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Abstract
Background
The rate of cesarean section is increasing globally. Qualitative evidence suggests that cesarean section is perceived to be protective of sexual function, however, this is evidenced by a few short-term, and almost no long-term, quantitative studies. Emerging evidence suggests that cesarean section may be associated with sex-related pain postpartum, but further longitudinal studies are needed. We investigated the relationship between mode of delivery and subsequent maternal sexual enjoyment, sexual frequency, and sex-related pain.
Methods
Using the UK-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents And Children (ALSPAC) cohort, eligible women had data available for mode of delivery (from obstetric records) and at least one self- reported sexual outcome (via questionnaire). Sexual enjoyment and frequency were measured repeatedly between 33 months and 18 years postpartum; sex-related pain, both in the vagina during sex and elsewhere after sex, was measured at 11 years postpartum. Missing covariate and outcome data were imputed and associations between mode of delivery and sexual outcomes were investigated using ordinal logistic regression.
Results
In our sample of 10,327 women, 1,094 (11%) participants gave birth via cesarean section. Mode of delivery (cesarean section vs vaginal delivery) was not strongly associated with sexual enjoyment at any timepoint (e.g., adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98–1.28, P-value=0.10 at 33 months) or sexual frequency (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.88–1.11, P=0.84 at 33 months). Cesarean section was, however, associated with an increased odds of both types of sex- related pain at 11 years postpartum as compared with vaginal delivery in the adjusted models (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.42–2.01, P
Conclusions
Cesarean section was not associated with improved sexual enjoyment and frequency up to 18 years postpartum (compared to vaginal delivery), however, it was associated with increased sex-related pain at 11 years postpartum as compared with vaginal delivery. These findings contradict perceptions of sexual wellbeing in the mode of delivery debate, suggesting that women who have delivered via cesarean section can suffer from sex-related pain that is not limited to abdominal scarring.
The rate of cesarean section is increasing globally. Qualitative evidence suggests that cesarean section is perceived to be protective of sexual function, however, this is evidenced by a few short-term, and almost no long-term, quantitative studies. Emerging evidence suggests that cesarean section may be associated with sex-related pain postpartum, but further longitudinal studies are needed. We investigated the relationship between mode of delivery and subsequent maternal sexual enjoyment, sexual frequency, and sex-related pain.
Methods
Using the UK-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents And Children (ALSPAC) cohort, eligible women had data available for mode of delivery (from obstetric records) and at least one self- reported sexual outcome (via questionnaire). Sexual enjoyment and frequency were measured repeatedly between 33 months and 18 years postpartum; sex-related pain, both in the vagina during sex and elsewhere after sex, was measured at 11 years postpartum. Missing covariate and outcome data were imputed and associations between mode of delivery and sexual outcomes were investigated using ordinal logistic regression.
Results
In our sample of 10,327 women, 1,094 (11%) participants gave birth via cesarean section. Mode of delivery (cesarean section vs vaginal delivery) was not strongly associated with sexual enjoyment at any timepoint (e.g., adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98–1.28, P-value=0.10 at 33 months) or sexual frequency (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.88–1.11, P=0.84 at 33 months). Cesarean section was, however, associated with an increased odds of both types of sex- related pain at 11 years postpartum as compared with vaginal delivery in the adjusted models (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.42–2.01, P
Conclusions
Cesarean section was not associated with improved sexual enjoyment and frequency up to 18 years postpartum (compared to vaginal delivery), however, it was associated with increased sex-related pain at 11 years postpartum as compared with vaginal delivery. These findings contradict perceptions of sexual wellbeing in the mode of delivery debate, suggesting that women who have delivered via cesarean section can suffer from sex-related pain that is not limited to abdominal scarring.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 572-572 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Jun 2022 |
| Event | Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) Annual Meeting 2022 - Sheraton Grand Hotel, Chicago, United States Duration: 14 Jun 2022 → 17 Jun 2022 https://epiresearch.org/annual-meeting/2022-meeting/ |
Conference
| Conference | Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) Annual Meeting 2022 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | SER 2022 |
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Chicago |
| Period | 14/06/22 → 17/06/22 |
| Internet address |
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- 1 Article (Academic Journal)
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Mode of delivery and maternal sexual wellbeing: a longitudinal study
Martin, F., Madley-Dowd, P. C., Ahlqvist, V. H., Jónsson Bachmann, E., Fraser, A. & Forbes, H. J., 17 Oct 2022, In: British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 129, 12, p. 2010-2018 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
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