Abstract
Objectives
Sexual health is an essential aspect of women’s well-being throughout life. However, pregnancy and childbirth cause biological, psychological, and social changes that can impact negatively on sexual health. Studies have thus indicated that sexual function often declines during pregnancy and may not fully recover to pre-pregnancy levels in the postpartum period. Unfortunately, healthcare providers often overlook addressing sexual aspects during this crucial time. With approximately 90% of women sustaining perineal tears during vaginal birth and 1-6 % being affected by obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI), the current scoping review aims to assess the existing evidence on the associations between OASI and postpartum sexual health. Specifically, the review investigates the domains of sexual functioning, activity, and satisfaction.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cinahl and Cochrane were systematically searched for relevant peer-reviewed papers as well as grey literature. Studies were selected in a three-stage process involving title and abstract assessment, complete article evaluation, and inclusion meeting predefined criteria. Only original quantitative studies providing statistical evidence on the impact of OASI on postpartum sexual health were included. The initial search yielded 749 articles, with 26 selected for inclusion.
Results
OASI impacted women's sexual health postpartum. In particular, women with OASI had delayed resumption of sexual intercourse compared to those with no or tears of lower degrees although the majority had resumed their coital activity twelve months postpartum. According to most studies, OASI increased the risk of dyspareunia, which oten persisted several years after birth. Also, these women were more likely to develop other long-term consequences, such as fecal incontinence, which can lead to, or exacerbate, sexual problems.
Conclusions
Women with OASI have increased risk of sexual dysfunction and low coital activity. This underscores the importance of initiating conversations with women regarding their sexual health after delivery with OASI and offer referral to physiotherapy, couples therapy, or sexological expertise when necessary.
Conflicts of Interest
Declaration of conflicts of interest for all authors:
H. S. Gibrael: None.
S. Linhardt: None.
Sexual health is an essential aspect of women’s well-being throughout life. However, pregnancy and childbirth cause biological, psychological, and social changes that can impact negatively on sexual health. Studies have thus indicated that sexual function often declines during pregnancy and may not fully recover to pre-pregnancy levels in the postpartum period. Unfortunately, healthcare providers often overlook addressing sexual aspects during this crucial time. With approximately 90% of women sustaining perineal tears during vaginal birth and 1-6 % being affected by obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI), the current scoping review aims to assess the existing evidence on the associations between OASI and postpartum sexual health. Specifically, the review investigates the domains of sexual functioning, activity, and satisfaction.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cinahl and Cochrane were systematically searched for relevant peer-reviewed papers as well as grey literature. Studies were selected in a three-stage process involving title and abstract assessment, complete article evaluation, and inclusion meeting predefined criteria. Only original quantitative studies providing statistical evidence on the impact of OASI on postpartum sexual health were included. The initial search yielded 749 articles, with 26 selected for inclusion.
Results
OASI impacted women's sexual health postpartum. In particular, women with OASI had delayed resumption of sexual intercourse compared to those with no or tears of lower degrees although the majority had resumed their coital activity twelve months postpartum. According to most studies, OASI increased the risk of dyspareunia, which oten persisted several years after birth. Also, these women were more likely to develop other long-term consequences, such as fecal incontinence, which can lead to, or exacerbate, sexual problems.
Conclusions
Women with OASI have increased risk of sexual dysfunction and low coital activity. This underscores the importance of initiating conversations with women regarding their sexual health after delivery with OASI and offer referral to physiotherapy, couples therapy, or sexological expertise when necessary.
Conflicts of Interest
Declaration of conflicts of interest for all authors:
H. S. Gibrael: None.
S. Linhardt: None.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | The journal of sexual medicine |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | Supplement_4 |
| Pages (from-to) | iv35-iv36 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| ISSN | 1743-6095 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |