VIA DE NASCIMENTO E AS REPERCUSSÕES NA SEXUALIDADE FEMININA

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.37711024101213

• Palavras-chave: Sexualidade; Período pós-parto; Parto normal; Cesárea; Episiotomia.

• Keywords: Sexuality; Postpartum period; Normal birth; Cesarean section; Episiotomy.

• Abstract: Objective: to analyze the scientific evidence on the impact of birth mode on women's sexual health/sexuality in the postpartum period. Method: integrative descriptive literature review. Developed in the databases of the Virtual Health Library: Nursing Database, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scientific Electronic Library Online and in the Electronic Scientific Library, Scientific and Technical Literature of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Health Descriptors used were: “sexuality”, “postpartum”, “normal delivery”, “cesarean section”, “episiotomy”. The following inclusion criteria were adopted: full text, free, full online availability, scientific articles published in Portuguese, English or Spanish. The exclusion criteria were: editorials, reflection articles, manuals, book chapters, repeated studies and not addressing the researched topic. Search carried out on April 7, 2022. Results: 149 studies were identified, eight of which met the eligibility criteria. It was evident that the mode of birth, in general, does not affect women's sexual health/sexuality in the postpartum period; however, studies indicate that vaginal delivery associated with interventions such as episiotomy impacts female sexuality. Conclusion: new approaches to the issue of women's sexuality encompassing the entire pregnancy-puerperal period, aiming to promote a healthier maternal experience of returning to sexuality