The Effects of Pregnancy on Sexual Life

Abstract

The aim of this study was to define the effects of pregnancy on sexual life. The research was carried out during January-August 2000 at the Antenatal Polyclinic of University of Istanbul, Faculty of Medicine. The sampling consisted of 150 pregnant women in the 34th week or later in pregnancy, who were not restricted in their sexual lives by their physicians, and for whom the risks of placenta previa, early rupture of membranes, and premature birth risk were not present. We gathered the data using an interview form that was developed in the direction of the phases of sexual function (desire, stimulation, plato, orgasm, resolution). The form included 63 questions covering the experiences of pregnant women in all three trimesters of pregnancy. Researchers filled out forms during face-to-face interviews with the pregnant women. Sexual intercourse frequency was noted to decrease as pregnancy progressed. Fear of sexual intercourse was prevalent particularly in the third trimester. The pregnant women experienced less stimulation during sexual intercourse as pregnancy progressed. Length of intercourse also decreased during the later phases of pregnancy compared with prepregnancy. Inability to experience orgasm increased with each trimester. We determined that pregnant women felt more pain during the coitus as the pregnancy progressed. The rate of sexual satisfaction declined as pregnancy progressed, particularly during the third trimester. We determined in our study that sexual functioning declines as pregnancy progresses compared with prepregnancy.

Comparação da qualidade de vida em gestantes com disfunção sexual

“…A avaliação da QV é uma tarefa complexa, em função da sua multidimensionalidade e facetas positivas e negativas entre os quesitos avaliados 24 . Neste estudo, a QV entre as gestantes avaliadas foi considerada relativamente boa.…”

“…De acordo com a literatura, o desejo sexual aumenta do primeiro para o segundo trimestre e, em seguida, diminui novamente, à medida que a gravidez avança 4,23,24,29,30,32 . Confirmando esses achados, os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram que existe uma diminuição nos valores do escore do ISFS das gestantes do último trimestre quando comparado ao das gestantes do segundo trimestre.…”

Força dos músculos do assoalho pélvico e função sexual em gestantes

“…The analysis of each FSFI domain showed a decrease in sexual desire, arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm and sexual satisfaction from the second to the third trimester of gestation, as well as greater discomfort or pain related to the sexual activity. Several studies have reported similar results and attributed them to a series of factors such as: body changes that affect self-esteem, discomfort, fear of harming the baby and physical symptoms as nauseas, sleepiness and fatigue 16,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] . Some authors stipulated a total FSFI score of 26.5 as the cut-off score between women with and without sexual dysfunction 34 .…”

Função sexual e qualidade de vida em gestantes de baixo risco

“…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] .…”