Sexual behavior during pregnancy: A descriptive study of pregnant women in Tabriz, Iran

To study the sexual behavior during pregnancy and factors that affecting it. 120 pregnant women were selected by convenience sampling from those attending. AL-Zahra medical center in Tabriz, Iran. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire covering personal and social characteristics, parity and gynecologic history. It contained 15 questions on factors influencing sexual behavior, 5 questions related to the variations in the nature of sexual intercourse during the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy (Libido, number of sexual contacts, love-making positions and feelings of inconvenience during and after coitus). The data were analyzed using the SPSS-10 program. The findings showed that 10.7% of women in the 1st trimester, 15.2% in the 2nd and 20.6% in the 3rd trimesters had experienced dyspareunia. 18.5% of women in the first trimester, 18.3% in the 2nd trimester, and 33.2% in the 3rd trimester had complaints of stomachache and backache during intercourse. 17.7% women in the 1st trimester, 24.3% in the 2nd trimester, and 23% in the 3rd trimester suffered from stomachache and backache after intercourse. The results of Chi-square tests showed a significant association between parity and the following set of symptoms: Feeling of guilt, dyspareunia (P=0.004), fear of pre-term labor and dyspareunia (P=0.04), parity and post-coital stomachache and backache (P=0.01), dyspareunia and post-coital vaginal irritation (P=0.03) in the 1st trimester. The results suggest a real need for sex education among couples. It seems that most of sexual problems are preventable through education.