Comparison of Postpartum Sexual Function in Patients who had Undergone Episiotomy and had Perineal Tears

OpenAlex İngilizce

BACKGROUND/AIMS:To make a comparison regarding postpartum sexual function according to the presence of episiotomy and the degree of perineal tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Two hundred ninety-four primiparous patients in total between the ages of 18 and 45 who arrived at the obstetrics outpatient clinic between 2017 and 2024, underwent pregnancy follow-up and delivery, and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were analyzed in our research.The study included 131 women with perineal tears and 163 women who underwent episiotomy.Retrospectively, at 6 months postpartum, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Quality of Sexual Experience Scale (QSES), and visual analog scale (VAS) for dyspareunia values of all individuals were reviewed from participant files. RESULTS:The VAS, QSES, and FSFI values were significantly greater in the episiotomy (+) group than the episiotomy (-) group (p<0.01).The VAS value was significantly greater in the episiotomy (+) group in comparison with the other groups (p<0.01).The QSES and FSFI values were significantly smaller in the tear degree 4 group than those in the other groups (p<0.01).The values of arousal and lubrication were significantly smaller in the tear degree 4 group than those of the other groups (p<0.01).The orgasm and satisfaction values were significantly smaller in the tear degree 4 group compared with the other groups (p<0.01).CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction in the postpartum period can be affected by social, physical, psychogenic, and demographic factors.Our study showed that preventing advanced-stage tears through episiotomy might contribute positively to sexual function aspects.Prospective studies with larger samples are also needed to evaluate the effects of other maternal, demographic, and cultural factors that might influence females' sexual functions in the postpartum period.