Genital self-image and sexual function in Iranian women from pregnancy to postpartum: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Genital self-image is among the factors affecting women's sexual function. AIM: The present study aimed to determine changes in the genital self-image and its relationship with women's sexual function in the third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum. METHODS: The participants of this prospective cohort study included 301 eligible pregnant women chosen through stratified random sampling with proportional allocation from comprehensive health centers in Gorgan, Iran. The Persian version of the 7-item Female Genital Self-Image Scale, the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index, and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 were filled in a self-report manner on 2 occasions: (1) 30 to 37 weeks of pregnancy and (2) 12 to 16 weeks (± 2 weeks) postpartum. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software. OUTCOMES: Outcomes included Female Genital Self-Image Scale and Female Sexual Function Index changes from pregnancy to postpartum according to the childbirth mode. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 29.66 ± 5.27 years. These values for the genital self-image scores of women during pregnancy (19.18 ± 3.25) and postpartum (19.43 ± 3.57) were not significantly different (P = .30). Also, this difference was not statistically significant regarding the mode of delivery in 2 groups of women with vaginal birth (P = .62) and cesarean section (P = .14). The mean Female Sexual Function Index scores during pregnancy (15.15 ± 6.73) and postpartum (17.52 ± 6.46) were significantly different (P = .001). In addition, this difference was significant in women with vaginal birth (P = .004) and cesarean section (P = .001). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians should inform women/couples about changes in female sexual function and address genital self-image as a factor involved in female sexual function during pregnancy and postpartum.Strengths and Limitations: Because the participants of this study were women in the third trimester of pregnancy, the obtained results may not be generalized to pregnant women in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy or even to different postpartum periods (ie, midterm and long term). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the female genital self-image is not significantly different during pregnancy and postpartum, or with the mode of delivery. However, the female sexual function score in postpartum is higher than in pregnancy, regardless of the mode of delivery.

Preferred mode of delivery association with the body image and genital image in pregnant women - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women experience several changes in their appearance, body shape and body image. In some studies, there has been a relationship between these changes and the type of delivery. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of the prenatal body image and genital image with the mode of delivery preferred by pregnant women in Gorgan in 2020. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 334 pregnant women were selected by stratified sampling. The Prenatal Body Image Questionnaire (PBIQ), Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS), pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery questionnaire (PPMDQ) and DASS-21 were completed on line. The data was analyzed using Spearman test and linear regression. RESULTS: The average score of PBIQ, FGSIS, and PPMDQ was 68.24 (standard deviation = 17.71), 19.25 (standard deviation = 3.3), and 63.12 (standard deviation = 3.3) respectively. Vaginal delivery as a preferred mode of delivery was inversely correlated with dissatisfaction with body image (r=-0.32, P < 0.001), and directly correlated with satisfaction with the genital image (r = 0.19, P < 0.001). There was a significant inverse correlation between prenatal body image dissatisfaction and genital image satisfaction (r=-0.32, P < 0.001). While FGSIS score could not predict PPMDQ, PBIQ score could. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction with the prenatal body image or genital image is associated with the choice of vaginal delivery. These results can be the basis for prenatal care and childbirth counselling.

The Effect of Counseling on the Pregnant Women's Stress of Covid-19: A Clinical Trial Study.

Objective: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, which causes stress and threatens health, especially in vulnerable groups including pregnant women, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of individual counseling on the pregnant women's stress of Covid-19. Materials and methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 66 pregnant women in 24 to 28 weeks were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (33 participants) and control (33 participants). At the beginning of the study, both groups completed the questionnaires of demographic information and pandemic related pregnancy test. Then, the intervention was performed in 3 sessions with the interval of one week, in the form of individual counseling by BELIFE method for the experimental group. The control group received only the routine services of the centers. The post-test was performed two weeks after the last consultation session for both groups. Data were analyzed using Stata-13 software. Significance level was considered 0.05. Results: The experimental and control groups were almost homogeneous in terms of quantitative and qualitative demographic variables. Total mean and standard deviation of stress score, before and after the intervention in the experimental group, were 40.27 ± 12.65 and 41.71 ± 1.74, respectively. These numbers in the control group were 33.84 ± 13.08 and 43.84 ± 1.69. Comparing the two groups in terms of stress score which was done after the intervention showed that although the stress score in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.39). Conclusion: The results of this study show that although individual counseling for pregnant women was able to reduce the mean scores of stress of Covid-19 in the experimental group, this difference was not statistically significant. Therefore, although the BELIFE individual counseling method for pregnant women, who naturally suffer from pregnancy stress, is an acceptable way to reduce their stress, it is recommended to plan and implement early and more effective interventions for these women because the course of stress is severe in them and has an upward trend during Covid-19 pandemic.