title: Comparison of Sexual Functions in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The physiology and anatomy of pregnant women change during pregnancy. Pregnancy is an anatomically and physiologically amended process experienced by women and as a result of these changes, sexual life of pregnant women alters during pregnancy. We aimed to compare sexual functions of pregnant and non-pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sexually active 246 pregnant women were included into this cross-sectional controlled study. A total of 210 non-pregnant women were served as control. Both groups were compared in terms of age, gestational age, presence of urinary incontinence, body mass index, and obstetrical history. Sexual functions of the women were evaluated with Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed using chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Fisher's Exact, Shapiro Wilk, Kruskal Wallis and Dunnett's tests where appropriate. The Pvalues &lt; .05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age in both groups were comparable (P = .053). Median total FSFI scores in the pregnant women were significantly lower than those non-pregnant (18.9 vs. 22.7; P &lt; .05). Additionally, the subgroup analyses of the FSFI scores were found that, total FSFI score is significantly lower in the pregnant group compared to non-pregnant group (P &lt; .05). Furthermore, rate of sexual dysfunction in pregnant women was significantly higher than those non-pregnant women (91.08% vs. 67.61%, P = .0001). However, in pregnant women, no meaningful difference in rate of sexual dysfunction was found according to the trimesters (P = .632). Moreover, gravidity and parity exhibited negative impacts on the sexual functions. But number of abortions did not affect sexual function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate that pregnancy significantly diminishes sexual function in women. We believe that, couples need to be counseled regarding the impact of pregnancy on sexual functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun 55000, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Igdir State Hospital, Igdir 76000, Turkey.
authors.forename: Neval
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cayonu
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Training and Research Hospital Depertment of Urology. kadihasanoglu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadihasanoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun 55000, Turkey.
authors.forename: Lokman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Irkilata
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun 55000, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Atilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Bahcesehir University, Besiktas, Istanbul 34000, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muammer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kendirci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D037841:Pregnant People; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult