Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-68ccn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T13:40:19.492Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 5 - Demographics of Sexual Behavior in Pregnancy

from Section 1 - General Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2022

Dan Farine
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Pablo Tobías González
Affiliation:
Hospital Universitario Infanta Cristina de Parla, Madrid
Get access

Summary

Sexual behavior in pregnancy is affected by many factors, including biological, psychological, social, and environmental, that vary throughout its course. To assess the demographics of sexual behavior in pregnancy, several research tools have been developed. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a brief self-report measure that is commonly used to assess female sexual function in research studies. In general, the literature has shown that sexual frequency and sexual function decline over the course of pregnancy. Most studies demonstrate a decrease in the first trimester, no change or an increase in the second trimester, and then a sharp decrease in the third trimester and early postpartum period. In order to address the decline in sexual function over the course of pregnancy, it is important to understand and recognize the factors contributing to sexual dysfunction in pregnancy. Some of these factors include discomfort, nausea, fatigue, fear of harming the fetus or causing infection, and negative self-perception. Physicians should create a supportive environment in which patients feel comfortable discussing their concerns regarding sexuality in pregnancy. Exploring and addressing patient fears may alleviate unnecessary abstinence and the associated stress this places on a relationship.

Type
Chapter
Information
Sex and Pregnancy
From Evidence-Based Medicine to Dr Google
, pp. 27 - 31
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Pauleta, J., Pereira, N., Graça, L.. Sexuality during pregnancy. J Sex Med 2010;7:136–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallwiener, S., Müller, M., Doster, A., et al. Sexual activity and sexual dysfunction of women in the perinatal period: a longitudinal study. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2017;295:873–83.Google Scholar
Ninivaggio, C., Rogers, R., Leeman, L., et al. Sexual function changes during pregnancy. Int Urogynecol J 2017;28:923–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Corbacioglu Esmer, A., Akca, A., Akbayir, O., Goksedef, B. P., Bakir, V. L.. Female sexual function and associated factors during pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2013;39:1165–72.Google Scholar
Tosun Güleroglu, F., Gördeles Beser, N.. Evaluation of sexual functions of the pregnant women. J Sex Med 2014;11:146–53.Google Scholar
Gałązka, I., Drosdzol-Cop, A., Naworska, B., Czajkowska, M., Skrzypulec-Plinta, V.. Changes in the sexual function during pregnancy. J Sex Med 2015;12:445–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Von Sydow, K., Ullmeyer, M., Happ, N.. Sexual activity during pregnancy and after childbirth: results from the Sexual Preferences Questionnaire. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2001;22:2940.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chang, S., Chen, K., Lin, H., Yu, H.. Comparison of overall sexual function, sexual intercourse/activity, sexual satisfaction, and sexual desire during the three trimesters of pregnancy and assessment of their determinants. J Sex Med 2011;8:2859–67.Google Scholar
Fok, W., Chan, L., Yuen, P.. Sexual behavior and activity in Chinese pregnant women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2005;84:934–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Erol, B., Sanli, O., Korkmaz, D., et al. A cross-sectional study of female sexual function and dysfunction during pregnancy. J Sex Med 2007;4:1381–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Von Sydow, K.. Sexuality during pregnancy and after childbirth: a metacontent analysis of 59 studies. J Psychosom Res 1999;47:2749.Google Scholar
Aslan, G., Aslan, D., Kizilyar, A., Ispahi, C., Esen, A.. A prospective analysis of sexual functions during pregnancy. Int J Impot Res 2005;17:154–7.Google Scholar
Byrd, J., Hyde, J., DeLamater, J., Plant, E.. Sexuality during pregnancy and the year postpartum. J Fam Pract 1998;47:305–8.Google Scholar
Cavalucci, D., Fulbright, Y. K.. Your Orgasmic Pregnancy. Alameda, CA: HunterHouse, 2008.Google Scholar
Ribeiro, M. C., de Tubino Scanavino, M., do Amaral, M. L. S., de Moraes Horta, A. L., Torloni, M. R.. Beliefs about sexual activity during pregnancy: a systematic review of the literature. J Sex Marital Ther 2017;43:822–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013.Google Scholar
Rosen, R., Brown, C., Heiman, J., et al. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 2000;26:191208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fuchs, A., Czech, I., Silkora, J., et al. Sexual functioning in pregnant women. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019;16:4216.Google Scholar
Beveridge, A. K., Vannier, S. A., Rosen, N. O.. Fear-based reasons for not engaging in sexual activity during pregnancy: associations with sexual relationship well-being. J Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 2018;39:138–45.Google Scholar
Tolor, A., DiGrazia, P. V.. Sexual attitudes and behavior patterns during and following pregnancy. Arch Sex Behav 1976;5:539–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ryding, E. L.. Sexuality during and after pegnancy. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1984;63:679–82.Google Scholar
Orji, E. O., Ogunlola, I. O., Fasubaa, O. B.. Sexuality among pregnant women in South West Nigeria. Obstet Gynecol 2002;22:166–8.Google ScholarPubMed
Jones, C., Chan, C., Farine, D.. Sex in pregnancy. Can Med Assoc J 2011;183:815–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×