Female sexual function during pregnancy and after childbirth

Journal of Sexual Medicine

Volumn 7, Issue 8, 2010, Pages 2782-2790

  Serati, Maurizio ^a   Salvatore, Stefano ^a   Siesto, Gabriele ^a   Cattoni, Elena ^a   Zanirato, Mara ^a   Khullar, Vik ^b   Cromi, Antonella ^a   Ghezzi, Fabio ^a   Bolis, Pierfrancesco ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF INSUBRIA   (Italy)

^b ST MARY S HOSPITAL   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Childbirth; Childbirth and Post Partum; Delivery; Female Sexuality during Pregnancy; Pregnancy; Sex; Sexual Function

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; BREAST FEEDING; CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION; CHILDBIRTH; DELIVERY; DYSPAREUNIA; FEMALE; FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION; HUMAN; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE; PREGNANCY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PUERPERIUM; SEXUAL BEHAVIOR; SEXUAL EDUCATION; SEXUAL FUNCTION; SEXUAL INTERCOURSE; SEXUALITY; THIRD TRIMESTER PREGNANCY;

EID: 77955239229     PISSN: 17436095     EISSN: 17436109     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01893.x     Document Type: Article

References (63)

1. Sexual health: Working definitions. 2002, http://www.who.International/reproductive-health/gender/sexual_health.html, World Health Organization, Available at: (accessed December 15, 2009
2. Basson R. Women sexual dysfunctions: Revised and expanded definitions. CMAJ 2005, 172:1327-33.
3. Pastore L, Owens A, Raymond C. Postpartum sexuality concerns among first-time parents from one U.S. academic hospital. J Sex Med 2007, 4:115-23.
4. von Sydow K. Sexuality during pregnancy and after childbirth: A metacontent analysis of 59 studies. J Psychosom Res 1999, 47:27-49.
5. Ekwo EE, Gosselink CA, Woolson R, Moaward A, Long CR. Coitus late in pregnancy: Risk of preterm rupture of amniotic sac membranes. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993, 168:22-31.
6. Kurki T, Ylikorkala O. Coitus during pregnancy is not related to bacterial vaginosis or preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993, 169:1130-4.
7. Mills JL, Harlap S, Harley EE. Should coitus late in pregnancy be discouraged? Lancet 1981, 8238:136-9.
8. Adinma JI. Sexuality in Nigerian pregnant women: Perceptions and practice. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 1995, 3:290-3.
9. Oboro VO, Tabowei TO. Sexual function after childbirth in Nigerian women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2002, 78:249-50.
10. Senkumwong N, Chaovisitsaree S, Rugpao S, Chandrawongse W, Yanuto S. The changes of sexuality in Thai women during pregnancy. J Med Assoc Thai 2006, 89:S124-9.
11. Fok WY, Chan LY, Yuem PM. Sexual behavior and activity in Chinese pregnant women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2005, 84:934-8.
12. Eryilmaz G, Ege E, Zincir H. Factors affecting sexual life during pregnancy in eastern Turkey. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2004, 57:103-8.
13. Brown S, Lumley J. Maternal health after childbirth: Results of an Australian population bases survey. BJOG 1998, 105:156-61.
14. Naim M, Bhutto E. Sexuality during pregnancy in Pakistani women. J Pak Med Assoc 2000, 50:38-44.
15. Byrd JE. Sexuality during pregnancy and the year postpartum. J Fam Pract 1998, 47:305-8.
16. Mous M, Muller SA, de Leeuw JW. Long-term effects of anal sphincter rupture during vaginal delivery: Faecal incontinence and sexual complaints. BJOG 2008, 115:234-8.
17. Signorello LB, Harlow BL, Chekos AK, Repke JT. Postpartum sexual functioning and its relationship to perineal trauma: A retrospective cohort study of primiparous women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001, 184:881-90.
