after delivery will ovulation begin?

How long does it take to ovulate after a normal birth ?

How long does it take for ovulation to resume after giving birth? Some women believe that as long as they have a baby, they will resume ovulation and menstruation. So how long does it take for this to happen? Understanding this issue can actually help solve the problem of "how long after giving birth can you have sex".

After the fetus and placenta are delivered, the mother's uterus and various body systems and organs gradually return to their pre-pregnancy state, and ovulation and menstruation also restart.

1. Recovery time is related to breastfeeding

The recovery of ovulation after delivery is related to whether the mother breastfeeds and the length of breastfeeding. For mothers who do not breastfeed after delivery, ovulation is rare within four weeks. About 10%-15% ovulate within 6 weeks after delivery, and 30% ovulate within 3 months after delivery. Ovulation resumes later in lactating women, usually 4-6 months after delivery, but some may ovulate as early as 6 weeks after delivery. In addition, the age and obesity of the mother may also have a certain impact. Data from Japan show that for mothers over 34 years old and obese, the time of the first ovulation in the postpartum period tends to be delayed.

The time of resumption of menstruation after childbirth is also related to whether the mother is breastfeeding. For those who do not breastfeed after delivery, menstruation can generally resume 6-8 weeks after delivery. The first 1-2 menstruations are mostly anovulatory menstruation, which will resume ovulatory menstruation after 3 months. The percentage of menstrual recovery in lactating women gradually increases with time, reaching 70% by 9 months after delivery. Generally, those who resume menstruation late will ovulate during their first menstruation, so breastfeeding women may become pregnant before their menstruation resumes.

However, extending the breastfeeding period to control fertility is not a reliable method of birth control. Instead, it may affect the nutrition and health of mother and baby. After the full month, contraceptive measures should be taken from the first sexual intercourse after delivery. Appropriate contraceptive methods during breastfeeding may include condoms, etc. Since the estrogen in contraceptives can reduce milk secretion and lower its quality, and can also enter the breast milk and have adverse effects on newborns, new mothers who are breastfeeding should not use short-acting oral contraceptives.

2. Other influencing factors

In addition to breastfeeding, which is the biggest influencing factor, whether the mother has other complications, medication status, rest, mental and psychological condition, fatigue level, and general health condition all have a great impact. For example, complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, infection, hypertension, and depression can delay ovulation and menstruation to varying degrees; excessive fatigue or excessive psychological burden and mental stimulation are not conducive to ovulation and menstruation recovery. On the contrary, a regular daily routine, a proper balance between work and rest, good nutrition, and a good mood are undoubtedly very beneficial to the resumption of ovulation and menstruation.