BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and birth mark a distinct period in the life of a woman. Hormonal alterations and bodily and social changes impact on women's physical well-being, mood, relationship and sexuality. Most existing research on sexuality during pregnancy focuses on the quantitative analysis of sexual activities, but neglects subjective experiences of women. AIMS: To examine women's sexual needs, sexual activities, subjective importance of sexuality and contentment with sex life, focusing on the changes over the course of pregnancy and post-partum. METHODS: Twenty-six women completed a series of three extensive interviews in early and late pregnancy, as well as 6 months post-partum. A semiqualitative approach, combining visual analogue scales and a semistructured interview with self-developed questions, was used. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease of perceived 'importance of sexuality', 'importance of sexual intercourse' and 'contentment with present sex life', from prepregnancy over early pregnancy to late pregnancy, which was followed by a slight increase in the post-partum period. Samples from the structured interviews provide a detailed insight into female experiences, perceptions and opinions, and demonstrate the high interindividual variability. CONCLUSION: Doctors can provide invaluable advice to women regarding the psychosexual changes and help them to understand the normal fluctuations in sexual interest during pregnancy and the post-partum.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and birth mark a distinct period in the life of a woman. Hormonal alterations and bodily and social changes impact on women's physical well-being, mood, relationship and sexuality. Most existing research on sexuality during pregnancy focuses on the quantitative analysis of sexual activities, but neglects subjective experiences of women. AIMS: To examine women's sexual needs, sexual activities, subjective importance of sexuality and contentment with sex life, focusing on the changes over the course of pregnancy and post-partum. METHODS: Twenty-six women completed a series of three extensive interviews in early and late pregnancy, as well as 6 months post-partum. A semiqualitative approach, combining visual analogue scales and a semistructured interview with self-developed questions, was used. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease of perceived 'importance of sexuality', 'importance of sexual intercourse' and 'contentment with present sex life', from prepregnancy over early pregnancy to late pregnancy, which was followed by a slight increase in the post-partum period. Samples from the structured interviews provide a detailed insight into female experiences, perceptions and opinions, and demonstrate the high interindividual variability. CONCLUSION: Doctors can provide invaluable advice to women regarding the psychosexual changes and help them to understand the normal fluctuations in sexual interest during pregnancy and the post-partum.
Authors: Francisco Javier Fernández-Carrasco; Urbano González-Mey; Luciano Rodríguez-Díaz; Juana María Vázquez-Lara; Juan Gómez-Salgado; Tesifón Parrón-Carreño Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-06-26 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Cibele V C Rudge; Iracema M P Calderon; Adriano Dias; Gerson P Lopes; Angélica P Barbosa; Izildinha Maestá; Jon Oyvind Odland; Marilza V C Rudge Journal: Reprod Health Date: 2009-07-29 Impact factor: 3.223
Authors: Meireluci Costa Ribeiro; Mary Uchiyama Nakamura; Maria Regina Torloni; Marco de Tubino Scanavino; Flávia Burin Scomparini; Rosiane Mattar Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-04-15 Impact factor: 3.240