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Article: Breastfeeding and postpartum maternal sexual functioning: a review.
- Article from:
- The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
- Article date:
- September 22, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 SIECCAN, The Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT: In this paper we review the existing literature on the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum maternal sexuality. Latency to resumption of sexual activity and frequency of sexual activity, sexual desire, dyspareunia, fatigue, mood and depression are used as discrete categories for discussion. The research literature indicates that women who breastfeed, as compared to those who bottle-feed, are more likely to experience decreases in sexual functioning, especially desire. Research increasingly suggests that various factors modulate the influence of breastfeeding on sexual functioning, including psychosocial and hormonal variables. Of particular interest ...