Study of women's attitude and sexual function during pregnancy

Pregnancy accompanies with physical and psychological alternation during woman's life. These changes effluence the overall dimensions of couple's life especially sexual relation. The aim of this study was to investigate the women's attitude and sexual function during pregnancy. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted among 329 healthy pregnant women aged 15-45 years. The attitude and sexual function of the cases were studied based on their gestational age (the last fourth weeks of each pregnancy trimester) in three groups. Data were collected using an instrument. The instrument has three parts including demographic characteristics, attitude assessment and Arizona Sexual Scale Experience (ASEX). One way ANOVA, Post hoc, chi square and Spearman correlation were used for data analysis and the differences were considered to be significant at the p< 0.05 level. The results showed that the score of sexual dysfunction, sexual desire disorder and orgasmic disorder increase with gestational age development. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant relation between total score of sexual function disorder and decrease of sexual attraction in all three trimesters (p=0.01, p=0.04, p=0.03 respectively) and fear of prematurity in the second trimester (p=0.01). According to the results sexual function disorder has a high frequency in pregnancy. The findings emphasize the need for educational programs to improve the Sexual functions during prenatal care.