Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition
Purpose To evaluate how sexual pain influences changes in sexual frequency from the pregnancy to postpartum transition, and to examine how couple’s sexual communication interacts with sexual pain during pregnancy. Methods We explored data following 159 mixed-sex couples across the transition from pr...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2020.1826429 |
| _version_ | 1797685882288865280 |
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| author | Tierney K. Lorenz Erin L. Ramsdell Rebecca L. Brock |
| author_facet | Tierney K. Lorenz Erin L. Ramsdell Rebecca L. Brock |
| author_sort | Tierney K. Lorenz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose To evaluate how sexual pain influences changes in sexual frequency from the pregnancy to postpartum transition, and to examine how couple’s sexual communication interacts with sexual pain during pregnancy. Methods We explored data following 159 mixed-sex couples across the transition from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Couples completed the Relationship Quality Interview and the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised, which assessed their sexual communication, pain and other sexual problems during pregnancy, and frequency of intercourse at pregnancy and postpartum. Results Overall, couples reported a decline in sexual activity from pregnancy to postpartum. Women’s sexual pain during pregnancy influenced changes in sexual frequency only among couples who reported poorer communication about sex. Among couples reporting sexual pain and good communication, pain did not impact changes in sexual frequency (i.e. they experienced significant declines in sexual activity into the postpartum period, as expected). In contrast, among couples with poor communication, sexual frequency did not significantly decline. Conclusion Our findings suggest that sexual communication alters the effects of sexual pain on postpartum sexual activity. Future research should examine if sexual communication training during pregnancy improves postpartum sexual wellbeing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:57:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc53383f1dfb4a17ac850328092398ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0167-482X 1743-8942 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:57:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc53383f1dfb4a17ac850328092398ce2023-09-14T12:44:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology0167-482X1743-89422022-04-01432919810.1080/0167482X.2020.18264291826429Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transitionTierney K. Lorenz0Erin L. Ramsdell1Rebecca L. Brock2Department of Psychology, The University of Nebraska-LincolnDepartment of Psychology, The University of Nebraska-LincolnDepartment of Psychology, The University of Nebraska-LincolnPurpose To evaluate how sexual pain influences changes in sexual frequency from the pregnancy to postpartum transition, and to examine how couple’s sexual communication interacts with sexual pain during pregnancy. Methods We explored data following 159 mixed-sex couples across the transition from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Couples completed the Relationship Quality Interview and the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised, which assessed their sexual communication, pain and other sexual problems during pregnancy, and frequency of intercourse at pregnancy and postpartum. Results Overall, couples reported a decline in sexual activity from pregnancy to postpartum. Women’s sexual pain during pregnancy influenced changes in sexual frequency only among couples who reported poorer communication about sex. Among couples reporting sexual pain and good communication, pain did not impact changes in sexual frequency (i.e. they experienced significant declines in sexual activity into the postpartum period, as expected). In contrast, among couples with poor communication, sexual frequency did not significantly decline. Conclusion Our findings suggest that sexual communication alters the effects of sexual pain on postpartum sexual activity. Future research should examine if sexual communication training during pregnancy improves postpartum sexual wellbeing.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2020.1826429sexual painpregnancypostpartumcommunicationsexual function |
| spellingShingle | Tierney K. Lorenz Erin L. Ramsdell Rebecca L. Brock Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology sexual pain pregnancy postpartum communication sexual function |
| title | Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition |
| title_full | Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition |
| title_fullStr | Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition |
| title_short | Communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition |
| title_sort | communication changes the effects of sexual pain on sexual frequency in the pregnancy to postpartum transition |
| topic | sexual pain pregnancy postpartum communication sexual function |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2020.1826429 |
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