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• Postpartum care is a frequently neglected area of women's health. • It should encompass all aspects of biological and psychosexual health. • Early diagnosis of common conditions/symptoms (eg, anaemia, dyspareunia) is needed. • There is high variability in global professional guidelines for postpartum care. • Genital hygiene (eg, vulvar cleansers) can help improve genital/sexual outcomes. The postpartum period encompasses the biological and psychoaffective transition to motherhood. However, it remains a most neglected phase in a woman's life. Furthermore, the transition to parenthood is a critical and potentially disrupting factor in a couple's relationship, which can be complicated by undiagnosed biological and psychosexual difficulties. Lack of recognition of the many biological and medical factors that can affect women's health and sexuality in the postpartum period is a common and persistent clinical omission worldwide. Communication difficulties exist between healthcare professionals and women and there are wording biases in describing female genitalia. This can further contribute to the diagnostic lack of attention and timely diagnosis and treatment of even very bothersome symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment of common postpartum conditions is vital and quality care for new mothers should include psychological and emotional support, lactation assistance, early diagnosis and treatment of genital and sexual pain symptoms, pelvic floor rehabilitation and sexual health guidance. The inclusion of correct genital hygiene practices is a critical element of postpartum gynaecological counselling and can help improve overall genital and sexual health. In this review, we summarise the variability in global professional guidelines for postpartum care, identify common health problems faced by postpartum women and discuss appropriate postpartum care. We pay specific attention to prominent biological or medical factors that can impact the emotional and psychosexual wellbeing of women and couples. The aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction, in particular sexual pain disorders, is therefore discussed with a pragmatic approach. Finally, the role of intimate hygiene care is discussed with special attention given to cleanser ingredients with solid scientific evidence to help clinicians adopt a more tailored approach with their clinical recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after child sexual abuse (CSA) suffer from sexual problems. However, little is known about the frequency of female sexual dysfunctions (FSD) as defined by DSM-5 among women with PTSD due to CSA. Furthermore, factors related to FSD in this patient population are understudied. To assess prevalence rates and clinical correlates of FSD according to DSM-5 criteria in women with PTSD after CSA, a structured clinical interview for sexual dysfunctions according to DSM-5 criteria was administered in a sample of 137 women with PTSD after CSA. Participants also completed measures for PTSD, depression symptoms, and borderline personality disorder symptoms. The association between FSD, severity of abuse, PTSD-, depression-, borderline symptom severity, and age was examined. In a second step, the association between FSD and PTSD-clusters was assessed. Diagnostic criteria of female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD) were met by 2.6% of women in our sample. 5.2% met criteria of female orgasmic disorder (FOD), and 11.8% those of genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD). PTSD symptom severity predicted number of fulfilled criteria of FSIAD and FOD, the cluster "negative alterations in cognition and mood," was associated with more fulfilled criteria in FSIAD and FOD. The majority of women reported sexual problems, but diagnostic criteria of FSD were met by only a small number of participants. PTSD symptoms, especially the cluster "negative alterations in cognition and mood," seem to be related to female sexual functioning after CSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sexuality is one of the basic part of quality of life. Sexual dysfunctions are presented in all female age groups, fertile women suffer mainly from sexual desire, arousal, orgasm and pain disorders. It is usually not only a female problem, her partner should take a part in diagnostic-therapeutic process from the beginning. This article brings a basic information about sexual disorders of fertile women, their etiology, diagnostics and actual therapeutic options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Yoga is a popular form of complementary and alternative therapy. It is practiced both in developing and developed countries. Female sexual dysfunctions are common and do not always get adequate clinical attention. Pharmacotherapies for treating female sexual dysfunctions are available but suffer from drawbacks such as poor compliance, low efficacy, and side effects. Many patients and yoga protagonists claim that it is useful in improving sexual functions and treating sexual disorders. Aim. To establish the effect yoga can have on female sexual functions. Methods. We recruited 40 females (age range 22–55 years, average age 34.7 ± 8.49 years) who were enrolled in a yoga camp and were given a standardized questionnaire named Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) before and after the 12 weeks session of yoga. Main Outcome Measures. FSFI scores. Results. It was found that after the completion of yoga sessions; the sexual functions scores were significantly improved ( P < 0.0001). The improvement occurred in all six domains of FSFI (i.e., desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). The improvement was more in older women (age > 45 years) compared with younger women (age < 45 years). Conclusions. Yoga appears to be an effective method of improving all domains of sexual functions in women as studied by FSFI. Dhikav V, Karmarkar G, Gupta R, Verma M, Gupta R, Gupta S, and Anand KS. Yoga in female sexual functions. J Sex Med 2010;7:964–970. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female sexuality is a controversial issue due to its embarrassment and to paucity of literature publications. The neuroanatomy and neuromediators involved in female sexuality are important but not so fundamental as in men. There are three sexual female dysfunctions (SFD): primary, secondary, tertiary. In the primary one, the sexual dysfunction (SD) is correlated to the neurological disease, in the secondary the SD derives from the symptoms of the neurological disease, in the tertiary the SD is the psychological reaction to the effects of the disease. We analyse the FSD in neurological diseases, as the outcome of medulla trauma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer, Parkinson, diabetes, outcome of pelvic surgery. Female sexuality (FS) is difficult and complex compared to male sexuality. Women with medulla lesion feel some discomfort when having to go and speak to their doctor: they are afraid of pregnancy, sexual intercourses, bladder and rectal functions. In women with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis, there is a tertiary sexual dysfunction. Medical therapy worsens female sexuality as in case of epilepsy. Emotional and behavioural disorders involve sexual dysfunctions in women with Alzheimer. In Parkinson, reduction of sexual desire involves break of sexual intercourses. SD are more frequent in complicated diabetes. In pelvic surgery, pelvic autonomic dysfunction and depression correlated to the oncology disease, contribute to the FSD. Sexual counselling, especially in young women with medulla lesion or multiple sclerosis, is the best therapy, and learning erotic extragenital areas able to make sensations similar to the orgasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a very common disorder in women, involving severe consequences on the patients' perception of quality of life and sexuality. The aim of this contribution is to analyze the psycho-relational aspects linked to UI, focusing on sexual activity, self-perception of sexual competence and self-esteem. Urinary incontinence causes feelings of shame and inadequacy as well as low self-esteem; it may affect sexual activity, reducing sexual intercourse frequency. Many authors highlight a strong comorbidity between urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunctions, such as dyspareunia, vaginismus, hypo-active sexual desire, arousal and orgasm disorders. Literature analysis shows that changes in sexual activity are influenced not only by urinary incontinence symptoms but also by the disorder self-perception, by previous sexuality, menopause, social status and the partner's attitude. The etiological study of urinary incontinence shows that several different factors play a role in this disorder. Therefore, an integrated therapeutic approach is suggested, considering, besides the organic issues, the experience and feelings of patients as well as the consequences on their sexual and social life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]