Postpartum sexual problems and their affecting factors

The researching was performed in the cross-sectional descriptive plan for the purpose of investigation of the postpartum sexual problems and their affecting factors. The 230 females at their 2nd to 12th postpartum months were included in the researching. The researching was performed in the regions under the responsibility of the Public Health Center of Narlidere in Izmir province between the dates of 07.9.2007 and 12.12.2008.The researching data was acquired through the questionnaire, in which the identifier characteristics of the females and the independent variables of the researching were asked, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale and Beck Depression Inventory. In the evaluation of the data, the identifier statistics and chi-square test were used.In this study, it was determined that 91.3% of the females experienced postpartum sexual problems according to their Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale points. In the researching, it was determined that the females experienced postpartum the sexual problems in a statistically significant higher ratio (p<0,05) at the below percentages; the females aged between 30 and 40 (97.3%), females at their 10th to 12th postpartum months (97.6%), the females who did not have treatments and consultancy for their sexual problems during the period prior to their pregnancies (98.4%), the females who had sexual problems during their pregnancy periods (97.4%), the females who had their sexual intercourse frequencies once or less per week (98.2%), the females who had pain during their first sexual intercourse after the birth (95.6%).In accordance to those results, the constructive contributions may be ensured through the trainings provided by the midwifes and nurses on the preserving and enhancing the health in the postpartum period, through their identifying the sexual problems of the females with the screening scales in the routine monitoring, through their referring the patients for early detection and treatment.Key words: the postpartum period, sexual problems, the approaches of the midwifery and nursing.