The Impact of Childbirth on Sexual Functioning in Women With Episiotomy
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Leal, Isabel
Lourenço, Sílvia
Oliveira, Raquel V.
Carvalheira, Ana
Maroco, João
Abstract / Description
Objective: To compare the pregnancy period with the postpartum period, and infer if the presence of episiotomy interferes with the experience of female sexuality after childbirth. Method: This is an exploratory and descriptive, quantitative study. A non-probability, convenience sample of 108 women in the first stage (during pregnancy), and of 93 women in the second stage (after birth), was gathered in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service of a Portuguese hospital. The Female Sexual Function Index and a socio-demographic/clinical questionnaire were used for data collection. Results: Women that had an episiotomy/episiorrhaphy presented higher mean levels of sexual satisfaction after birth, lower mean levels of sexual desire, sexual arousal, and vaginal lubrication after delivery. Regarding the orgasm, they presented higher mean levels in the postpartum period. Statistical significant differences were found regarding the pain levels, as women with episiotomy presented a significantly higher intensity of pain during sexual intercourse after childbirth than during the pregnancy. Conclusion: The overall sexual function after childbirth did not present significant differences when compared to the pregnancy period. However, there was an exception regarding the pain, which was significantly higher in the postpartum period.
Keyword(s)
episiotomy sexual life sexual function postpartumPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2013-11-25
Journal title
Psychology, Community & Health
Volume
2
Issue
3
Page numbers
307–316
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Leal, I., Lourenço, S., Oliveira, R. V., Carvalheira, A., & Maroco, J. (2013). The Impact of Childbirth on Sexual Functioning in Women With Episiotomy. Psychology, Community & Health, 2(3), 307–316. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v2i3.58
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Leal, Isabel
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Lourenço, Sílvia
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Oliveira, Raquel V.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Carvalheira, Ana
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Maroco, João
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-12-06T06:49:01Z
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Made available on2018-12-06T06:49:01Z
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Date of first publication2013-11-25
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Abstract / DescriptionObjective: To compare the pregnancy period with the postpartum period, and infer if the presence of episiotomy interferes with the experience of female sexuality after childbirth. Method: This is an exploratory and descriptive, quantitative study. A non-probability, convenience sample of 108 women in the first stage (during pregnancy), and of 93 women in the second stage (after birth), was gathered in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service of a Portuguese hospital. The Female Sexual Function Index and a socio-demographic/clinical questionnaire were used for data collection. Results: Women that had an episiotomy/episiorrhaphy presented higher mean levels of sexual satisfaction after birth, lower mean levels of sexual desire, sexual arousal, and vaginal lubrication after delivery. Regarding the orgasm, they presented higher mean levels in the postpartum period. Statistical significant differences were found regarding the pain levels, as women with episiotomy presented a significantly higher intensity of pain during sexual intercourse after childbirth than during the pregnancy. Conclusion: The overall sexual function after childbirth did not present significant differences when compared to the pregnancy period. However, there was an exception regarding the pain, which was significantly higher in the postpartum period.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationLeal, I., Lourenço, S., Oliveira, R. V., Carvalheira, A., & Maroco, J. (2013). The Impact of Childbirth on Sexual Functioning in Women With Episiotomy. Psychology, Community & Health, 2(3), 307–316. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v2i3.58en_US
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ISSN2182-438X
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1886
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2252
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v2i3.58
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Keyword(s)episiotomyen_US
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Keyword(s)sexual lifeen_US
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Keyword(s)sexual functionen_US
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Keyword(s)postpartumen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe Impact of Childbirth on Sexual Functioning in Women With Episiotomyen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue3
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Journal titlePsychology, Community & Health
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Page numbers307–316
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Volume2
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record