To asses couples’ sexual function (SF) during pregnancy.

The study included couples attending the Outpatient Gynecological Clinic of the Univ. Hospital in Larissa. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF) were used. Participants were divided in group A including women in their 1st trimester of pregnancy and group B comprising women in their 2nd trimester. Independent samples t-test and Chi-square test were conducted to detect differences on scales’ scores and frequency of intercourse. Pearsonʼs correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between FSFI and IIEF.

The study employed 50 women aged 20-40 years old (21 in group A, 29 in group B) and their partners reporting having sexual activity. Based on the FSFIʼs cut-off score (<26), 9 (42.9%) women in group A and 11 (37.9%) in group B had a sexual dysfunction (SD). No significant differences were obtained between trimesters (p>0.05) for either male or female sexual function as well as for the frequency of intercourse. Partnerʼs erectile problems were significantly related with womenʼs lower scores in desire, orgasm, satisfaction, pain and overall FSFI (p<0.05) in both groups.

Couples’ sexual health appears not to be affected during pregnancy; however, a quite large percentage of women in both groups reported a sexual dysfunction. Our results also stress the role of the partner since his sexual problems related with womenʼs sexuality.