The Impact of Childbirth on Female Sexuality
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Leal, Isabel
Lourenço, Sílvia
Oliveira, Raquel V.
Carvalheira, Ana
Maroco, João
Abstract / Description
Objective: To compare variables related to sexual functioning, namely: sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, pain, sexual satisfaction and sexual function in women during the pregnancy and 3 months after delivery. Methods: This is an exploratory and descriptive, quantitative study. A non-probability, convenience sample of 62 women in the first stage, and of 52 women in the second stage, was used. The two groups were not significantly different regarding socio-demographic aspects. The main outcome measures used were the female sexual function as assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and a Socio-demographic and Clinical Questionnaire. Results: The women presented higher mean levels of sexual satisfaction after birth, than during the pregnancy presenting statistically significant differences. Also they had 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. The overall sexual function after childbirth did not present significant differences when comparing the pregnancy period to the postpartum, but presented higher mean levels during the pregnancy. Pain levels were higher during the pregnancy. Conclusion: We found no significant differences between the two groups, in most of the studied variables. However, Sexual Arousal and Sexual Satisfaction presented statistically significant differences.
Keyword(s)
sexual function female sexuality childbirthPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2012
Journal title
Psychology, Community & Health
Volume
1
Issue
1
Page numbers
127–139
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Leal, I., Lourenço, S., Oliveira, R. V., Carvalheira, A., & Maroco, J. (2012). The Impact of Childbirth on Female Sexuality. Psychology, Community & Health, 1(1), 127–139. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v1i1.13
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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 timestamp2022-05-10T21:37:02Z
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Made available on2022-05-10T21:37:02Z
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Date of first publication2012
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Abstract / DescriptionObjective: To compare variables related to sexual functioning, namely: sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, pain, sexual satisfaction and sexual function in women during the pregnancy and 3 months after delivery. Methods: This is an exploratory and descriptive, quantitative study. A non-probability, convenience sample of 62 women in the first stage, and of 52 women in the second stage, was used. The two groups were not significantly different regarding socio-demographic aspects. The main outcome measures used were the female sexual function as assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and a Socio-demographic and Clinical Questionnaire. Results: The women presented higher mean levels of sexual satisfaction after birth, than during the pregnancy presenting statistically significant differences. Also they had 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. The overall sexual function after childbirth did not present significant differences when comparing the pregnancy period to the postpartum, but presented higher mean levels during the pregnancy. Pain levels were higher during the pregnancy. Conclusion: We found no significant differences between the two groups, in most of the studied variables. However, Sexual Arousal and Sexual Satisfaction presented statistically significant differences.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. (2012). The Impact of Childbirth on Female Sexuality. Psychology, Community & Health, 1(1), 127–139. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v1i1.13en_US
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ISSN2182-438X
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/5927
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.6610
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Language of contentengen_US
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLDen_US
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v1i1.13
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Keyword(s)sexual functionen_US
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Keyword(s)female sexualityen_US
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Keyword(s)childbirthen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe Impact of Childbirth on Female Sexualityen_US
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DRO typearticleen_US
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Issue1
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Journal titlePsychology, Community & Health
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Page numbers127–139
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Volume1
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record