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Abstract
Sexual problems are highly prevalent in postpartum period. This study aimed to review educational programs and counseling models which had addressed the postpartum sexual health. This narrative review was written based on the SANDRA checklist. A comprehensive search was performed in the international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, WebofScience, ProQuest, Cochrane Library) and Google Scholar, until June-2021. After screening the title and abstract of the observational and interventional articles whose aim was in line with our study(n = 5,758), the texts of 37 articles were fully studied and, finally, 7 articles were selected. Four articles introduced sexual education programs and three articles were about the sexual counseling models (PLISSIT, BETTER, REDI). Sexual education and sexual counseling had 3-7 and 4-6 sessions respectively. They focused on the increasing of sexual knowledge, correction of misconceptions, Kegel exercises, common sexual problems, and appropriate solutions for them. Sex education can improve sexual function by increasing awareness about genital anatomy and sexual response cycle; sexual counseling can also improve sexual function by providing strategies such as the use of lubricants, increased foreplay time, sexual fantasies, and promotion of marital intimacy by expressing sexual feelings and conversations. Present summary of the structure and components of sexual educational/counseling models can empower health care providers in providing postpartum sexual services.
LAY SUMMARY
Postpartum sexual problems are highly prevalent. Present summary of the components of educational/counseling models can empower health care providers in providing evidence-based postnatal sexual services. They emphasized the increase of sexual knowledge, correction of misconceptions, Kegel exercises, identification of postpartum sexual problems, and provision of solutions for them.