(225) Female Sexual Function During the Last Trimester of Pregnancy

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Since antiquity and until today, sexuality remains a taboo and complex subject, often little discussed either in private circles or with healthcare professionals. Although advertising and the media sometimes use it to attract attention, sexuality is still synonymous with the unknown, raising several interrogations. These concerns are accentuated during the onset of pregnancy and all the physical, psychological, and environmental upheavals associated with this physiological state. Objective This study aims to assess the changes in female sexual function during the third trimester of pregnancy Methods It is a cross-sectional online study that took place over 5 weeks starting March 1st, 2023. All low-risk singleton third-trimester pregnant and newly delivered women enrolled in the public and private prenatal care centers of the region were contacted through the institutions’ social media groups to be recruited. The online questionnaire was a 4-item Google form elaborated in concertation with the literature and included the validated translated version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results The study included 81 married participants (8% response rate). The median age of the participants was 30,4± 6,9 years and 65,4% of them were employed when pregnant. The mean pregnancy rate per participant was 2,7± 1,9 and 90% of the pregnancies were spontaneous. When questioned about their sexual life during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, 68% of the participants report being uncomfortable when the subject of sexuality is on the table. Most of the respondents (78%) were unsatisfied with their couple's sexuality during pregnancy. A low sexual desire was reported in 84,0%, dyspareunia in 55,6% with a decrease in lubrification in 16,0%, and orgasm disorders in 17,3%. Secondary vaginismus was described by 12,3%. Partners initiated sexual intercourse according to 72,8% of the respondent. Sexual intercourses were mutually initiated in 27,2%. Pregnant women reported a change in their sexual life during the 3rd trimester in 96,3%: the 7th month of pregnancy is associated with less frequent (70,5%) and shorter (69,2%) penetrative intercourses with lower female sexual desire (48,7%). The 8th and 9th months are associated with lower sexual desire (80,8%; 94,9%), lower sexual pleasure (75,6%; 92,3%), and less frequent orgasms (67,9%; 82,1%) and penetrative intercourses (85,9%; 93,6%). Conclusions Our results suggest that the third trimester in singleton low-risk pregnancies is associated with severe impairment of the female sexual function in relation to less frequent and shorter penetrative intercourses, lower desire, and pleasure associated with a general sexual unsatisfaction. Disclosure No.