Fear of childbirth (FOC) is common and affects approximately 5-20 % of all pregnant women. FOC is associated with giving birth by caesarean section on maternal request (CSMR). The rate of caesarean sections (CS) and CSMR has increased during the last decades. To decrease these women’s fear, the rate of CSMR and to promote a more positive birth experience, many treatments for FOC have been evaluated. In Sweden, the treatment is individualized and given by obstetricians, midwives, psychologists or psychotherapists in the specialist care.

Women with FOC suffer more often from psychiatric illness and rate their general health as less good, which is important to consider when counselling these women and deciding on mode of delivery. Little is known about the long term obstetric and reproductive outcomes for women with FOC. Therefore, the aim of the studies on which this thesis is based was to compare psychiatric care before and after childbirth in women giving birth by CSMR to women giving birth by other modes of delivery and to follow the subsequent obstetric and reproductive outcomes in women receiving counselling for FOC in their first childbirth. Furthermore, we hypothesized that women with localized provoked vulvodynia (LPV) and/or vaginismus might fear vaginal childbirth and little is known about their reproduction and obstetric outcomes which is why we investigated the parity and obstetric outcomes in women diagnosed with LPV/vaginismus before first childbirth.

Based on data linked from several Swedish National registers, the prevalence of psychiatric in- and outpatient care before (paper I) and after first childbirth (paper II) was compared in primiparae giving birth by CSMR to primiparae giving birth by other modes of delivery. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was found to be significantly higher in women giving birth by CSMR, indicating a severe burden of psychiatric illness in these women.

In paper III, also based on data from several Swedish National registers, a diagnosis of LPV/vaginismus before childbirth was shown to decrease the odds of giving birth. When giving birth these women had an increased risk of CS, especially CSMR. This could possibly indicate FOC in these women. Further, women with vaginismus had an increased risk of pelvic floor injuries.

Paper IV was a follow-up study of women who received counselling for FOC in their first pregnancy leading to parturition. It was based on data from medical records and a questionnaire. The women were followed 7-14 years after their first childbirth. Women treated for FOC more often gave birth by CS, rated their first birth experience as less positive and more often required counselling for FOC in their subsequent pregnancies compared to women without FOC in their first pregnancy. There were no significant differences in the rate of complications during pregnancy and childbirth compared to the other women. Women treated for FOC less often gave birth more than twice. Despite being given counselling and being exposed to childbirth almost one in five women felt fearful towards childbirth 7-14 years after the first childbirth.

In conclusion, women with FOC are a vulnerable group suffering from a significant burden of psychiatric illness. FOC is not easily treated; many women require counselling in subsequent pregnancies and many still fear childbirth after the childbearing years. Furthermore, LPV/vaginismus is a risk factor for giving birth by CSMR, possibly indicating FOC, and these women are less likely to give birth. Our study shows it is important not only to address sexual function in these women but reproductive function as well. Further studies are needed to establish how to optimize their care regarding fertility, antenatal, obstetric and post-partum care.