Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Genital self-image is among the factors affecting women\'s sexual function.
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine changes in the genital self-image and its relationship with women\'s sexual function in the third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum.
METHODS: The participants of this prospective cohort study included 301 eligible pregnant women chosen through stratified random sampling with proportional allocation from comprehensive health centers in Gorgan, Iran. The Persian version of the 7-item Female Genital Self-Image Scale, the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index, and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 were filled in a self-report manner on 2 occasions: (1) 30 to 37 weeks of pregnancy and (2) 12 to 16 weeks (± 2 weeks) postpartum. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software.
RESULTS: Outcomes included Female Genital Self-Image Scale and Female Sexual Function Index changes from pregnancy to postpartum according to the childbirth mode.
RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 29.66 ± 5.27 years. These values for the genital self-image scores of women during pregnancy (19.18 ± 3.25) and postpartum (19.43 ± 3.57) were not significantly different (P = .30). Also, this difference was not statistically significant regarding the mode of delivery in 2 groups of women with vaginal birth (P = .62) and cesarean section (P = .14). The mean Female Sexual Function Index scores during pregnancy (15.15 ± 6.73) and postpartum (17.52 ± 6.46) were significantly different (P = .001). In addition, this difference was significant in women with vaginal birth (P = .004) and cesarean section (P = .001).
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should inform women/couples about changes in female sexual function and address genital self-image as a factor involved in female sexual function during pregnancy and postpartum.Strengths and Limitations: Because the participants of this study were women in the third trimester of pregnancy, the obtained results may not be generalized to pregnant women in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy or even to different postpartum periods (ie, midterm and long term).
CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the female genital self-image is not significantly different during pregnancy and postpartum, or with the mode of delivery. However, the female sexual function score in postpartum is higher than in pregnancy, regardless of the mode of delivery.
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine changes in the genital self-image and its relationship with women\'s sexual function in the third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum.
METHODS: The participants of this prospective cohort study included 301 eligible pregnant women chosen through stratified random sampling with proportional allocation from comprehensive health centers in Gorgan, Iran. The Persian version of the 7-item Female Genital Self-Image Scale, the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index, and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 were filled in a self-report manner on 2 occasions: (1) 30 to 37 weeks of pregnancy and (2) 12 to 16 weeks (± 2 weeks) postpartum. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software.
RESULTS: Outcomes included Female Genital Self-Image Scale and Female Sexual Function Index changes from pregnancy to postpartum according to the childbirth mode.
RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 29.66 ± 5.27 years. These values for the genital self-image scores of women during pregnancy (19.18 ± 3.25) and postpartum (19.43 ± 3.57) were not significantly different (P = .30). Also, this difference was not statistically significant regarding the mode of delivery in 2 groups of women with vaginal birth (P = .62) and cesarean section (P = .14). The mean Female Sexual Function Index scores during pregnancy (15.15 ± 6.73) and postpartum (17.52 ± 6.46) were significantly different (P = .001). In addition, this difference was significant in women with vaginal birth (P = .004) and cesarean section (P = .001).
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should inform women/couples about changes in female sexual function and address genital self-image as a factor involved in female sexual function during pregnancy and postpartum.Strengths and Limitations: Because the participants of this study were women in the third trimester of pregnancy, the obtained results may not be generalized to pregnant women in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy or even to different postpartum periods (ie, midterm and long term).
CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the female genital self-image is not significantly different during pregnancy and postpartum, or with the mode of delivery. However, the female sexual function score in postpartum is higher than in pregnancy, regardless of the mode of delivery.
摘要：
背景：生殖器自我形象是影响女性性功能的因素之一。
目的：本研究旨在确定妊娠晚期和产后女性生殖器自我形象的变化及其与性功能的关系。
方法：这项前瞻性队列研究的参与者包括301名合格的孕妇，他们是通过分层随机抽样，按比例分配，来自Gorgan的综合卫生中心，伊朗。波斯版本的七项女性生殖器自我形象量表，六项女性性功能指数，抑郁焦虑和压力量表21以自我报告的方式填写2次：（1）妊娠30至37周和（2）产后12至16周（±2周）。最后,数据采用SPSS24软件进行分析。
结果：结果包括根据分娩方式从妊娠到产后的女性生殖器自我形象量表和女性性功能指数的变化。
结果：参与者的平均年龄为29.66±5.27岁。妊娠期间（19.18±3.25）和产后（19.43±3.57）的女性生殖器自我形象评分的这些值没有显着差异（P=.30）。此外，在阴道分娩(P=.62)和剖宫产(P=.14)2组妇女的分娩方式方面,这一差异无统计学意义.孕期女性性功能指数平均得分(15.15±6.73)和产后平均得分(17.52±6.46)差异有统计学意义(P=.001)。此外,这种差异在阴道分娩(P=0.004)和剖宫产(P=.001)的女性中具有显著性.
结论：临床医生应告知女性/夫妇女性性功能的变化，并将生殖器自我形象作为怀孕和产后女性性功能的一个因素。优点和局限性：因为这项研究的参与者是妊娠晚期的女性，所获得的结果可能不会推广到怀孕的头三个月和第二个三个月的孕妇，甚至不会推广到不同的产后时期（即，中期和长期)。
结论：结果显示，女性生殖器自我形象在孕期和产后无显著差异，或交付方式。然而,女性产后性功能评分高于孕期,无论交付方式如何。
目的：本研究旨在确定妊娠晚期和产后女性生殖器自我形象的变化及其与性功能的关系。
方法：这项前瞻性队列研究的参与者包括301名合格的孕妇，他们是通过分层随机抽样，按比例分配，来自Gorgan的综合卫生中心，伊朗。波斯版本的七项女性生殖器自我形象量表，六项女性性功能指数，抑郁焦虑和压力量表21以自我报告的方式填写2次：（1）妊娠30至37周和（2）产后12至16周（±2周）。最后,数据采用SPSS24软件进行分析。
结果：结果包括根据分娩方式从妊娠到产后的女性生殖器自我形象量表和女性性功能指数的变化。
结果：参与者的平均年龄为29.66±5.27岁。妊娠期间（19.18±3.25）和产后（19.43±3.57）的女性生殖器自我形象评分的这些值没有显着差异（P=.30）。此外，在阴道分娩(P=.62)和剖宫产(P=.14)2组妇女的分娩方式方面,这一差异无统计学意义.孕期女性性功能指数平均得分(15.15±6.73)和产后平均得分(17.52±6.46)差异有统计学意义(P=.001)。此外,这种差异在阴道分娩(P=0.004)和剖宫产(P=.001)的女性中具有显著性.
结论：临床医生应告知女性/夫妇女性性功能的变化，并将生殖器自我形象作为怀孕和产后女性性功能的一个因素。优点和局限性：因为这项研究的参与者是妊娠晚期的女性，所获得的结果可能不会推广到怀孕的头三个月和第二个三个月的孕妇，甚至不会推广到不同的产后时期（即，中期和长期)。
结论：结果显示，女性生殖器自我形象在孕期和产后无显著差异，或交付方式。然而,女性产后性功能评分高于孕期,无论交付方式如何。
