Resumption of Sexual Intercourse in the Postpartum Period: Women's Experiences (RS-PP)

Sexual health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a state of overall well-being related to sexuality. In the postpartum period, sexual health is often affected by hormonal, physical, and psychological changes. Up to 83% of women report sexual difficulties within the first three months after childbirth, and these issues may persist for up to a year. Dyspareunia is one of the most common symptoms, affecting approximately 35% of postpartum women. Other difficulties include vaginal dryness, fatigue, decreased libido, and fear of pain. Breastfeeding and perineal trauma are known to influence the resumption of sexual activity.

Health professionals may lack training or confidence in addressing sexual health, often leaving women to cope with their difficulties alone, even though they express a need for information and support. In this context, it is essential to better understand the difficulties women face when resuming sexual activity after childbirth, in order to improve the detection and management of sexual health disorders.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sexual Intercourse
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: data collection

Detailed Description

Objectives Primary: To describe the resumption of sexual activity within the first 3 months postpartum, including any potential difficulties encountered.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 80

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Reims, France, 51100
    • Ufr Medecine Urca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

women aged 18 and over, with a partner who gave birth more than 3 months and less than 6 months ago, regardless of the mode of delivery, whether or not they have resumed sexual intercourse since giving birth

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women who gave birth between 3 and 6 months prior to participating in the study
• Whether or not they have resumed sexual intercourse.
• With a partner.
• Aged 18 years or older
• Agreeing to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who were pregnant at the time of the study
• Who had experienced perinatal bereavement
• Who were protected by law (guardianship, curatorship, judicial protection)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Questionnaire on the resumption of sexual intercourse in the postpartum period	Proportion of participants who resumed sexual intercourse within the 3 months following childbirth	Day0

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 22, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 22, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): January 22, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: postpartum; women; sexual intercourse
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Sexual Behavior; Coitus; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Methods; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Data Collection
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025_RIPH_11_SF_N Painvin

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No