Abstract
Introduction: Pregnancy is a unique situation and involves changes in sexuality. The aim is to evaluate sexual function and satisfaction in pregnant women under prenatal care provided by the public health system. Method: Cross-sectional study with pregnant women receiving ambulatory care in the public health system in the Southern region of Brazil conducted between November 2014 and September 2015. Results: 283 pregnant women were studied. The mean age was 27.7 ± 6.3 years; 64% were white and 31.1% were nulliparous. In the total sample, 8.50% were in the first trimester of pregnancy, 37.4% were in the second trimester, and 54.1% were in the third trimester. The rate of global sexual dysfunction (score < 26 points) was 55.5%, following the application of The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Sexual dysfunction was significantly more prevalent in the third trimester (62%) compared to the first (33.3%) and second (50.9%) trimesters (p = 0.015). There was a significant difference in all domains, except in the desired domain, according to the trimester. Pregnant women in the third trimester showed significantly lower scores compared to those in the first trimester in the domains with significance. Conclusion: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among pregnant women in the public system was high. Knowing that more than 50% of the pregnant women presented sexual dysfunction, it is essential to approach sexuality during prenatal care involving the couple.
Highlights
Pregnancy is a unique situation and involves changes in sexuality
The remaining associations of the study’s variables, such as years of schooling, number of abortions, number of pregnancies, and comorbidities, besides the use of medication, did not show a statistical difference when compared to the patients with and without sexual dysfunction (Table 3 and Table 4)
We found difficulties keeping the homogeneity of the sample relating to demographic variables that exist in the public health system of Brazil
Summary
The aim is to evaluate sexual function and satisfaction in pregnant women under prenatal care provided by the public health system. Pregnant women in the third trimester showed significantly lower scores compared to those in the first trimester in the domains with significance. Knowing that more than 50% of the pregnant women presented sexual dysfunction, it is essential to approach sexuality during prenatal care involving the couple. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a frequent problem and quite often is underestimated in the community in general. It is defined as a disorder of the sexual desire, orgasm, arousal, or pain, which results in significant personal discomfort [1]. The sexual behavior changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period, interfering with the quality of life and disturbing the union of the couple [2]
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