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. 2019 Oct 30;16(21):4216.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214216.

Sexual Functioning in Pregnant Women

Anna Fuchs  1   2 , Iwona Czech  3   4 , Jerzy Sikora  5   6 , Piotr Fuchs  7   8 , Miłosz Lorek  9   10 , Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta  11 , Agnieszka Drosdzol-Cop  12   13
Affiliations

Sexual Functioning in Pregnant Women

Anna Fuchs et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

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: desire; intercourse; pain; pregnancy; sexual activity in pregnancy; sexuality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of overall female sexual function index (FSFI) depending on educational level.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sex positions chosen by pregnant patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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