18. Serati M, Salvatore S, Khullar V, Uccella S, Bertelli E, Ghezzi F, Bolis P. Prospective study to assess risk factor for pelvic floor dysfunction after delivery. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2008, 87:313-8.
19. Glazener CM. Sexual function after childbirth: Women's experience, persistent morbidity and lack of professional recognition. BJOG 1997, 194:330-5.
20. Bartellas E, Crane JMG, Daley M, Bennett KA, Hutchens D. Sexuality and sexual activity in pregnancy. BJOG 2000, 107:964-8.
21. Robson KM, Brant HA, Kumar R. Maternal sexuality during first pregnancy and after childbirth. BJOG 1981, 88:882-9.
22. DeJudicibus MA, McCabe MP. Psycological factors and the sexuality of pregnant and postpartum women. J Sex Res 2002, 39:94-103.
23. Aslan G, Aslan D, Kizilyar A, Ispahi C, Esen A. A prospective analysis of sexual function during pregnancy. Int J Impot Res 2005, 17:154-7.
24. Gokyildiz S, Bei NK. The effects of pregnancy on sexual life. J Sex Marital Ther 2005, 31:201-5.
25. Erol B, Sanli O, Korkmaz D, Seyhan A, Akman T, Kadioglu A. A cross-sectional study of female sexual function and dysfunction during pregnancy. J Sex Med 2007, 4:1381-7.
26. Pauls RN, Occhino JA, Dryfhout VL. Effects of pregnancy on female sexual function and body image: A prospective study. J Sex Med 2008, 5:1915-22.
27. Leite A, Campos A, Cardoso Diaz AR, Amed AM, De Souza E. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction during pregnancy. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2009, 55:563-8.
28. Kennedy CM, Turcea AM, Bradley CS. Prevalence of vulvar and vaginal symptoms during pregnancy and puerperium. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2009, 105:236-9.
29. Pauleta JR, Pereire NM, Graça LM. Sexuality and pregnancy. J Sex Med 2010, 7:136-42.
30. Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R, Ferguson D, D'Agostino R. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): A multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 2000, 26:191-208.
31. Kaplan SA, Reis RB, Kohn IJ, Ikeguchi EF, Laor E, Te AE, Martins AC. Safety and efficacy of sildenafil in postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunctions. Urology 1999, 53:481-6.
32. Barclay l Bond M, Clark M. Development of an instrument to study the sexual relationship of partners during pregnancy. Aust J Adv Nurs 1992, 10:14-21.
33. Master WH, Johnson VE. Human sexual response 1966, London, Churchill
34. Solberg DA, Butler J, Wagnes NN. Sexual behavior in pregnancy. N Eng J Med 1973, 288:1098-103.
35. von Sydow K, Ullmeyer M, Happ N. Sexual activity during pregnancy and after childbirth: Results from the Sexual Preferences Questionnaire. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2001, 22:29-40.
36. Warnock JK, Clayton A, Croft H, Segraves R, Biggs FC. Comparison of androgens in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorders: Those on combined oral contraceptives (COC) vs. those non on COCs. J Sex Med 2007, 4:227-34.
37. Barrett G, Pendry E, Peacick J, Victor C, Thakar R, Manyonda I. Women's sexual health after childbirth. BJOG 2000, 107:186-95.
38. Hannah ME, Hannah WJ, Hodnett ED, Chalmers B, Kung R, Willan A, Amankwah K, Cheng M, Helewa M, Hewson S, Saigal S, Whyte H, Gafni A. Outcomes at 3 months after planned cesarean vs planned vaginal delivery for breech presentation at term: The International randomized Term Breech Trial. JAMA 2002, 287:1822-31.
39. Connolly AM, Thorp J, Pahel L. Effects of pregnancy and childbirth on postpartum sexual function: A longitudinal prospective study. Int Urogynecol J 2005, 16:263-7.
40. Buhling KJ, Schmidt S, Robinson JN, Klapp C, Siebert G, Dudenhausen JW. Rate of dyspareunia after delivery in primiparae according to mode of delivery. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2006, 124:42-6.
41. van Brummen HJ, Bruinse HW, van de Pol G, Heintz APM, van der Vaart CH. Which factors determine the sexual function 1 year after childbirth? BJOG 2006, 113:914-8.
