Understanding women’s postpartum sexual experiences

Abstract

This study aimed to understand women’s sexual health experiences, specifically knowledge, attitudes and norms related to sexual behaviour resumption during the postpartum period. Semi-structured, reproductive health-focused interviews (N = 70) were conducted among women aged 18 years or older (range: 19–78) residing in South Carolina. Findings demonstrated that women identified clinicians as most influential concerning when they should and could resume sexual activity. Some women noted returning to sex earlier than anticipated due to personal and partner desire and indicated achieving considerable sexual satisfaction during the postpartum period. However, other participants noted difficulties resuming sexual activity, including pain and exhaustion from caring for a new baby. Findings provide practical recommendations for health professionals to further develop tailored, timely health messaging related to safe and healthy postpartum sexual behaviours. We discuss recommendations for health professionals to bring further awareness to varied postpartum sexual experiences.

Keywords:

• Postpartum
• sexual behaviour
• sex resumption
• women
• USA

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank members of the Women’s Health Research Team at the College of Charleston, the Health Disparities Research Lab at Purdue University, and the Medical University of South Carolina’s Department of Public Health Sciences for their support in data collection and transcription and overall collaboration on the project. This research was supported in part by the College of Charleston’s Faculty Research and Development Grant and Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. Audrey L. Wakefield is now affiliated with the Indiana State Department of Health in Indianapolis, and Angel Avina is currently affiliated with the Indiana University School of Public Health in Bloomington, Indianapolis.