This preprint is under consideration at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
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Research article
The meaning of postpartum sexual health for women living in Spain: A phenomenological inquiry.
Patrick Albert Palmieri
Universidad Norbert Wiener
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0765-0239
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Sexual health is a multidimensional phenomenon constructed by personal, social, and cultural factors but continues to be studied with a biomedical approach. During the postpartum period, a woman transitions to mother, as well as partner-to-parent and couple-to-family. There are new realities in life in the postpartum period, including household changes and new responsibilities that can impact the quality of sexual health. This phenomenon is understudied especially in the context of Spain. The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of postpartum sexual health among primiparous women giving birth in Catalonia (Spain).
Methods: This was a phenomenological study with a purposive sample of primiparous women. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews until saturation. Analysis followed Colaizzi's seven-step process with an eighth translation step added to limit cross-cultural threats to validity. Also, the four dimensions of trustworthiness were established through strategies and techniques during data collection and analysis.
Results: Ten women were interviewed from which five themes emerged, including: Not feeling ready, inhibiting factors, new reality at home, socio-cultural factors, and the clinician within the health system. Returning to sexual health led women to engage in experiential learning through trial and error. Most participants reported reduced libido, experienced altered body image, and recounted resumption of sexual activity before feeling ready. A common finding was fatigue and feeling overloaded by the demands of the newborn. Partner support was described as essential to returning to a meaningful relationship. Discussions about postpartum sexual health with clinicians were described as taboo, and largely absent from the care model.
Conclusion: Evidence-based practices should incorporate the best evidence from research, consider the postpartum sexual health experiences and preferences of the woman, and use clinician expertise in discussions that include the topic of postpartum sexual health to make decisions. As such, human caring practices should be incorporated into clinical guidelines to recognize the preferences of women. Clinicians need to be authentically present, engage in active communication, and individualize their care. More qualitative studies are needed to understand postpartum sexual health in different contexts, cultures, and countries and to identify similarities and differences through meta-synthesis.
Keywords
Pregnancy, Postpartum, Sexual Health, Sexuality, Body Image, Social Support
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 08 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 11 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 25 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 25 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 25 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 15 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 18 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Nov, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 18 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 18 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 17 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 Nov, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 Nov, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Nov, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 07 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 14 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 06 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 02 Jun, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 27 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 04 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 May, 2020
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Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
The meaning of postpartum sexual health for women living in Spain: A phenomenological inquiry.
Patrick Albert Palmieri
Universidad Norbert Wiener
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0765-0239
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 08 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 11 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 25 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 25 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 25 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 15 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 18 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Nov, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 18 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 18 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 17 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 Nov, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 Nov, 2020
Editor invited
On 07 Nov, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 07 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 14 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 12 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 06 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 02 Jun, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 27 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 07 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 04 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Sexual health is a multidimensional phenomenon constructed by personal, social, and cultural factors but continues to be studied with a biomedical approach. During the postpartum period, a woman transitions to mother, as well as partner-to-parent and couple-to-family. There are new realities in life in the postpartum period, including household changes and new responsibilities that can impact the quality of sexual health. This phenomenon is understudied especially in the context of Spain. The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of postpartum sexual health among primiparous women giving birth in Catalonia (Spain).
Methods: This was a phenomenological study with a purposive sample of primiparous women. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews until saturation. Analysis followed Colaizzi's seven-step process with an eighth translation step added to limit cross-cultural threats to validity. Also, the four dimensions of trustworthiness were established through strategies and techniques during data collection and analysis.
Results: Ten women were interviewed from which five themes emerged, including: Not feeling ready, inhibiting factors, new reality at home, socio-cultural factors, and the clinician within the health system. Returning to sexual health led women to engage in experiential learning through trial and error. Most participants reported reduced libido, experienced altered body image, and recounted resumption of sexual activity before feeling ready. A common finding was fatigue and feeling overloaded by the demands of the newborn. Partner support was described as essential to returning to a meaningful relationship. Discussions about postpartum sexual health with clinicians were described as taboo, and largely absent from the care model.
Conclusion: Evidence-based practices should incorporate the best evidence from research, consider the postpartum sexual health experiences and preferences of the woman, and use clinician expertise in discussions that include the topic of postpartum sexual health to make decisions. As such, human caring practices should be incorporated into clinical guidelines to recognize the preferences of women. Clinicians need to be authentically present, engage in active communication, and individualize their care. More qualitative studies are needed to understand postpartum sexual health in different contexts, cultures, and countries and to identify similarities and differences through meta-synthesis.