E A McDonald1, S J Brown. 1. Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. ellie.mcdonald@mcri.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the timing of resumption of vaginal sex and assess associations with method of birth, perineal trauma and other obstetric and social factors. DESIGN: Prospective pregnancy cohort study of nulliparous women. SETTING: Melbourne, Australia. SAMPLE: A total of 1507 nulliparous women recruited in early pregnancy (≤24 weeks). METHOD: Women were recruited from six public hospitals. Data from hospital records and self-administered questionnaires at recruitment and 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Resumption of vaginal sex. RESULTS: Sexual activity was resumed earlier than vaginal sex, with 53% resuming sexual activity by 6 weeks postpartum, and 41% attempting vaginal sex. By 8 weeks a majority of women had attempted vaginal sex (65%), increasing to 78% by 12 weeks, and 94% by 6 months. Compared with women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth with an intact perineum, women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth with an episiotomy (adjusted odds ratio 3.43, 95% confidence interval 1.9-6.2) or sutured perineal tear (adjusted odds ratio 3.18, 95% confidence interval 2.1-4.9) were more likely not to have resumed vaginal sex by 6 weeks postpartum. Similarly, women who had an assisted vaginal birth or caesarean section had raised odds of delaying resumption of sex. CONCLUSIONS: Most women having a first birth do not resume vaginal sex until later than 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have an operative vaginal birth, caesarean section or perineal tear or episiotomy appear to delay longer.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the timing of resumption of vaginal sex and assess associations with method of birth, perineal trauma and other obstetric and social factors. DESIGN: Prospective pregnancy cohort study of nulliparous women. SETTING: Melbourne, Australia. SAMPLE: A total of 1507 nulliparous women recruited in early pregnancy (≤24 weeks). METHOD:Women were recruited from six public hospitals. Data from hospital records and self-administered questionnaires at recruitment and 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Resumption of vaginal sex. RESULTS: Sexual activity was resumed earlier than vaginal sex, with 53% resuming sexual activity by 6 weeks postpartum, and 41% attempting vaginal sex. By 8 weeks a majority of women had attempted vaginal sex (65%), increasing to 78% by 12 weeks, and 94% by 6 months. Compared with women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth with an intact perineum, women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth with an episiotomy (adjusted odds ratio 3.43, 95% confidence interval 1.9-6.2) or sutured perineal tear (adjusted odds ratio 3.18, 95% confidence interval 2.1-4.9) were more likely not to have resumed vaginal sex by 6 weeks postpartum. Similarly, women who had an assisted vaginal birth or caesarean section had raised odds of delaying resumption of sex. CONCLUSIONS: Most women having a first birth do not resume vaginal sex until later than 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have an operative vaginal birth, caesarean section or perineal tear or episiotomy appear to delay longer.
Authors: Rose Naigino; Fredrick Makumbi; Aggrey Mukose; Esther Buregyeya; Jim Arinaitwe; Joshua Musinguzi; Susan M Kiene; Rhoda K Wanyenze Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2021-10-29