Mediolateral Episiotomy in Nulliparous Women Increases the Risk of Sexual Dysfunction

Mediolateral Episiotomy in Nulliparous Women Increases the Risk of Sexual Dysfunction

Postpartum sexual functions may be affected in women who have had a vaginal delivery by performing an episiotomy. The aim of this study is to compare the frequency of sexual dysfunction between women who were delivered with a mediolateral episiotomy and those who were delivered without an episiotomy.

Materials and Methods: A total of 179 women who gave birth in a tertiary center were included in the prospective study. The patients were divided into two groups as women with and without mediolateral episiotomy. The groups were compared in terms of age, body mass index, educational status, and hospitalization time for delivery and Arizona sexual experiences scale (ASEX).

All patients were called up for a control in 6th month after delivery and sexual funciton was evaluated according to The Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). In our study, we used the ASEX test, age, education level, BMI and time spent in hospital for delivery to investigate sexual dysfunction in healthy women who had a vaginal delivery with or without mediolateral episiotomy. The ASEX test is a 5-question survey. In the questionnaire, women were questioned for sexual drive, arousal, vaginal lubrication, ability to reach orgasm, satisfaction from the orgasm. Women gave points from 1 to 6 and their results were recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Nulliparous women who gave birth at term
• No smoking or alcohol consumption
• Chronic illness
• Spontaneous labor( The labor was defined as cervical dilatation of at least 2cm with at least 80% of effacement with regular contractions or 4cm dilatation with any effacement with regular contractions or the flow of amniotic fluid.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria were need of labor induction,
• history of any pregnancy complication (gestational diabetes, hypertension, oligohydramnios, any suspicion of infection or chorioamnionitis…etc.),
• history of multiparity,
• history of sexual dysfunction,
• history of vaginal surgery and frequent vaginal infection.