title: No association between body size and frequency of sexual intercourse among oral contraceptive users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the frequency of sexual intercourse and whether body size was associated with weekly sexual intercourse among a diverse group of women using oral contraceptives.
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal prospective cohort study recruited participants (n = 185) from several clinics in Charlotte, NC. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were used as measures of body size and sexual intercourse frequency was determined from self-reported information provided on daily diaries. Mean monthly frequencies of sexual intercourse were calculated and linear mixed models were used to assess if means remained constant over time. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean monthly frequency of sexual intercourse was similar for women classified as normal or underweight or obese by BMI during each month of data collection but was highest for women classified as overweight. After adjustment, obesity-sexual intercourse associations were attenuated (BMI ≥30 vs. <25.0: OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.43-1.42 and WHR ≥ 0.85 vs. <0.85: OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 0.62-2.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found no association between BMI or WHR and weekly sexual intercourse. However, more research is warranted given the importance of this possible relationship for future studies of fertility, contraceptive effectiveness, and sexual health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC. Electronic address: lrhuber@uncc.edu.
authors.forename: Larissa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Brunner Huber
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.
authors.forename: Whitney A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Broadhurst
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dmochowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC.
authors.forename: Tara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Vick
authors.affiliation: Group Health Research Institute, Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scholes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D003075:Coitus; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D009765:Obesity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral
keywords: Coitus; Contraceptives; Obesity; Oral