Women s sexual response before and during pregnancy

Introduction: Pregnancy affects women s sexual behavior, including the areas of women s sexual response cycle and sexual intercourse. Physical and psychological changes in pregnancy affect women s sexual relationships and cause changes in response and sexual activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sexual activity and response of women before and during pregnancy and its related factors Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women in 2018 in Rasht City, Iran. The data were collected by pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory (PSRI) in two sections: demographic, activity and sexual response before and during pregnancy. Data were analyzedusing descriptive and inferential statistic tests via SPSS software at the significant level of P< 0.05. Results: the mean and standard deviation for the age of women were 28.46 ± 5.12 years. The majority of participants (84.8%) were Diploma or lower educated. The mean and standard deviation for total score of activity and sexual response of participants before and during pregnancy are 73.04 ± 14.81 and 46.88 ± 16.51, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the total score of activity and sexual response of participants during pregnancy, with the gestational age (r = -0.143) and the duration of marriage (r = -0.174). There was also a negative correlation between the total score of the participants activity and sexual response in prepregnancy, with the number of children (r = -0.142). The total score of activity and response of the participants pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy with the other of the demographic factors such as age of couples, gravida, and education of couples were not correlated.Conclusion: The level of women s sexual response during pregnancy decreases with increasing duration of marriage and gestational age. Also, the level of women s sexual response in prepregnancy decreases decreases with increasing the number of children. Therefore, by educating and providing information about sexual health, the appropriate time interval between marriage and pregnancy, and the appropriate number of children for couples during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy; it will help promote sexual health and couples sexual satisfaction

Women s sexual response before and during pregnancy Keywords:

sexual activity , sexual response , pregnancy , pre-pregnancy