Frequency and Perception of Sexual Activity during Pregnancy in Iranian Couples

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy stimulates partners to search for ways to preserve their mutual emotional relations and satisfy their sexual needs, with some limitations. This study evaluates the frequency and perception of sexual intercourse during pregnancy in a group of Iranian couples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 155 pregnant women were recruited from two academic clinics in Tehran. The exclusion criteria were: any underlying disease, history of pelvic surgery or gynecologic and obstetric complications, abortion or sterility, and previous preterm labor. A checklist was administrated in the labor room, that included: demographic data, partus and their viewpoints about sexuality. Frequency of sexual activity in each trimester, vaginal intercourse, coitus position, orgasm, breast stimulation, condom usage, and pregnancy outcome were recorded. Data were analyzed with t- and chi-square tests. RESULTS: Women and their husbands with sexual behaviors during pregnancy had a lower mean age; the majority were nulipara (p<0.05). The biggest reason for decreased intercourse in the first trimester was fear of abortion (39.45%). No significant relationship between sexual activity in pregnancy and preterm labor, gestational age, membrane rupture, and fetal outcome was shown. There was a significant negative relationship between intercourse in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and need to induction. CONCLUSION: Although our results showed that sexual intercourse had no adverse effect on the fetus and was a proper stimulus for the induction of delivery, its frequency was reduced during the gestational stage due to parents’ fear of adverse effects.