Relationship of the type of breastfeeding in the sexual function of women.
Juliana Bento de Lima Holanda, Solina Richter, Regiane Bezerra Campos and 3 others
PMID 34287538WHAT IT FOUND
Breastfeeding type did not change overall sexual function scores.
Women mixing breast milk with formula reported significantly better vaginal lubrication than those using complementary foods. Nurses should screen for sexual dysfunction in all postpartum women, not just those exclusively breastfeeding.
Key findings
01There was no significant difference in the total sexual function score between women practicing exclusive, predominant, complemented, or mixed breastfeeding.
02Women practicing mixed breastfeeding reported significantly higher vaginal lubrication scores than those practicing complemented breastfeeding.
03Duration of breastfeeding was not associated with the occurrence of female sexual dysfunction.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used a cross-sectional design, so it cannot determine causality between breastfeeding type and sexual function. Self-reporting of sexual behavior may be subject to bias, as women might not report truthfully due to the intimate nature of the topic. The term 'vaginal lubrication' is subjective and may have been interpreted differently by participants. The sample was limited to women who had resumed sexual activity, excluding those who had not, which may affect generalizability. The study did not include a control group of non-breastfeeding women.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the higher lubrication scores in the mixed breastfeeding group as evidence that formula feeding improves sexual function. The overall sexual function scores were low and not significantly different between groups, and the study did not compare breastfeeding women to non-breastfeeding women.