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Abstract

A pilot study was carried out investigating women's sexual health in the postnatal period. Postal questionnaires were sent to a cohort of 158 primiparous women approximately 7 months after delivery. Women who had resumed sexual intercourse were asked a detailed set of questions about problems experienced, sexual practices, frequency of intercourse, satisfaction with sex life, and consultation for postnatal sexual problems. All women were asked about the information they received on postnatal health prior to the birth and any information or help and advice they received from health professionals on the subject after the birth. Ninety-eight women (62%) responded. Women experienced significant levels of morbidity in the postnatal period; 3 months after delivery 58% experienced dyspareunia, 39% experienced vaginal dryness, and 44% suffered loss of sexual desire. These figures had reduced to 26, 22, and 35%, respectively, by the time of answering the questionnaire (approximately 8 to 9 months after delivery). Compared to before pregnancy, there was a decrease in frequency and satisfaction with sexual intercourse, although sexual practices changed little. Of the 67 women who reported a postnatal sexual problem, only 19% discussed this with a health professional. Conversations with health professionals in routine postnatal health contacts were mainly about contraception, and only rarely discussed problems with intercourse.

Sexual intercourse during pregnancy as a source of anxiety in pregnant women

“…It should be emphasized that the influence of the emotional relationship and mutual relations of the partners or fatigue of the pregnant woman on her sexuality as well as effect on delivery and sexuality after pregnancy are constantly being discussed [33,34]. The role of doctors in this case is huge, because according to studies conducted by Barret et al, only 19% of women talked about sexual problems after giving birth [35].…”

The Impact of Childbirth on Sexual Functioning in Women With Episiotomy

“…In this sense the authors report that, six weeks after delivery, most women declare their ability to reach an orgasm was improved in comparison to the period prior to pregnancy. Moreover, Barrett et al (1999) concluded that the difficulty in reaching an orgasm is most marked in the three months following the birth of the baby, returning gradually to pre-pregnant levels. In this sense, Signorello, Harlow, Chekos, and Repke (2000) state that six months after delivery 73.8% of the women included in their study were as likely, or even more likely, to reach orgasms as in the period prior to pregnancy.…”

Study of “Sex-Less” (Sex-Avoidant) Young Couples

“…What is also known scientifically about the decline following the initial excitement of marriage is that the decline deepens statistically with age and the duration of the marriage, and is also statistically correlated with the number of children. A series of secondary observations also come up in the literature about a peaking of the phenomenon of reduced sexuality following birth of a child (Barrett et al, 1999). Thus, in one sample of 98 postnatal women, 44% reported a definite loss of sexual desire.…”

“…However, these data are in their own right significantly substantiating of the clinical observations. (The reader is referred to Barrett et al, 1999;Call, Sprecher, & Schwartz, 1995;Doddridge, Schumm, & Berger, 1987;Frank, Anderson, & Rubinstein, 1978;Greenblatt, 1983;Jasso, 1985;Rao & Demaris, 1995. ) All the statistical data we have seen are in agreement that following an initially high sexual frequency at the beginning of marriage, there is a progressive and surprisingly early and intense decline in the frequency of intercourse.…”