ABSTRACT

Tocophobia is an increasing presentation in both psychosexual and antenatal clinics. Anecdotally, psychosexual dysfunction goes hand in hand with primary and secondary tocophobia; in primary tocophobics, if questioned, the vast majority will describe difficulties with sex prior to conception or present as non-consummation because of fear. Women who may never have considered falling pregnant previously because of tocophobia began to present to antenatal clinics, often with a copy of the guidelines or at least referring to them. There is a cohort of women who have experienced child sexual abuse or sexual assault, causing their tocophobia. Tocophobia is categorised into primary affecting nulliparous women and secondary affecting multiparous women. Women with secondary tocophobia often benefit from a birth options appointment where an experienced midwife can sit and debrief by going through the delivery notes and answering questions as they proceed. Women should be encouraged to utilise whichever modality helps them.