Attitudes and sexual function in Thai pregnant women

To evaluate the attitudes towards sexuality and sexual function in Thai pregnant women.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 347 healthy pregnant women, aged 14-42 years, who attended the antenatal clinic, Ratchaphiphat Hospital. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was used for sexual function assessment.

The mean age of the pregnant women was 26.3 years. The mean gestational age was 25.7 weeks and 52, 146 and 149 pregnant women were in their first, second and third trimester respectively. Half of the pregnant women believed that having sex during pregnancy is a natural and normal part and about 70% were not concerned about decreasing sexual desire throughout pregnancy. Only 11.2% of pregnant women displayed a positive attitudes that sexuality during pregnancy made them happy and 47% were concerned that sexual intercourse during pregnancy may be harmful to the fetus. Nineteen percent of pregnant women had had no sexual intercourse in the past four weeks. The mean total FSFI score was 15.49, 93.4% had FSFI score of < 26.5, which was defined as potential sexual dysfunction. Comparing the mean FSFI score of every domain including total score, the pregnant women reported a significant decrease in all domains between the first and third trimester

Potential sexual dysfunction in Thai pregnant women was rather high. Sexuality was decreased significantly throughout pregnancy. However, most of the pregnant women were not concerned about decreasing sexual desire during pregnancy.