title: Beliefs About Sexual Activity During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature.
abstract: The aim of this review is to present the beliefs related to sexual activity during pregnancy. We identified 13 studies (3,122 participants). The main positive beliefs about sex in pregnancy were that it makes labor easier, promotes marital harmony, prevents infidelity, and improves fetal well-being. Negative beliefs were more frequent: that sex could harm the unborn child (cause injuries, miscarriage, or fetal infection) and endanger the pregnancy or maternal health (cause membrane rupture, bleeding, preterm labor, and maternal infection). These findings are useful to clinicians and educational program developers.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics , São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Meireluci Costa
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: b Department and Institute of Psychiatry , São Paulo State University Medical School (FMUSP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Tubino Scanavino
authors.affiliation: b Department and Institute of Psychiatry , São Paulo State University Medical School (FMUSP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Luiza Sant'Ana
authors.initials: MLS
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.affiliation: c São Paulo School of Nursing , São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Moraes Horta
authors.affiliation: d Evidence-Based Health Care Postgraduate Program, Department of Internal Medicine , São Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torloni
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000523:psychology; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000502:physiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*