The relationship between women’s sexual function and type of delivery and pelvic organ prolapse: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACTs

The probable relationship between type of delivery and postpartum sexual function is one of the reasons behind women’s tendency to cesarean. This study was performed with 250 women participants. Female Sexual Function Index and examination form were used to determine pelvic organ prolapse and its severity and type based on POP-Q. Our results showed the difference between the mean performance score in the dimensions of desire (p = .19), lubrication (p = .08), orgasm (0.13), pain (p = .08), and satisfaction (p = .06) was not significant in the two groups of vaginal delivery and cesarean, but the difference between the mean score of sexual function in the dimension of total score (p = .002) was significant in the two groups. Regarding the relationship between sexual function and pelvic organ prolapse, the total score of sexual function in women with uterine, cystocele, and rectocele prolapse was significantly lower (p < .001). Researchers should work to provide more evidence on relationship of female sexual function and the type of delivery and pelvic organ prolapse.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the esteemed members of the Research Council and the Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, as well as the affiliated medical centers assisted us in conducting this research.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study is a research project approved by the Vice Chancellor for Research, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with code 970716 and ethics code IR.MUMS.NURSE.REC.1397.060.