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What happens to female sexual function during pregnancy?
Charlotte Cassis1, Sambit Mukhopadhyay1, Edward Morris1
1Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY, United Kingdom.
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
|January 23, 2021
Summary
Pregnancy negatively impacts sexual function in women. By the third trimester, 86.1% of primiparous women experienced female sexual dysfunction (FSD), highlighting the need for medical discussion.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Women's Health
- Sexual Medicine
Background:
- Female sexual function is under-researched, yet strongly linked to life satisfaction.
- Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) significantly affects women's physical and emotional well-being.
- The impact of pregnancy on FSD requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of pregnancy on female sexual function.
- To assess changes in sexual function across trimesters in primiparous women.
Main Methods:
- 85 primiparous women completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire in each trimester.
- Total FSFI scores and domain scores were analyzed using Friedman's ANOVA.
- FSD was diagnosed using a cut-off score of 26.55.
Main Results:
- Total FSFI scores significantly decreased from the first trimester (27.5) to the third trimester (21.4).
- All six domains of sexual function showed significant decline across trimesters (p < 0.0001).
- The prevalence of FSD increased from 30 women in the first trimester to 68 in the third.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy negatively impacts sexual function in primiparous women.
- By the third trimester, 86.1% of women met the criteria for FSD.
- Healthcare providers should discuss pregnancy-related sexual function changes with patients and partners.
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