A non-randomized study of sexual health education on the sexual function of primigravid women

Sexual function is a particularly important aspect of pregnant women's lives that can affect mental health and family cohesion.

This study aimed to determine the effect of sexual health education on sexual function in primigravida women.

In a non-randomized study, primigravida women were divided into an intervention group (n = 43) and a control group (n = 43). The intervention group participated in six 60-minute sex education sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Both groups were monitored for 8 weeks. Sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire before the intervention, at 4 weeks, and at 8 weeks post-intervention.

Ultimately, data from 80 patients were analyzed. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographic and pre-intervention clinical characteristics. At the 4-week mark post-intervention, there was no statistically significant difference observed in the average score of the overall index of sexual performance between the pregnant women in the two groups. However, upon comparing sexual function before intervention and at 4 and 8 weeks after intervention, significant improvements were noted in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain subscale scores within the intervention group (p < 0.001). Conversely, in the control group, desire (psychological interest or motivation), arousal (physiological and emotional readiness), lubrication, and satisfaction subscale scores decreased, while the pain subscale score slightly increased between pre-intervention and the 8-week follow-up. The mean difference in the overall FSFI score before and 8 weeks after the intervention was notably higher in the intervention group (7.37 points) compared to the control group (-0.87 points (p < 0.001).

The findings of this study highlight the transformative impact of sexual health education during pregnancy. By dispelling misconceptions and enriching knowledge, such interventions have the potential to enhance the sexual function of pregnant women significantly. These results underscore the effectiveness of integrating sexual health education into routine prenatal care, emphasizing its pivotal role in promoting the overall well-being of primiparous pregnant women.

This study retrospectively registered with the Iranian Clinical of Trials Registry with IRCT registration number IRCT20090810002324N20 (08-04-2025) ( https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/82382 ).