Impact of Pregnancy on the Sex Life of Women: State of the Art

Liliam Renata Silveira Santiago,Maria Fernanda Barbirato Da Mata Tiezzi,Ana Carolina Japur De Sá Rosa E Silva,Lucia Alves Da Silva Lara,Adriana Peterson Mariano Salata Romão

doi:10.4236/ijcm.2013.45045

Liliam Renata Silveira Santiago, Maria Fernanda Barbirato Da Mata Tiezzi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ijcm.2013.45045

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Abstract

Introduction: Women’s sexual function is a complex ensemble of variables that involve physical, emotional, and psychosocial states. Objective: This review aims to evaluate the evidence about the sexual behavior of women during pregnancy. Methods: Survey of PubMed for the period from 1996 to 2011 for prospective, retrospective and case-control studies, randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses and systematic reviews on the sexual function of women during pregnancy using the terms “sexual function”, “sexual dysfunction”, “sexuality”, “pregnancy”, and “pregnant woman”. Results: Changes occur in the sexual function of women during pregnancy; however, due to the heterogeneity of the studies and the incomparability of samples for lack of pairing for cultural, age, length of relationship and gestational age variables, and other methodological biases, it is not possible to characterize the sexual response of pregnant women. Conclusions: The changes observed are not sufficient to characterize sexual behavior during pregnancy as pathological. It is therefore necessary to standardize the study groups and the instruments for the assessment of sexual function, to determine the presence of distress concomitant with changes in sexual function, and to assess the sexual function of the partner and the impact of changes on the dyadic relationship before and after the gestational period.

Highlights

Women’s sexual function is a complex ensemble of variables that involve physical, emotional, and psychosocial states
The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was the instrument used in seven studies and was the only one used for of evaluation of sexual function in four of them, whereas it was associated with other instruments in the other three
The present review demonstrates that the most recent studies are in contrast to the first literature reports regarding the expression of sexuality and the quality of female sexual function during the gestational period

Summary

Introduction

Women’s sexual function is a complex ensemble of variables that involve physical, emotional, and psychosocial states. Results: Changes occur in the sexual function of women during pregnancy; due to the heterogeneity of the studies and the incomparability of samples for lack of pairing for cultural, age, length of relationship and gestational age variables, and other methodological biases, it is not possible to characterize the sexual response of pregnant women. In addition to the presence of a great hormonal impact, emotional changes may occur in life style and self-image, possibly changing the expression of sexuality and sexual behavior [7-9]. During the first trimester of pregnancy, progesterone is responsible for the physical and mental changes that may interfere with sexual functioning of the pregnant women. The hormone induces vasodilation and, in consequence loss of pressure levels can occur, possibly causing fatigue and the emotional changes frequently related to depressive states [10]

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