Is it all downhill from here? Changes to new mothers’ sexual function in the year following childbirth
By Samantha Dawson, PhD This blog is a summary of our published article: Dawson, S. J., Vaillancourt-Morel, M-P., Pierce, M., & Rosen, N. O. (in press). Biopsychosocial predictors of trajectories of postpartum sexual function in first-time mothers. Health Psychology. doi: 10.1037/hea0000861 Sexual function, which includes things like desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction, is a core component […]
Pain and Pregnancy and Sex, Oh My!
by Meghan Rossi This blog is a summary of our published article: Rossi, M. A., Mooney, K. M., Binik, Y. M., & Rosen, N. O. (2019). A Descriptive and Longitudinal Analysis of Pain During Intercourse in Pregnancy. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.09.011 When women experience pain during intercourse, both they and their partners report lower […]
Are new parents less stressed when they’re more sexually satisfied?
By Inês Tavares This blog is a summary of our published article: Tavares, I. M., Nobre, P. J., Schlagentweit, H., & Rosen, N. O. (2019). Sexual well-being and perceived stress in couples transitioning to parenthood: A dyadic analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2019.07.004 After the birth of their first baby, new parents usually have a lot […]
Returning to Sex: Women’s Experiences with Their Postpartum Sexuality
by Heather Oliveira Have you or your partner recently had a baby? Are you or your partner pregnant? Are you curious about how becoming a parent will change your sex life? Postpartum sex is something that many women have difficulty with; studies show that self-esteem, confidence, and exhaustion make returning to sex challenging (2,3). A […]
Becoming Four (Or More!): Consensual Non-Monogamy and Parenthood
Photo Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-passion-paradox/201208/what-are-peoples-perceptions-open-relationships By: Meghan Rossi One of the main research programs in the Couples and Sexual Health Laboratory is exploring how new parents manage changes to their romantic and sexual relationship when they first become parents. We know that this period is full of both excitement and challenges for couples (see blog posts 1, […]
Navigating Pain and Intimacy in the Postpartum Period
By Meghan Rossi Welcoming a new baby into your family is both an exciting and challenging time. For many parents it is a time of joy; however, some couples can experience unanticipated difficulties that are hard to navigate, both individually and as a couple. Pain during sexual activity is one challenge that couples may experience. […]
#PostBabyHankyPanky: Sharing our Knowledge about Sexuality During the Transition to Parenthood
By: Megan Muise, Research Co-ordinator Welcoming a new baby into the family is often a time filled with joy and excitement for couples. During this time couples are also faced with many new challenges, including strain on their romantic and sexual relationship. Research has shown that parents experience sharper declines in relationship satisfaction […]
Is it me or you? Attributions for postpartum sexual concerns during the transition to motherhood
By Kaitlyn Adare This post is a summary of our paper: Vannier S. A., Adare K., & Rosen N. (2018). Is it me or you? First-time mothers’ attributions for postpartum sexual concerns are associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction in the transition to parenthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35, 577-599. Having a baby […]
Sexual Desire Discrepancy and Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction among New Parents
By Emily Cote This post is a summary of our paper: Rosen, N. O., Bailey, K., & Muise, A. (2017). Degree and Direction of Sexual Desire Discrepancy are Linked to Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood. The Journal of Sex Research, 1-12. The transition to parenthood is a unique and often challenging time […]
The Prevalence of Dyspareunia and Genito-Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy
By Meghan Rossi Women experience a number of changes throughout pregnancy. One of these changes can include pain, specifically: Genito-Pelvic Pain Spontaneous or provoked pain in areas including the pelvis, vulva, perineum, vaginal opening, and inside the vagina and/or Dyspareunia Pain during intercourse There is limited research on the prevalence of these different pain types […]
