A Descriptive and Longitudinal Analysis of Pain During Intercourse in Pregnancy

Prevalence and severity of sexual disorders in the third trimester of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Female sexual function in pregnancy is an under-investigated topic by care providers. This study aimed to investigate the sexual function and the impact of traditional risk factors for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) during the third trimester of pregnancy.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in eight hospitals in Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland. Women at the third trimester of pregnancy aged 18 years and over completed the Italian-PFQPP questionnaire anonymously.

RESULTS

Overall, 927 patients in the third trimester of pregnancy answered the questionnaire. About 29.5% of women reported reduced or absent sexual activity. The less reported symptom was coital incontinence (1.3%), while painful intercourses was the most frequent one (50.3%). Nicotine abuse was associated with traumatic sexual intercourses, impaired vaginal sensibility, and negative impact on sexual life and well-being. Familiarity for pelvic floor disorder resulted as a risk factor for coital incontinence (OR=3.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual symptoms, with pain during intercourses being the most widely reported, are extremely common in the third trimester of pregnancy and can greatly affect quality of life. Familiarity for pelvic floor disorders and nicotine abuse resulted as significant risk factors for at least one sexual symptom.

Trajectories of Dyspareunia From Pregnancy to 24 Months Postpartum

Two distinct trajectories of dyspareunia were identified from pregnancy to 24 months postpartum; pain catastrophizing predicted inclusion in the moderate relative to minimal pain trajectory.

To identify distinct trajectories of dyspareunia in primiparous women and examine biopsychosocial risk factors of these trajectories.

Comparing Self-Reported Pain During Intercourse and Pain During a Standardized Gynecological Exam at 12- and 24-Month Postpartum

BACKGROUND

There is limited information about the physical indicators and biopsychosocial predictors of self-reported pain during intercourse and pain during a gynecological examination at 12- and 24-month following childbirth.

AIM

This longitudinal study aimed to (i) Compare the findings from gynecological exams at 12- and 24-month postpartum for women with minimal vs clinically significant pain during intercourse; (ii) Assess the biomedical and psychosocial correlates of self-reported pain during intercourse and the vestibular pain index (VPI) from the cotton-swab test at 12- and 24-month postpartum; (iii) Establish the relationship between self-reported pain during intercourse and the cotton-swab test.

METHODS

Women (N = 97 at 12 months postpartum and N = 44 at 24-month postpartum) recruited from a local women's hospital completed online surveys in their first trimester of pregnancy and at 12- and 24-month postpartum to assess pain during intercourse and biopsychosocial variables. Those with clinically significant (pain ≥4/10 on a visual analogue scale) were matched with those reporting minimal pain (pain <3/10) and underwent a gynecological exam including a cotton-swab test. Descriptive analyses, multiple regressions, and bivariate correlations were conducted to address each of the study aims, respectively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

(i) Findings from the gynecological examination (ii) Numerical rating scale for the VPI; (iii) Visual analogue scale of pain during intercourse.

RESULTS

The majority of women in both pain groups had normal physical findings in the gynecological exam. Greater sexual distress and pain catastrophizing at 12- and 24-month postpartum were significantly associated with greater pain during intercourse at each time-point, respectively. Greater pain catastrophizing at 12 months postpartum was significantly associated with greater pain during the cotton-swab test at that time-point. Lower relationship satisfaction at 12 months postpartum was associated with greater VPI ratings at 24 months postpartum. Pain during intercourse and the VPI were moderately and positively correlated.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Addressing psychosocial variables may interrupt the maintenance of postpartum pain. Following an initial assessment, self-reported pain intensity may be a suitable proxy for repeated examinations.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS

This study is the first to describe the physical findings and psychosocial predictors of pain during intercourse and the VPI at 12- and 24-month postpartum. The homogenous and small sample may limit generalizability.

CONCLUSION

There were no observable physical indicators of clinically significant postpartum pain during intercourse. Psychosocial variables were linked to women's greater postpartum pain during intercourse and VPI ratings.

Social support, social cohesion and pain during pregnancy: The Japan Environment and Children's Study

BACKGROUND

Persistent pain during pregnancy is a significant health issue, which could be correlated with psychological distress resulting from inadequate social support. This study aims to investigate whether the relationship between poor social support and antenatal pain is mediated by psychological distress. We also aimed to examine whether social cohesion moderates the influence of psychological distress on the relationship between social support and antenatal pain.

METHODS

We analysed 94,517 pregnancies of women from a Japanese national birth cohort completed questionnaires assessing pain, psychological distress, social support and social cohesion. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Two types of models were used: the mediation model to examine whether the association between social support and pain was mediated by psychological distress; the moderated mediation model to analyse whether social cohesion buffered the negative effect of inadequate social support on pain. Demographic, socioeconomic and psychological factors were controlled for in all analyses.

RESULTS

Psychological distress was fully mediated the association between social support and pain. Social cohesion had a focal moderation effect on the inverse association between social support and psychological distress (unstandardized regression coefficient [β] = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.07-0.11) and functioned as moderator for the indirect effect of social support on antenatal pain (index of moderated mediation = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.004-0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor social support was related to antenatal pain through psychological distress, possibly buffered by social cohesion. During the antenatal period, social support and cohesion are important for women.

SIGNIFICANCE

In this study, poor social support was found to be associated with pain intensity during pregnancy, which was mediated by psychological distress and might be buffered by desirable social cohesion. This finding could potentially help healthcare providers and policy makers to understand the importance of desirable social cohesion in preventing pain among pregnant women.