Sexual Functioning in Pregnant Women

Anna Fuchs, Iwona Czech, Jerzy Sikora, Piotr Fuchs, Miłosz Lorek, Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta and Agnieszka Drosdzol-Cop
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Anna Fuchs: Department of Pregnancy Pathology, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Iwona Czech: Department of Pregnancy Pathology, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Jerzy Sikora: Department of Pregnancy Pathology, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Piotr Fuchs: Department of Pregnancy Pathology, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Miłosz Lorek: Department of Pregnancy Pathology, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta: Department of Woman’s Health, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Agnieszka Drosdzol-Cop: Department of Pregnancy Pathology, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 40-752 Katowice, Poland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: Sexual activity during pregnancy is determined by emotional, psychosocial, hormonal, and anatomical factors and varies during trimesters. This work aimed to establish women’s sexual activity during each trimester of pregnancy. A total of 624 women were included in the study and filled in the questionnaire three times, once during each trimester of pregnancy. The first part of the survey included questions about socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, and medical details of a given pregnancy. The second part was the Polish version of the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire. Comparison of the mean scores for the overall sexual function of each trimester revealed clinically relevant sexual dysfunction in the second and third trimesters (mean values 25.9 ± 8.7 and 22.7 ± 8.7, respectively; p < 0.01). Women were most sexually active during their second trimester. In the first trimester of pregnancy, women were most likely to choose intercourse in the missionary position. Women with vocational education were characterized by the lowest and homogenous FSFI values. Total FSFI score depended on the martial status—the highest value pertained to married women (25.2 ± 6.9; p = 0.02).

Keywords: sexuality; pregnancy; intercourse; desire; sexual activity in pregnancy; pain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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