A Prospective Analysis of Sexual Behaviors of Pregnant Women in Southeast Turkey

Abstract

is under different pressures, either culturally or religiously according to the other regions of Turkey. Material and Methods: Three hundred pregnant women completed a 25-question survey about their sexual life. The questions were pre- pared based on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Body Exposure during Sexual Activities Questionnaire (BESAQ) tests. Results: Sexual desire decreased in 65.2% of women (n=163) and increased in 8.4% (n=21). The rate of orgasms was 55.6% (n=139), and higher during anal intercourse (p=0.038). The orgasm rate before and during pregnancy was similar (p=0.72). The orgasm/satisfaction was higher during anal intercourse compared to that during vaginal intercourse (p=0.038). Sixty five percent of the women were worried about coitus dur- ing pregnancy (n=176). However, 85.7% of the pregnant women (n=257) had regular sexual intercourse to maintain a healthy partnership (40%) or for desire (23%). There was no significant relationship between intercourse frequency and education level (p=0.81), abortion history (p=0.63), age (p=0.21), and gestational week (p=0.81). Sexual desire remained mostly unchanged in women following their first, second, and third births (61.1%, 61.7%, and 69.8%, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that despite the geographical, cultural and social dif- ferences between the southeast region and other regions, the fact that sexual life during pregnancy has similar characteristics for every women shows that sexual physiology is independent from external factors.