Author(s):
Leal, Isabel Pereira 
; Lourenço, Sílvia N. ; Oliveira, Raquel V. ; Carvalheira, Ana Alexandra ; Maroco, João
Date: 2013
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/3114
Origin: Repositório do ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Subject(s): Episiotomy; Sexual life; Sexual function; Postpartum
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.
