Sexual Dysfunction in Postpartum Turkish Women: It’s Relationship with Depression and Some Risk Factors

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in postpartum Turkish women, and the relation between sexual dysfunction and depression, and some risk factors. This study was conducted with 530 postpartum women who had given birth during the previous 2-12 months. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Index of Female Sexual Function, and Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale. For the data analysis, descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS version 16. In the study, 74.3% of the postpartum women experienced sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction was more prevalent in women who were high school graduates, whose reported economic status was middle class, who had a history of high-risk pregnancy, and whose menstruations did not recommence. It was also prevalention women who experienced dyspareunia, who did not use a family planning method, who used withdrawal family planning method, and who experienced postnatal depression. A medium correlation was determined between the sexual dysfunction and postnatal depression. Assessment of the sexual dysfunction prevalence and risk factors of postpartum women enables healthcare professionals to use necessary intervention strategies. 

Keywords: Depression, Postpartum period, Sexual dysfunction, Turkish women