276 Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Vaginal Lubrication Issues in Women at 6 Months Postpartum

ABSTRACT Introduction A woman's sexuality changes during her life and varies according to endogenous and exogenous factors. In this perspective, pregnancy and childbirth create a state of sexual dysfunction. The physiological changes that occur in the postpartum period are unique to each woman, and depend on several factors, including the mode of delivery, and the postpartum period. Postpartum vaginal dryness is a common sexual disorder, caused by modifications in vaginal lubrication mechanisms. Objective Studying women's sexuality after childbirth by evaluating vaginal lubrication disorders in postpartum period. Methods This is a prospective, cross-sectional study between November 2018 and September 2019 at obstetric and gynecologic department of Ben Arous hospital of Tunisia. 150 Women were included and were followed from the third trimester of pregnancy through 6 months after childbirth. we opted for the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to evaluate sexual disorder in postpartum period. Results On the FSFI, the average vaginal lubrication score was 4.58 during pregnancy and 3.79 after delivery. At the time of the study, 6% of women were not sexually active during pregnancy and 2% after delivery. 53% of women who were sexually active during pregnancy reported feeling the sensation of vaginal lubrication during intercourse with varying frequency. 36% of women did not claim difficulty to acquire a satisfying level of vaginal lubrication After delivery, 39 women (26%), noted a sensation of lubrication less frequently. 84 % of women reported varying degrees of difficulty in achieving vaginal moisture during sexual intercourse after delivery (very difficult: 12%, difficult: 28%, somewhat difficult: 44%). The ability to maintain vaginal moisture during sex seems decreased after childbirth. In fact, the ability to maintain an adequate vaginal lubrification during sexual intercourse was reported on postpartum in 21 women (14%) compared to 48% during pregnancy. The factors influencing the different parameters of vaginal moisture found in our series were breastfeeding, mode of delivery and contraception. Conclusion In postpartum period achieving vaginal moisture and maintain of an adequate vaginal lubrification during intercourse seems to be altered. Mode of birth, breastfeeding and contraception was associated with lack of vaginal lubrication. Preparing women and their partners for this during the antenatal period and advising on simple measures, such as use of lubrication could be helpful. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.