Sexual Function and Help-Seeking Behaviors following Childbirth: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study examined 573 postpartum women’s perceptions of changes in their sexual function and their help-seeking behaviors. Women residing in Ohio, Michigan, or Pennsylvania, USA, completed an online survey. Most women reported decreased postpartum sexual desire and/or arousal. Among women reporting decreased sexual function, most did not seek help from informal sources of support or health care professions (HCPs). Of those who did seek help from an HCP, in each domain of sexual function, only around half received helpful treatment. Women who did not seek help for their decreased sexual desire or arousal reported greater negative perceived impact of pregnancy/childbirth on their sexual function than women who did seek help.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the individuals who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

E.L.K. has no declarations. D. S. Has a research grant from Renalis. A.H. has stock interest and is the CMO of Collamedix Inc. S.A.K. receives Advisory Board Fee/Consultant Fee for: Alloy, Astellas Pharma, Bayer, Daré Bioscience, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Madorra, Materna, Ovoca, Palatin Technologies, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Strategic Science & Technologies, TherapeuticsMD Inc, Ms. Medicine, Mithra. She also has shares/restricted stock units in: Viveve Medical, Field trip, Materna. R.P. is paid consultant for Johnson and Johnson Global Public Health and for the UNFPA Sexual and Reproductive Health Technical Branch.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.