Sexual Dysfunction and Sexual Activity Related Concerns in Pregnant Women

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 22 Sayı: 4, 792 - 799, 25.12.2025

İlkhan Keskin , İsa Yeşilyurt , Turan Şahin , Arzu Tekin

https://doi.org/10.35440/hutfd.1687446

Öz

Background: This study aimed to obtain data on sexual behavior preferences, concerns regarding sexual activity, and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in pregnant women, as well as to identify factors associated with sexual dysfunction.
Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted in a face-to-face questionnaire format with volunteers aged 18 to 50 years, whose pregnancy follow-up was performed in a training and research hospital. The questionnaire consisted of a personal information form, detailed information about sexual activity, "Female Sexual Function Scale (FSFI)”, and “Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12”.
Results: The FSFI score of the participants was 17.32±8.15 (mean ± standard deviation). In 224 of the pregnant women (87.79%), the FSFI score was lower than the cut-off value of 26.5 for sexual dysfunction. 118 (46.5%) of the pregnant women indicated that they had concerns about sexual intercourse during pregnancy. The most important reason for concern (48.4%) was the thought that it would adversely affect her own or the baby's health. Low level of education, number of births, and concerns about sexual activity during pregnancy were found to be associated with low FSFI. It was observed that 173 participants (68.11%) scored above the threshold value on IUS-12. There is no relationship between IUS-12 and FSFI scale scores.
Conclusion: Our study found that sexual desire decreases during pregnancy, and concerns related to sexual activity are common, most frequently associated with the health of the mother and the baby. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among pregnant women was found to be high; lower educational level, higher parity, and concerns about sexual activity during pregnancy were associated with this dysfunction. Although a considerable proportion of participants exhibited intolerance of uncertainty, no significant relationship was found between intolerance of uncertainty and sexual dysfunction. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand the psychological, social, cultural, and other factors influencing sexual health during pregnancy.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Sexual activity , Pregnancy , FSFI , IUS-12

Etik Beyan

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital (approval no: 2022/146, date: December 14, 2022).

Gebelerde Cinsel İşlev Bozukluğu ve Cinsel Aktiviteyle İlgili Endişeler

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, gebe kadınlarda cinsel davranış tercihleri, cinsel aktiviteye ilişkin endişeler ve cinsel işlev bozukluğu prevalansı hakkında veri elde etmeyi ve cinsel işlev bozukluğu ile ilişkili faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Materyal ve metot: Çalışmamız bir eğitim ve araştırma hastanesinde gebelik takibi yapılan 18-50 yaş aralığındaki gönüllülerle yüz yüze anket formatında yürütülmüştür. Anket; kişisel bilgi formu, cinsel aktivite hakkında detaylı bilgi, “Kadın Cinsel Fonksiyon Ölçeği (FSFI)” ve “Belirsizliğe Tahammülsüzlük Ölçeği-12 (IUS-12)”den oluşmuştur.
Bulgular: Katılımcıların FSFI skoru 17,32±8,15 (ortalama ± standart sapma) idi. Gebelerin 224’ünde (%87,79) FSFI skoru cinsel işlev bozukluğu için belirlenen 26,5 eşik değerinden düşüktü. Gebelerin 118’i (%46,5) gebelik sırasında cinsel ilişki konusunda endişeleri olduğunu belirtti. En önemli endişe nedeni (%48,4) kendi veya bebeğin sağlığını olumsuz etkileyeceği düşüncesiydi. Düşük eğitim düzeyi, doğum sayısı ve gebelikte cinsel aktiviteye ilişkin endişeler düşük FSFI ile ilişkili bulundu. 173 katılımcının (%68,11) IUS-12 ölçeğinden eşik değer (28) üzeri puan aldığı gözlendi. IUS-12 ile FSFI ölçek puanları arasında bir ilişki saptanmadı.
Sonuç: Gebelikte cinsel isteğin azaldığı, cinsel ilişkiye yönelik endişelerin yaygın olduğu ve bu kaygıların en sık anne ve bebek sağlığıyla ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Gebelerde cinsel işlev bozukluğu oranı yüksek saptanmış; düşük eğitim düzeyi, yüksek doğum sayısı ve gebelikte cinsel ilişkiye dair endişeler bu bozuklukla ilişkili bulunmuştur. Katılımcıların önemli bir kısmı belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük göstermiş olsa da, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük ile cinsel işlev bozukluğu arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunamamıştır. Bu bulgular, gebelik sırasında cinsel sağlığı etkileyen psikolojik, sosyal, kültürel ve diğer faktörleri daha iyi anlamak için daha fazla araştırma yapılması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Cinsel aktivite , Gebelik , FSFI , IUS-12

Etik Beyan

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital (approval no: 2022/146, date: December 14, 2022).

Kaynakça

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