Women's sexuality after childbirth: A pilot study

A pilot study was carried out investigating women's sexual health in the po stnatal period. Postal questionnaires were sent to a cohort of 158 primipar ous women approximately 7 months after delivery. Women who had resumed sexu al intercourse were asked a derailed set of questions about problems experi enced, sexual practices, frequency of intercourse, satisfaction with sex li fe, and consultation for postnatal sexual problems. All women were asked ab out the information they received on postnatal health prior to the birth an d any information or help and advice they received from health professional s on the subject after the birth. Ninety-eight women (62%) responded. Women experienced significant levels of morbidity in the postnatal period, 3 mon ths after delivery 58% experienced dyspareunia, 39% experienced vaginal dry ness, 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 p ostnatal sexual problem, only 19% discussed this with a health professional . Conversations with health professionals in routine postnatal health conta cts were mainly about contraception, and only rarely discussed problems wit h intercourse.