Table 4.

Longer-term associations between specific mode of birth groups and sexual function (≥12 months postpartum).

	SVB vs. VBE		SVB vs. AVB	SVB vs. pCS	SVB vs. eCS	VBE vs. AVB	VBE vs. pCS	VBE vs. eCS	AVB vs. pCS	AVB vs. eCS	pCS vs. eCS
Baud et al. 2020 [82]				SVB protective 3,7
Crane et al. 2013 [65]									pCS protective 5,6
Dahlgren et al. 2022 [86]			SVB protective 7
De Sousa et al. 2021 [88]			SVB protective 7
Doğan et al. 2016 [60]							pCS protective 1,2,5
Kahramanoglu et al. 2017 [62]
Klein et al. 2009 [75]
Mohammed et al. 2014 [76]	SVB protective 6,7 VBE protective 2,3,5		SVB protective 2,3,6,7 AVB protective 5	SVB protective 2,6,7 pCS protective 3,5	SVB protective 6,7 eCS protective 2,3,5	VBE protective 2,3,7 AVB protective 5	VBE protective 2,6 pCS protective 7	VBE protective 5 eCS protective 2,3,6,7	AVB protective 5,6 pCS protective 2,3,7	AVB protective 5 eCS protective 2,3,6,7	pCS protective 5 eCS protective 2,3,6
Spaich et al. 2020 [78]
Szollosi et al. 2021 [83]
		Adjusted association between mode of birth and sexual function
		Crude association between mode of birth and sexual function
		No association between mode of birth and sexual function
		No association calculated between mode of birth and sexual function

SVB = spontaneous vaginal birth, VBE = vaginal birth with episiotomy, AVB = assisted vaginal birth, pCS = planned caesarean section, eCS = emergency caesarean section; Domains: ¹ Overall sexual dysfunction, ² Arousal, ³ Desire, ⁵ Orgasm, ⁶ Satisfaction, ⁷ Pain.