Sexuality During Pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction Sexuality is an important part of health and well-being. Sexual behavior modifies as pregnancy progresses, influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Aim To evaluate changes in sexual perceptions and activities during pregnancy and to determine sexual dysfunctions in that period. Main Outcome Measures Sexual perceptions (desire from the partner, feelings of attractiveness, and fear of sexual intercourse), sexual activities during pregnancy (sexual intercourse frequency, the most frequent sexual intercourse trimester, sexual activity during the birth week, type(s) of sexual intercourse, changes in sexual satisfaction and desire compared with the pre-pregnancy period, and changes in sexual intercourse frequency during each trimester compared with the pre-pregnancy period), and sexual dysfunctions. Methods Puerperal women were asked to anonymously complete a self-administered and structured questionnaire at the day of discharge from hospital. Results One hundred and eighty-eight women, aged between 17 years and 40 years with a mean age of 28.9 years, were analyzed. The first trimester was considered the most frequent period of sexual intercourse (44.7%), followed by the second trimester (35.6%). Fifty-five percent reported a decrease of sexual activity during the third trimester. Fear of sexual intercourse was referred by 23.4% of the women questioned. Sexual satisfaction was unchanged in 48.4% of the subjects and decreased in 27.7% (P <0.0001); sexual desire is reported to be unchanged in 38.8% and decreased in 32.5% (P = 0.196) of the population. Vaginal, oral, anal sex, and masturbation were performed by 98.3%, 38.1%, 6.6%, and 20.4% of the women, respectively. Conclusions We determined in our study that sexual satisfaction do not change in pregnancy compared with the pre-pregnancy patterns despite a decline of sexual activity during the third trimester. A discussion of expected changes in sexuality should be routinely done by the doctor in order to improve couples’ perception of possible sexual modifications induced by pregnancy.

Função sexual e qualidade de vida em gestantes de baixo risco

“…Apesar de diversos trabalhos analisarem a função sexual durante a gravidez 3,4,[7][8][9][10][11]19,25 , não encontramos estudos que a correlacionassem com a qualidade de vida em gestantes saudáveis. Sabe-se que a função sexual passa por mudanças na gestação, ocorrendo o aumento de sintomas de disfunção sexual, como a diminuição de desejo e a dispareunia nesse período 9,[11][12][13] .…”

“…Somente o fato de tomar conhecimento da gravidez, logo nas primeiras semanas, parece afetar a atividade sexual feminina, diminuindo o número de coitos 2 . Estudos mostram que nos mais diversos contextos socioeconômico e cultural as mulheres podem apresentar dificuldades com desejo, excitação, orgasmo, lubrificação, além de insatisfação sexual e dispareunia na gravidez [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] .…”

Pregnancy and childbirth: What changes in the lifestyle of women who become mothers?

“…As for sexuality, this is one of the most natural characteristics of being human (6) . In this study there was one woman who reported having increased sexual activity towards the end of pregnancy; compatible to the acknowledged sexual desire due to increased libido in late pregnancy.…”

“…Literature denotes that sexuality is one of the most natural characteristics of being human (6) ; it is a biological, physiological reality and one of the engines of human existence.…”

Indicadores clínicos de disfunção sexual em mulheres grávidas: revisão integrativa de literatura

“…Pregnancy is characterized by biochemical, functional, anatomical and emotional changes that start at a very early stage and remain in its course. All these changes interfere directly or indirectly, in the sexual behavior of pregnant women, in different levels and form (1,10,(26)(27)(28) . Thus, the transition to parenthood can be understood as a phase of the potential psychosocial crisis and a critical period when most couples experience changes in their usual pattern of sexual behavior (29) .…”