title: Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction during pregnancy among Egyptian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) during pregnancy in a sample of women from Egypt.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women who presented to the Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic - Suez Canal University Hospital for routine antenatal care between February 2012 and February 2013. The 451 women who completed the study attended during their first trimester with a singleton pregnancy and were in a stable relationship with their partners for the last 6 months. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire during the 4 weeks preceding pregnancy and then in each trimester during the antenatal visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of FSD during pregnancy was estimated to be 68.8%. According to the FSFI, scores of all domains and total score were significantly reduced during the whole period of pregnancy (average 22.5 ± 3.7) compared to the pre-conception period (30.5 ± 5.6). However, there was significant increase of all domains and total score during the second trimester (26.6 ± 3.9) in comparison to the first and third trimesters (22.4 ± 4.1 and 18.6 ± 3.8, respectively). Total FSFI score was found to be positively correlated to pre-conception total FSFI score. However, age, parity and duration of marriage were negatively correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FSD is a prevalent problem during pregnancy among Egyptian women. The magnitude of the problem is highest during the third trimester while the second trimester represents the peak of sexual function during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Magdy R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Elham H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Madny
authors.forename: Waleed A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Sayed Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Female Sexual Function Index; female sexual dysfunction; pregnancy; sexuality