Sexual function in Chinese women from pregnancy to postpartum: a multicenter longitudinal prospective study

BACKGROUND: The aims of our research were as follows: First, to estimate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in early, middle, late stages of pregnancy, and postpartum 6 months after delivery. Second, to discuss relevant factors associated with female sexual dysfunction among women in 6 months after delivery in Nanjing, Yangzhou and Huaian Main, China. METHODS: Our multicenter longitudinal study was carried out from September 2017 to March 2019, with participants recruited from Southeast China: Nanjing, Yangzhou and Huaian. Participants were recruited when they built their Record of Prenatal Care in community hospitals. The online questionnaires included a set of validated tools, sociodemographic information as wells as medical history data. In the meantime, qualitative interviews were conducted during different periods of pregnancy (from the first trimester to the third trimester of pregnancy and following up to six-month postpartum) respectively. All participants have obtained written informed consent. RESULTS: By qualitative interview, the vast majority of the participants were inactive in having sex from pregnancy to postpartum. There were negative aspects of sexual experiences, emotional responses closely related to self-attitudes toward sexual behavior during this period. Through quantitative analysis, pre pregnancy BMI (OR = 1.15, P = 0.012), postpartum weight gain (OR = 1.057, P = 0.033) and partnership quality (OR = 1.181, P = 0.04) were associated with postpartum sexual dysfunction 6 months after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Women are at the risk of significantly different FSD with regard to pre-pregnancy BMI, postpartum weight gain and partnership quality. The impaired sexual function from pregnancy to postpartum period indicated the requirement for further survey as well as extensive investigation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-021-03546-6.