Sex After a Heart Attack

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Why is the interest gone after a heart attack?

“Probably the biggest barrier to sexual activity after a heart attack is psychological, resulting from the anxiety that naturally follows a major medical illness,” Neuberg says. Depression after a heart attack and preoccupation with having had a life-threatening event are not rare. But these fade within three months for 85 percent of survivors, according to the American Heart Association. So don’t nag. Instead, take it slowly and revive those early courtship rituals of romance.
  
“Avoiding sex after a heart attack can be an excuse for a partner who was unhappy with their sex life anyway,” Zussman says. “If there were problems before, a heart attack can intensify the avoidance.”

If you and your partner aren’t able to get back into the old routine after some time, don’t be afraid to talk with your doctor or a counselor.