Sexuality in the puerperium: the experience of a group of women

Abstract

RESUMOO puerpério é um período de grandes transformações no âmbito fisiológico, psicológi-co e sócio-cultural na vida da mulher. A sexualidade feminina é tema amplo, que deve ser explorado frente à singularidade de suas vivências, em diversos momentos. Este artigo é parte do projeto Sexualidade no Puerpério, que teve como objetivo compreender como as mulheres vivenciam a sexualidade nesse período. A abordagem da pesquisa foi qualitativa e a narrativa foi o elemento conceitual e metodológico, com a utilização de observação e entrevista semi-estruturada. Participaram do estudo seis prímiparas que tiveram seus partos em um hospital público de São Paulo. A observação ocorreu na unidade de internação no pós-parto imediato. As entrevistas foram realizadas nos seus domicílios. Os resultados permitiram compreender os significados e as mudanças na sexualidade durante o período, bem como as vivências de cada mulher frente aos novos papéis, aos relacionamentos e às dificuldades. DESCRITORES ABSTRACTPuerperium is a period of great changes in women's lives, in physiological, psychological and socio-cultural terms. Female sexuality is a broad topic that should be explored vis-à-vis the singularity of woman's experiences which themselves vary at different moments in time. This article is part of the project: Sexuality in the Puerperium, the objective of which was to understand what women's experience of their sexuality is in the postpartum period. Observation and semi-structured interview were used. The research approach was qualitative and narrative was used as the conceptual and methodological method. Six primiparas who gave birth in a public hospital in São Paulo took part in the study. Observation took place in the in-patients unit in the immediate post-partum period. The interviews were conducted in the women´s homes. The results of the study have enabled an understanding to be formed of the meanings and changes in sexuality during the postpartum period as well as of the experiences every woman faces in her new roles, relationships and difficulties. KEY WORDS RESUMENEl puerperio es un período de grandes transformaciones en los ámbitos fisiológi-co, psicológico y sociocultural de la vida de la mujer. La sexualidad femenina es un tema amplio que debe ser explorado tomando en cuenta la singularidad de sus experiencias en los diversos momentos. Este artículo es parte del proyecto: Sexualidad en el Puerperio, que tuvo como objetivo comprender el modo en que las mujeres experimentan la sexualidad en el puerperio. El abordaje de la investigación fue cualitativo, y la narrativa se constituyó en el elemento conceptual y metodológico, habiéndose utilizado la observación y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Participaron del estudio seis primerizas que tuvieron sus partos en un hospital público de São Paulo, Brasil. La observación tuvo lugar en la unidad de internación en el postparto inmediato. Las entrevistas se realizaron en domicilio. Los resultados permitirán comprender los significados y cambios en la sexualidad durante el períod...

Disfunção sexual e fatores associados relatados no período pós-parto

“…(4,6,13) In this sense, although sexual dysfunctions are well known, they are not diagnosed, because of inhibition of the woman who does not have a complaint, or the physician, who is uncomfortable to investigate. The diagnosis is relevant, since this problem interferes with quality of life, besides being associated with health issues in general.…”

“…(13,15) Trying to combine maternal functions with other conducted in society, for example, working, some women end up putting their needs as a last plan, running out of time, disposition and physical and/or emotional conditions for satisfactory performance of their sexuality. (13,15) The results confirm this fact by highlighting working hours over 8 hours/daily, boosted by 12% with each additional hour work daily journey, which contributes to the presence of female sexual dysfunction.…”

Influências, crenças e práticas no autocuidado das puérperas

“…Respecting this restriction puts their desires to the background but, according to the interviewed women's belief, it is fundamental. In that sense, far beyond simple pleasure, intimate contact is surrounded by feelings, exchange of affection, so that many partners understand women's need to maintain sexual abstinence (7) . On the other hand, some men do not understand this need (10) , either out of fear, lack of desire or simply to comply with a belief.…”

“…Studies reveal that puerperal women's main doubts relate to diet, bodily hygiene, physical exercise and sexual intercourse (2,(5)(6)(7) . The belief in hypogalactia makes them emphasize foods that are considered lactogenic, including canjica, milk and rice pudding (5) .…”

“…Feelings and concerns related to sexual intercourse, then, are mainly related to fear of pain, belief in the need to respect the quarantine, the partner's desires and childcare (7) . Therefore, each puerperal woman should be approached holistically, considering not only the biological body, but extending care beyond the woman's physical assessment, sharing with her what the birth of a child represents and also attempting to understand what she thinks about the changes in her body and how she performs her self-care.…”