title: Mode of delivery and pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function after childbirth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the respective roles of the mode of delivery and strength of pelvic floor muscles in the sexual function of women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two women who were delivered vaginally and 21 women who underwent cesarean delivery at the Celal Bayar University School of Medicine Obstetrics Department were enrolled in the study, and 15 nulliparas were recruited as controls. Sexual function was assessed in all women by a validated questionnaire (the Female Sexual Function Index). Desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain were measured separately, and pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed by a perineometer. Sexual function was compared among the 3 groups. The correlation between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pelvic floor muscle strength was significantly lower in the group vaginally delivered compared with the group delivered by cesarean section and the nulliparous group (P<0.05). There was no difference between the groups regarding sexual function (P>0.05), and there was also no correlation between sexual function and pelvic muscle strength.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pelvic floor muscle strength and mode of delivery did not affect sexual function in our study participants. The muscular component of female sexual function should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Celal Bayar University, School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. yesim_bulbul@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Baytur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uyar
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ozcakir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kizilkaya
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caglar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D009948:Orgasm; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D010502:Perineum / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012725:Sexual Behavior