Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

In the transition to parenthood (from the decision to have a child or conception until the baby is 2 years old), future and new parenting couples, are faced with numerous intimate and sexual changes and have to adapt as best as they can. Women's sexuality change at different levels (biological, psychological, sociological, emotional) during the 5 phases of the perinatal period: preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and breastfeeding. However, very little attention has been given to women's intimacy and sexuality during the transition to parenthood both in research and practice. Moreover, there is a clear dearth of research and interventions in this domain, despite women's obvious and particular needs. This presentation has three objectives: 1) provide a critical review of the research studies conducted on this subject (what do we know on perinatal sexuality concerning women?); 2) provide an overview of the interventions developed to support women (what are we doing to help those women?); and 3) make recommendations for different levels of healthcare (what can we do, as health professionals, for those women?). This presentation will provide a better understanding of a sexual fundamental issue for women: perinatal sexuality. It is part of an equity approach in population health to promote the individual, the couple, the family and the society, and to promote equitable access to appropriate services and collaborative, continuous and durable care regarding sexual and reproductive health.