The association of genital self-image during pregnancy with the attitude toward sexuality

Genital self-image is one of the significant components of sexual health. Changes in the female body during pregnancy occur also in genital organs and affect the pregnant woman's genital self-image. In this respect, this study aimed to evaluate the genital self-image during pregnancy and its association with the attitude toward sexuality.

This is descriptive and correlational research. The research data were collected at antenatal polyclinics of a university hospital from November 2022 to January 2023. A total of 319 pregnant women who were married, sexually active, and healthy were included in the study. The Survey Form, the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS), and the Attitude Scale toward Sexuality during Pregnancy (AStSdP) were used in the collection of research data.

The mean scores obtained by pregnant women from the FGSIS and the AStSdP were successively 14.50 ± 4.15 and 88.01 ± 14.46 points. The factors affecting the attitude toward sexuality during pregnancy were the genital self-image and the duration of marriage.

In the study, it was discerned that pregnant women had a negative genital self-image and held negative attitudes toward sexuality during pregnancy. Also, it was found that genital self-image and the duration of marriage affected the attitude toward sexuality during pregnancy. Therefore, in pregnancy follow-ups, women's genital self-image and attitudes toward sexuality should be identified, and training programs and consultancy services on these topics should be offered to women.