42. Dean N, Wilson D, Herbison P, Glazener C, Aung T, Macarthur C. Sexual function, delivery mode history, pelvic floor muscle exercises and incontinence. A cross-sectional study six-years post-partum. Aust N Z J Obstet Gyneacol 2008, 48:302-11.
43. Radestad I, Olsson A, Nissen E, Rubertsson C. Tears on the vagina, perineum, sphincter ani, and rectum and first sexual intercourse after childbirth: A nationwide follow-up. Birth 2008, 35:98-106.
44. Klein K, Worda C, Leipold H, Gruber C, Husslein P, Wenzl R. Does the mode of delivery influence sexual function after childbirth? J Womens Health 2009, 18:1227-31.
45. Safarinejad MR, Kolahi AA, Hosseini L. The effect of the mode of delivery on the quality of life, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction in primiparous women and their husbands. J Sex Med 2009, 6:1645-67.
46. Rogers G, Coates K, Kammerer-Doak D, Khalsa S, Qualls C. A short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) [published erratum appears in Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2004;15:219]. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2003, 14:164-8.
47. Arrindell WA, Schaap C. The Maudsley Marital Questionnaire (MMQ): An extension of its construct validity. Br J Psychiatry 1985, 147:295-9.
48. Fischman SH, Rankin EA, Soeken KL, Lenz ER. Changes in sexual relationships in postpartum couples. JOGNN 1986, 15:58-63.
49. Sayle AE, Savitz DA, Thorp JM, Hertz-Picciotto I, Wilcox AJ. Sexual activity during late pregnancy and risk of preterm delivery. Obstet Gynecol 2001, 97:283-9.
50. Paterson LQ, Davis SN, Khalifé S, Amsel R, Binik YM. Persistent genital and pelvic pain after childbirth. J Sex Med 2009, 6:215-21.
51. Minkoff H, Chervenak FA. Elective primary cesarean delivery. N Engl J Med 2003, 348:946-50.
52. Allen RE, Hosker GL, Smith AR, Warrel DW. Pelvic floor damage and childbirth. A neurophysiological study. BJOG 1990, 97:770-9.
53. Hicks TL, Goodall SF, Quattrone EM, Lyndon-Rochelle MT. Postpartum sexual functioning and method of delivery: Summary of the evidence. J Midwifery Womens Health 2004, 49:430-6.
54. Rogers RG, Borders N, Leeman LM, Albers LL. Does spontaneous genital tract trauma impact postpartum sexual function? J Midwifery Womens Health 2009, 54:98-103.
55. Baytur YB, Deveci A, Uyar Y, Ozcakir HT, Kizilkaya S, Calgar H. Mode of delivery and pelvic floor muscle strength function after childbirth. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2005, 88:276-80.
56. Klein M, Gathier R, Robbins J, Kaczorowki J, Jorgestein S, Franco ED, Johnson B, Waghorn K, Gelfand MM, Guralnick MS. Relationship of episiotomy to perineal trauma and morbidity, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic floor relaxation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1994, 171:591-8.
57. Brubaker L, Handa VL, Bradley CS, Connolly A, Moalli P, Brown MB, Weber A. Sexual function 6 months after delivery. Obstet Gynecol 2008, 111:1040-4.
58. Rosenbaum TY. Pelvic floor involvement in male and female sexual dysfunction and the role of pelvic floor rehabilitation in treatment: A literature review. J Sex Med 2007, 4:4-13.
59. Abdool Z, Thakar R, Sultan AH. Postpartum female sexual function. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2009, 145:133-7.
60. Stukey BGA. Female sexual function and dysfunction in reproductive years: The influence of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones. J Sex Med 2008, 5:2282-90.
61. Aslan E, Fynes M. Female sexual dysfunction. Int Urogynecol J 2008, 19:293-305.
62. Chang SR, Chang TC, Chen KH, Lin HH. Developing and validating a Taiwan version of the Female Sexual Function Index for pregnant women. J Sex Med 2009, 6:1609-16.
63. Malinowski B. The sexual life of savages 1929, 23. New York, Harcount Brace, Javanovick