Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction among Expectant Women

Abstract

Purpose To identify pregnancy as a causative factor of sexual dysfunction among expectant women.

Methods A prospective study with 225 expectant mothers seen in the prenatal clinic of a federal university. Sexual function was evaluated by means of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and all domains were analyzed (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). Initially, a univariate analysis of the sample was done. The averages for each domain according to the risk of sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26.5) were compared using the Student's t-test for independent samples. The strength of the correlation between sexual dysfunction and all sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral variables was measured by the Chi-Square (χ²) test. Then, odds ratios (ORs) and their confidence intervals were assigned to perform a bivariate analysis. Any p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Results Approximately two-thirds of the women (66.7%) showed signs of risk of sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26.5). Within these cases, all sexual dysfunction domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). The domains most affected were desire (2.67), satisfaction (2.71) and arousal (2.78).

Conclusions Pregnancy appears to be an important causative factor of sexual dysfunction among pregnant women.

Resumo

Objetivo Identificar a gravidez como fator causador de disfunção sexual entre mulheres gestantes.

Métodos Estudo prospectivo com 225 gestantes atendidas no ambulatório de pré-natal de uma universidade federal. A função sexual foi avaliada por meio do Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), e todos os domínios foram analisados ​​(desejo, excitação, lubrificação, orgasmo, satisfação e dor). Inicialmente, uma análise univariada da amostra foi feita. As médias para cada domínio de acordo com o risco de disfunção sexual (FSFI ≤ 26,5) foram comparadas pelo teste t de Student para amostras independentes. A força da correlação entre a disfunção sexual e todas as variáveis ​​sociodemográficas, clínicas e comportamentais foi medida pelo teste do qui-quadrado (χ²). A partir desta perspectiva, foram aferidos os odds ratios (ORs) e seus respectivos intervalos de confiança para a análise bivariada. Quaisquer valores de p inferiores a 0,05 foram considerados significativos.

Resultados Cerca de dois terços das mulheres (66,7%) mostraram sinais de risco de disfunção sexual (FSFI ≤ 26,5). Dentro destes casos, todos os domínios de disfunção sexual (desejo, excitação, lubrificação, orgasmo, satisfação e dor) foram estatisticamente significativos (p < 0,001). Os domínios mais afetados foram o desejo (2,67), a satisfação (2,71) e a excitação (2,78).

Conclusões A gravidez parece ser um importante fator causador de disfunção sexual entre mulheres gestantes.

Keywords

women - pregnancy - sexuality - arousal - orgasm

Palavras-Chave

mulheres - gravidez - sexualidade - excitação - orgasmo

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