Academic Journal
Sexual health after childbirth: a qualitative study of women's experiences.
| Τίτλος: | Sexual health after childbirth: a qualitative study of women's experiences. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Goldkuhl L; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Gothenburg, 405 30 , Sweden. lisa.goldkuhl@gu.se.; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden. lisa.goldkuhl@gu.se., Åkeflo L; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Gothenburg, 405 30 , Sweden.; Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.; Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden., Wallner E; Department of Culture and Media Studies, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden., Elden H; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Gothenburg, 405 30 , Sweden.; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden. |
| Πηγή: | Reproductive health [Reprod Health] 2026 Sep 25; Vol. 23 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Sep 25. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101224380 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1742-4755 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 17424755 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Reprod Health Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : BioMed Central, 2004- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Postpartum Period*/psychology , Parturition*/psychology , Sexual Behavior*/psychology , Sexual Health*, Humans ; Female ; Qualitative Research ; Adult ; Pregnancy ; Sweden ; Young Adult |
| Περίληψη: | Background: Sexual health is a vital component of overall well-being but receives limited attention in postpartum care. This study aimed to explore how pregnancy and childbirth shape women's experiences of sexual health, and to identify how care and support can be tailored to promote sexual well-being after childbirth. Methods: We conducted an inductive qualitative study based on individual interviews with twenty women who had given birth in Sweden within the previous two years. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. The resulting themes were subsequently interpreted through Sara Ahmed's queer phenomenology. Findings: One overarching theme, Reorienting to sexual health after childbirth, described how participants viewed their sexual health as a process of adapting to physical, emotional, and relational changes rather than returning to pre-pregnancy experiences. Four sub-themes were identified: (1) Reviving desire in a changed body (2), Living with the impact of the childbirth experience (3), Balancing parental and sexual identity, and (4) Navigating postpartum sexual health without support. Participants generally perceived healthcare support after childbirth as inadequate, as it reinforced this narrow framing through a focus on contraceptive counselling and readiness for intercourse rather than sexual health more broadly. Drawing on queer phenomenology, healthcare support appeared to be shaped by heteronormative assumptions, while women re-oriented their sexual health after childbirth both within and beyond heteronormative sexual norms. Conclusion: Postpartum sexual health should be addressed as a broader aspect of well-being rather than being reduced to contraceptive needs or the resumption of intercourse. Care should be individualised, acknowledge variations in desire and intimacy, and ensure that persistent symptoms and concerns receive appropriate assessment and support. (© 2026. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study followed the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants received written and verbal information about the study and provided informed consent prior to the interview. Participation was voluntary, and participants were informed of their right to withdraw at any time without consequence. The research was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (approval date: 29 May 2024; ref. no. 2024-03021-01). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Postpartum; Qualitative research; Queer phenomenology; Sexual health; Thematic analysis; Women’s health Local Abstract: [plain-language-summary] Sexual health is an important part of well-being, but it is often not talked about in routine care after childbirth. In this study, we wanted to understand how women experience sexual health in the months and years after pregnancy and childbirth, and what kind of support they feel is missing. We interviewed 20 women in Sweden who had given birth within the previous two years and analysed their stories to identify shared patterns.Women described sexual health after childbirth as a process of “finding a new normal” rather than returning to how things were before pregnancy. Many needed time to adjust to bodily changes, tiredness, pain, and changes in how they felt about their bodies. Childbirth experiences could also shape sexual well-being afterwards. Some women felt stronger and more confident, while others felt fear, distress, or disconnection.Parenthood also changed everyday life and relationships. Some women found new ways of being close with a partner, while others struggled to balance caring for a baby with feeling like a partner and a sexual person. Most women said they received little or no support from healthcare services about sexual health after childbirth. Conversations were often limited to contraception and whether vaginal intercourse had resumed, leaving many questions and concerns unanswered.Our findings suggest postpartum care should include more open, individualised conversations about sexual health, including intimacy, pleasure, comfort, and relationship needs and not only physical recovery and contraception. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260925 Date Completed: 20260925 Latest Revision: 20260927 |
| Update Code: | 20260927 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13613751 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s12978-026-02458-y |
| PMID: | 42786483 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1742-4755 |
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| DOI: | 10.1186/s12978-026-02458-y |