Does anxiety modify sexuality of pregnant women?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of anxiety on women's sexuality during pregnancy.

The prospective study involved 520 pregnant women at the age of 18-45. 168 of them were quali¬fied for the final analysis. The research tools were: a self-designed questionnaire for women and standardized STAI scale.

The state and trait anxiety in pregnant women was evaluated during all trimesters of pregnancy. State anxiety was stronger among women with a strong tendency to feelings of anxiety. The authors also tried to determine the correlation between women's assessment of their relationship with the partners and its impact on state and trait anxiety during all three trimesters of pregnancy. Self assessment of relations between partners had statistically significant impact on the increase in state anxiety (p = 0.04) in multiparous women, who reported impairment of their relations with the partner, and had statistically significant impact on the increase in the trait anxiety in primiparous women (p = 0.02) and multiparous (p = 0.05) women, who reported deterioration of partnership especially in the second trimester of their pregnancy. Lower anxiety level in the second trimester contributed to the increased sexual activity.

Anxiety level during pregnancy significantly affected the quality of sexual activity. Lower anxiety level in the second trimester contributed to the increased sexual activity.