The changes of sexuality in Thai women during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the changes of sexuality during pregnancy in Thai women and to explore their attitudes and sources of information concerning sexuality during pregnancy.


METHODS
Three hundred and sixty pregnant women who met the study criteria were recruited. Women at each trimester (n = 120) were interviewed with a structured questionnaire whether their sex desire, coital frequency and orgasmic rate decreased, increased or remained unchanged as compared with the prepregnancy period. The change in their favorite sexual position, concerns about sexual intercourse during pregnancy, and their sources of information regarding sexuality were also determined.


RESULTS
The pregnant women at each trimester reported a gradual and significant decrease in sexual desire (p < 0.05) and coital frequency (p < 0.05). The change in orgasmic rate was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). Generally the preferred sexual position was "man on top" however, this gradually and significantly changed to "rear position " in each trimester of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Fifty nine percent of the women thought they could have sexual intercourse; however 79.7% of them were concerned about sexual intercourse during pregnancy. The main concern was the potential harm to the fetus. Sixty two percent of pregnant women received information about sexuality during pregnancy from their health physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
Sexuality decreased significantly throughout pregnancy in Thai women. The majority of pregnant women are concerned about the adverse effects of sexual intercourse on pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, sexuality during pregnancy should be clearly counseled to all couples to reassure that sexual intercourse in normal pregnancy is safe.
Senkumwong
Natthaporn
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. nattsenk@yahoo.com
Chaovisitsaree
Somsak
S
Rugpao
Sungwal
S
Chandrawongse
Waraporn
W
Yanunto
Sukanya
S
D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009948:Orgasm; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand