What are the factors that contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction in breastfeeding women? A systematic scoping review protocol

Abstract

IntroductionFemale sexual dysfunction is a public health problem. Evidence suggests that the population of nursing women is more vulnerable to the phenomenon due to breast feeding. Thus, this protocol was developed to explore the factors that contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction in breastfeeding women.Methods and analysisThe systematic scoping review will be conducted in six stages, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. The databases used will be: PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The searches were made until 1 June 2018, and no retrospective time limit was used. For the organisation of the literature retrieved from the databases, the EndNote Basic manager will be used. The Cochrane model will be used for the data extraction. The analysis of the quantitative data will be carried out through descriptive statistics and the qualitative data will be submitted to thematic analysis. The methodological quality of the empirical studies will be evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.Ethics and disseminationAs it will be a review study, without human involvement, there will be no need for ethical approval. The results will be disseminated in a scientific journal, as well as in various media, such as: conferences, seminars, congresses or symposia.

What are the prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in breastfeeding women? A Brazilian cross-sectional analytical study

“…Although the knowledge of FSD in breastfeeding women is limited,36 and the prevalence of FSD in breastfeeding women is still unknown, previous studies have shown that it is a common problem in women postpartum, with a prevalence of 64.3% 37. Our current study showed that the prevalence of FSD in women who breast fed was 18.3% higher than the prevalence reported for the general population of women older than 18 years 5 20.…”

Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding and Maternal Sexuality among Polish Women: A Preliminary Report

“…However, this period is also marked by challenges, as two out of three women encounter difficulties related to sexual functioning, including decreased libido, difficulty achieving orgasm, vaginal dryness, and dyspareunia [ 14 ]. Factors contributing to reduced postnatal sexual activity include diminished interest in sex, postpartum pain, tender breasts, and lactation-related concerns (for example, uncontrolled milk leakage may be the reason for avoiding sexual intercourse for fear of the partner’s reactions) [ 5 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Notably, breastfeeding women report sexual dysfunction or inactivity more frequently than their non-breastfeeding counterparts [ 9 ].…”