title: Female sexual function following different degrees of perineal tears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Perineal tears may have a negative impact on female sexual function (FSF). The aim of the study was to assess the effect of different degrees of perineal tears sustained during delivery on subsequent FSF.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective cohort study assessed women with third- or fourth-degree perineal tears following vaginal delivery (study group) and compared them with women who underwent episiotomy or had minor lacerations (control group). Sexual function of postpartum women meeting inclusion criteria was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire at 6 and 12 months postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty-six women completed the study: 56 and 100 in the study and control groups, respectively. Mean total FSFI scores were significantly different between groups at 6 months postpartum [28.1 ± 4.1 vs. 18 ± 2.4 (p < 0.002)]. After 12 months, and despite slight improvement, sexual function was significantly lower in the repaired compared with the control group (21.8 ± 2.9 vs. 29.2 ± 4.1). Women in the study group showed significant decreases in the scores of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain domains 12 months postdelivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher-degree perineal tears negatively affect FSF up to 1 year after delivery. Evaluation of FSF and appropriate counseling are necessary for women with perineal tears, especially the higher degree tears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Round Road, Ismailia, 41111, Egypt. waleed.asa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Waleed Ali
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Sayed Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Round Road, Ismailia, 41111, Egypt.
authors.forename: Eman Ahmed
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kishk
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Round Road, Ismailia, 41111, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rasha Imam
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Farhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Round Road, Ismailia, 41111, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rasha Elsayed
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Khamees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004841:Episiotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009948:Orgasm; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Episiotomy; FSFI; Female sexual dysfunction; Perineal tears