Introduction: Experts advise against sex for two to three weeks after childbirth, and others for up to six weeks after childbirth, or until the episiotomy wound has healed and the lochia has stopped. Three months after childbirth, women reported many problems such as: dyspareunia, lack of vaginal lubrication, difficulty in achieving orgasm, tight or loose vagina, bleeding and irritation after intercourse and poor sexual desire. Breastfeeding also increases oxytocin levels, which also reduces sexual desire and makes intercourse painful. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore the sexuality of women after childbirth. The aim of the thesis is to compare the literature of this area with the responses of Slovenian women who have given birth in the last five years. Methods: In the theoretical part, we used the descriptive method of work. Literature was searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, DiKul, SpringerLink databases and in physical form in the Central Library Srečko Vilhar Koper. In the empirical part of the thesis, we used a quantitative method with the help of a survey questionnaire developed in the 1KA web portal. The target population was adult women who had already given birth. Participation in the survey was voluntary and anonymous. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions and was published on Facebook. The data were analysed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. The survey was carried out from 5 October to 16 November 2021. 431 questionnaires were completed in total. Results: The majority of respondents were aged between 26 and 30 (n = 162; 37,6 %). The vast majority gave birth by vaginal delivery (n = 318; 73,8 %). Episiotomy was the most common procedure performed during vaginal birth in respondents aged 26-30 years (n = 161; 78,2 %). Most respondents had their first sexual intercourse after delivery immediately after the first gynaecological examination (n = 130; 30,2 %). The most problems with sexual intercourse after childbirth were lack of vaginal lubrication (n = 237; 55 %), pain due to stitched crotch (n = 230; 53,4 %), difficulties with experiencing orgasm and the different orgasm compared to the orgasm before childbirth. They also reported fear of having sex for the first time, pain and burning during intercourse, a vagina that was too tight and urine leakage. 71 % of women in our study were breastfeeding at the time of first intercourse after giving birth. Discussion and conclusion: Women's sexuality in the postnatal period presents a unique picture of how biological, psychological and social factors intersect and contribute to the normal changes in sexuality in the first year after childbirth.
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