Persistent sexual dysfunction (SD) after childbirth is common, but many patients do not receive adequate care, for unknown reasons. The aim of this study is to examine correlates for health care-seeking behavior for SD within 3 years after birth.

Subjects filled out an electronic survey regarding sexual function, obstetric, relationship, and demographic characteristics. The Sexual Function Questionnaire’s Medical Impact Scale) as well as a number of novel, targeted survey questions were used to measure the impact of childbirth on sexual function. Patients were stratified into those without SD, and those with SD, both seeking and not seeking care. These domains were then compared in a series of univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses.

Of 531 patients who completed the survey, 449 women (84.5%) reported some form of SD after birth. Only 16.0% of those with SD sought care for SD. Variables associated with care seeking include difficulty with perineal healing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=4.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54–13.38), transfusion after birth (aOR=3.71, 95% CI: 1.44–9.56), current dyspareunia (aOR=3.41, 95% CI: 1.31–8.87). Factors associated with decreased probability of seeking care include children under 18 years in the home (aOR=0.61 per child, 95% CI: 0.43–0.88), number of cesarean births (aOR=0.46 per delivery, 95% CI: 0.29–0.74).

This study highlights that many more women suffer from SD after childbirth than seek care, and identified several important risk factors associated with decreased care seeking. Future work should focus on decreasing the difficulty of accessing care for SD after childbirth.