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22 March 2007
Postnatal Sexual Problems Can Persist 
A study in the Journal of Clinical Nursing shows that postnatal sexual problems can persist for lengthy periods and affect a surprisingly large number of women. The report suggests that nearly one-in-three women still experience painful sexual intercourse a year after their baby is born and more than half have at least one sex-related health problem. Interestingly, race and age appeared to play a role in recovery times. "Asian women were more likely to complain of health problems than white women, as were women who were older and had larger babies and longer labours," explained researcher Amanda Williams. Other findings included: - The three most common problems reported were sex-related health issues (55 percent) followed by stress urinary incontinence (54 percent) and urge urinary incontinence (37 percent).
- Painful intercourse was reported by 19 percent of women who had had caesareans, 34 percent who had had a normal birth and 36 percent of women who had an instrument-assisted birth, such as forceps.
- Sex-related health problems were highest among instrument-assisted births (77 percent) and lowest among caesarean births (51 percent), with 64 percent of women having normal births reporting at least one problem related to sex.
- Forceps deliveries were also associated with higher levels of stress, urge, and continual incontinence.
"Our research has raised a number of issues" said Williams. "It has highlighted concerns about the long-term health effects resulting from forceps deliveries and the variations in ill health between white and Asian women. Both these areas could benefit from further research. It's also important to point out that while women who had had caesareans reported fewer problems with the health issues covered by this study, this delivery method is associated with other problems that have a negative effect on women's quality of life, like wound infections." Related articles:
Childbirth Muscle Damage Linked To Pelvic Prolapse, Incontinence
Study Says Episiotomy Is Of Little Benefit Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing
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