Pregnancy and Sexual Relationships Study Involving wOmen and meN (PASSION Study)

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Human Sexuality
• Couple's Psychology

Background:

• Sexual satisfaction often declines during pregnancy, yet its impact on couple's sexual relationships is understudied.
• Limited research exists on the sexual dynamics between expectant mothers and their partners during gestation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate sexual dysfunction in heterosexual couples throughout pregnancy.
• To assess changes in sexual satisfaction and relationship dynamics during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 53 heterosexual couples in their third trimester of pregnancy.
• The Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) questionnaire was used to assess sexual function and satisfaction in both partners.

Main Results:

• Women reported significantly higher avoidance of sex and non-sensuality compared to men.
• A notable decrease in communication about sexual needs was reported by women.
• Vaginismus and decreased frequency of intercourse were identified as issues during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

• While specific sexual difficulties like pain and communication issues arise, overall sexual satisfaction and function were not significantly problematic for the studied couples.
• This study highlights the importance of addressing communication and specific sexual concerns in pregnant couples.