Sexuality satisfaction 3 years after childbirth is better than men think

Abstract

Sexual function and satisfaction in couples decreases after childbirth. Often communication problems play a central role in persisting sexual dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual function of mothers of young children and to assess their partners’ perception of their sexuality. This cohort study is a postal survey using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire for women who gave birth at least 3 to 4 years ago in a perinatal health care centre in Germany. Additionally, the male partner got a modified FSFI questionnaire for evaluation of their perception of females’ sexuality. In all, 215 couples answered the questionnaire and were included in the study. The concordance of females’ and males’ answers was correlated with the females’ sexual function. The prevalence of women with potential female sexual dysfunction (FSFI < 26.55) was 24.3%. Besides, men seemed to underestimate their female partners’ sexual satisfaction. However, a good perception of men was associated with a good sexual function of women. Additionally, a child younger than three years was associated with a decreased sexual function in women and worse perception of men. This study helps to understand interactions between partners concerning females’ sexuality in couples with young children. Health care professionals should inform young parents about possible changes in sexuality after childbirth and encourage them to talk to each other about their sexual concerns and wishes to improve sexual and partnership satisfaction.