The Impact of Mode of Birth, and Episiotomy, on Postpartum Sexual Function in the Medium- and Longer-Term: An Integrative Systematic Review

Anne-Marie Fanshawe (), Ank De Jonge, Nicole Ginter, Lea Takács, Hannah G. Dahlen, Morris A. Swertz and Lilian L. Peters
Additional contact information
Anne-Marie Fanshawe: Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
Ank De Jonge: Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
Nicole Ginter: Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
Lea Takács: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, 128 08 Prague, Czech Republic
Hannah G. Dahlen: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Blacktown, NSW 2148, Australia
Morris A. Swertz: Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Lilian L. Peters: Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-45

Abstract: (1) Background: Sexual function can be affected up to and beyond 18 months postpartum, with some studies suggesting that spontaneous vaginal birth results in less sexual dysfunction. This review examined the impact of mode of birth on sexual function in the medium- (≥6 months and <12 months postpartum) and longer-term (≥12 months postpartum). (2) Methods: Literature published after January 2000 were identified in PubMed, Embase and CINAHL. Studies that compared at least two modes of birth and used valid sexual function measures were included. Systematic reviews, unpublished articles, protocols and articles not written in English were excluded. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. (3) Results: In the medium-term, assisted vaginal birth and vaginal birth with episiotomy were associated with worse sexual function, compared to caesarean section. In the longer-term, assisted vaginal birth was associated with worse sexual function, compared with spontaneous vaginal birth and caesarean section; and planned caesarean section was associated with worse sexual function in several domains, compared to spontaneous vaginal birth. (4) Conclusions: Sexual function, in the medium- and longer-term, can be affected by mode of birth. Women should be encouraged to seek support should their sexual function be affected after birth.

Keywords: delivery; obstetric; pregnancy; sexual behaviour; sexual health; physiological; postpartum period; mothers; midwifery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/7/5252/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/7/5252/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:7:p:5252-:d:1106258

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().