Female sexual function health before, during, and after pregnancy
Official title: Female Sexual Dysfunction and Distress in the Preconception and Perinatal Period
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11391123 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study will follow women from before pregnancy through after birth to understand why sexual function becomes distressing for many and how to help them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $408,750 |
| NIH project number | 5DP5OD039736-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391123 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women planning pregnancy or recently pregnant who are willing to share information about sexual function and health.
✕Less likely to help
Women who are not planning pregnancy or do not want to discuss sexual health may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will build a pioneering, long-term study that tracks sexual function in preconception through the postpartum period. It will use validated measures already collected in the PRESTO study to gather detailed information about sexual health, mood, and partner dynamics over time. By following participants across pregnancy and the early years after birth, researchers aim to identify causes and intervention points to support women’s sexual well-being. Outcomes could inform a clinical tool to help providers address sexual health as part of routine preconception and maternity care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to better screening and tools to support women’s sexual health before, during, and after pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: This work leverages an established large cohort and aims to extend it with a focused, longitudinal lens on sexual function, a relatively novel approach in this specific life stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bond, Julia Craig — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Bond, Julia Craig
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.