Table 2.
Sexual problems by mode of birth
| Only spontaneous births | Instrumental vaginal birth, ever | Only c-sections | Spontaneous VBAC | Instrumental VBAC | C-section after vaginal birth | |
| One or more sexual problem(s), n=35 710 | ||||||
| Cases (%) | 8323 (37) | 1788 (37) | 1278 (42) | 718 (37) | 194 (45) | 1148 (39) |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Reference | 1.02 (0.96 to 1.09) | 1.24 (1.15 to 1.34) | 1.01 (0.92 to 1.11) | 1.37 (1.14 to 1.66) | 1.11 (1.03 to 1.20) |
| Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | Reference | 1.01 (0.95 to 1.08) | 1.18 (1.09 to 1.28) | 1.00 (0.91 to 1.11) | 1.35 (1.11 to 1.64) | 1.10 (1.01 to 1.19) |
| Reduced desire, n=36 509 | ||||||
| Cases (%) | 4981 (22) | 1042 (21) | 723 (23) | 437 (22) | 106 (24) | 656 (22) |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Reference | 0.99 (0.92 to 1.07) | 1.09 (1.00 to 1.19) | 1.03 (0.92 to 1.15) | 1.13 (0.91 to 1.41) | 1.03 (0.94 to 1.13) |
| Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | Reference | 0.99 (0.92 to 1.07) | 1.05 (0.96 to 1.15) | 1.03 (0.92 to 1.15) | 1.13 (0.91 to 1.41) | 1.02 (0.93 to 1.11) |
| Difficulty in obtaining orgasm, n=36 019 | ||||||
| Cases (%) | 2861 (13) | 641 (13) | 421 (14) | 255 (13) | 73 (17) | 399 (14) |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Reference | 1.07 (0.97 to 1.17) | 1.10 (0.99 to 1.23) | 1.04 (0.91 to 1.20) | 1.39 (1.08 to 1.79) | 1.09 (0.98 to 1.22) |
| Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | Reference | 1.06 (0.96 to 1.16) | 1.06 (0.95 to 1.18) | 1.04 (0.91 to 1.19) | 1.38 (1.07 to 1.78) | 1.09 (0.97 to 1.22) |
| Insufficient lubrication, n=36 148 | ||||||
| Cases (%) | 1700 (7) | 383 (8) | 344 (11) | 138 (7) | 46 (10) | 298 (10) |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Reference | 1.07 (0.95 to 1.20) | 1.55 (1.37 to 1.76) | 0.94 (0.78 to 1.12) | 1.44 (1.06 to 1.96) | 1.39 (1.23 to 1.59) |
| Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | Reference | 1.01 (0.90 to 1.13) | 1.41 (1.24 to 1.60) | 0.92 (0.77 to 1.10) | 1.35 (0.99 to 1.85) | 1.35 (1.18 to 1.54) |
| Dyspareunia, n=36 266 | ||||||
| Cases (%) | 2040 (9) | 446 (9) | 467 (15) | 170 (9) | 57 (13) | 319 (11) |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Reference | 1.03 (0.93 to 1.15) | 1.81 (1.62 to 2.02) | 0.96 (0.82 to 1.13) | 1.50 (1.13 to 1.99) | 1.23 (1.09 to 1.40) |
| Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | Reference | 1.05 (0.94 to 1.17) | 1.78 (1.59 to 1.99) | 0.97 (0.82 to 1.14) | 1.52 (1.14 to 2.01) | 1.20 (1.06 to 1.36) |
| Entry dyspareunia, n=35 720 | ||||||
| Cases (%) | 640 (3) | 160 (3) | 243 (8) | 68 (4) | 25 (6) | 117 (4) |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Reference | 1.19 (1.00 to 1.42) | 2.99 (2.57 to 3.49) | 1.24 (0.96 to 1.60) | 2.09 (1.38 to 3.15) | 1.43 (1.17 to 1.75) |
| Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | Reference | 1.14 (0.96 to 1.37) | 2.76 (2.36 to 3.24) | 1.24 (0.96 to 1.59) | 2.03 (1.35 to 3.07) | 1.41 (1.15 to 1.73) |
| Deep dyspareunia, n=35 720 | ||||||
| Cases (%) | 1425 (6) | 278 (6) | 233 (8) | 102 (5) | 36 (8) | 203 (7) |
| Crude OR (95% CI) | Reference | 0.92 (0.80 to 1.05) | 1.24 (1.07 to 1.43) | 0.82 (0.67 to 1.01) | 1.34 (0.95 to 1.89) | 1.11 (0.95 to 1.29) |
| Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | Reference | 0.96 (0.84 to 1.09) | 1.25 (1.08 to 1.45) | 0.83 (0.67 to 1.02) | 1.38 (0.98 to 1.96) | 1.07 (0.91 to 1.25) |
*Adjusted for maternal age at first birth, calendar year at first birth, prepregnant body mass index, socio-occupational status, self-assessed health, disease, exercise in pregnancy and smoking in pregnancy.
C-section, caesarean section; VBAC, vaginal birth after caesarean section.