Sex during pregnancy and the first postnatal year

Abstract

Ratings of sexual behaviour and feelings were obtained regularly from subjects of a longitudinal study of psychiatric status and psychological change in pregnancy and the first postnatal year. The results are consistent with previous research, showing a reduction in frequency of sexual intercourse and in interest and satisfaction with sex over the course of pregnancy. Coitus was resumed after childbirth within six weeks by nearly 60% of women, and within three months by eighty. In most cases, ratings of interest in and satisfaction with sex also returned to early pregnancy levels by three months postnatal. Despite clear trends in the group as a whole there was considerable individual variation, investigated using tests of association with measures of subject characteristics and psychological status.