Background: Female sexual dysfunction [FSD] is a significant challenge. Some researchers reported an association between FSD and delivery mode, while others did not report such association.
Aim of the work: To study the long term effect of delivery mode on female sexual function in primiparous mothers.
Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical study aiming to evaluate FSD and its related factors after delivery. It included 260 primiparous mothers who attended the healthcare centers in Dakahlia and Damietta governorates. They were divided according to the delivery mode into two groups, each of 130 mothers; the first for normal vaginal delivery [NVD], and the second for cesarean delivery [CD]. All participants were evaluated by complete history taking [demographics, obstetric and medical history, duration since delivery, mode of delivery and use of contraception], and female sexual function assessment. Female sexuality was assessed by an Arabic version of the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI] questionnaire, which is a brief, multidimensional, validated tool for evaluation of female sexual function [FSF] during sexual activity.
Results: Results revealed a non-significant difference between females delivered by NVD and those delivered by cesarean section [CS]. Also, there was no significant difference between groups regarding female sexual dysfunction index [FSDI] single domains and total score. Female sexual dysfunction [FSD] was reported in 20.8% and 25.4% in NVD and CS groups, respectively. The duration since the last delivery, recurrent urinary tract infection [UTI], and Vulvo-vaginitis were the individual risks of female sexual dysfunction. Vulvovaginitis was the only independent predictor factor for sexual dysfunction.
Conclusion: Female sexual function was not affected by the delivery mode, and there was no basis for advocating the cesarean section for delivery to prevent future female sexual dysfunction. However, identifying vulvovaginitis as the sole significant factor affecting FSD represented significant findings in the current work.