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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2019; 41(09): 555-563
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1695021
Original Article
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunctions and their Associated Factors in Pregnant Women in an Outpatient Prenatal Care Clinic

Prevalência de disfunções sexuais e seus fatores associados em gestantes de uma clínica de pré-natal
Julianna Azevedo Guendler 
1   Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, PE, Brazil
,
Leila Katz
1   Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, PE, Brazil
,
Maria Eduarda Duarte Mello Flamini
2   Hospital das Clínicas de Pernambuco, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
,
Andrea Lemos
3   Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
,
Melania Maria Amorim
1   Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, PE, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

22 March 2019

17 June 2019

Publication Date:
03 September 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and its associated factors in pregnant women.

Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study including 262 pregnant women aged 18 years or older with gestational age between 10 and 35 weeks. Women with urinary tract infections and conditions of gestational risk were excluded. The Pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory (PSRI) questionnaire was used. We performed a univariate descriptive analysis, and comparisons between the mean values of the sexual function domains were made using the Student t-test. The chi-squared test was used to determine the association between the independent and dependent variables. The prevalence ratios, with their respective 95% confidence intervals, were also estimated, and a multivariate analysis was performed.

Results A total of 64.9% of women reported a decrease in the frequency of sexual activity during pregnancy. Slightly more than half of the women (50.8%) were satisfied, and arousal was reported as excellent/good by 30.5% of them. The frequency of sexual difficulties/dysfunctions increased with pregnancy, rising from 5.7% to 58.8%, and pain during sexual intercourse was reported by 45.8% of them. Having higher education degree decreased the chance of being sexually dissatisfied by 50%. The total PSRI score showed a significant decrease from the prepregnancy period (mean score = 89.8, “excellent”) to the pregnancy period (mean score = 59.2, “good”).

Conclusion The mean sexual function score during pregnancy was classified as good, although most pregnant women reported at least one type of alteration in the sexual function domains, and the report of dissatisfaction was more frequent in women with lower schooling.

Resumo

Objetivo Determinar a prevalência e fatores associados de disfunção sexual em gestantes.

Métodos Estudo descritivo, transversal, incluindo 262 gestantes com idade de 18 anos ou mais, e idade gestacional entre 10 e 35 semanas. Mulheres com infecção de trato urinário e gestação de alto risco foram excluídas. O Inventário de Resposta Sexual na Gestação (Pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory, PSRI) foi utilizado. Procedeu-se à análise univariada, e as comparações entre as médias dos domínios de função sexual foram avaliadas pelo teste t de Student. Associações entre as variáveis dependentes e independentes foram determinadas por teste do qui-quadrado. Também estimou-se a razão de prevalência, com intervalo de confiança de 95%, e realizou-se análise multivariada.

Resultados Um total de 64,9% das mulheres relataram diminuição na frequência de atividade sexual durante a gravidez. Pouco mais da metade das mulheres (50,8%) estavam satisfeitas, e a excitação foi relatada como excelente/boa por 30,5% delas. A frequência de dificuldades/disfunções sexuais aumentou com a gravidez, subindo de 5,7% para 58,8%, e dor na relação sexual foi relatada por 45,8% delas. Ter Ensino Superior diminuiu em 50% a chance de insatisfação sexual. O escore total do PSRI diminuiu significativamente entre o período pré-gestacional (escore médio = 89,8, “excelente”) e o período gestacional (escore médio = 59,2, “bom”).

Conclusão O escore médio da função sexual durante a gestação foi classificado como bom, embora a maioria das gestantes tenha relatado pelo menos um tipo de alteração nos domínios da função sexual. O relato de insatisfação foi mais frequente nas mulheres de baixa escolaridade.

Keywords

sexual dysfunction - sexuality - pregnancy - women's health - prevalence

Palavras-chave

disfunção sexual - sexualidade - gravidez - saúde da mulher - prevalência

Contributors

Guendler JA, Katz L, Flamini MEDM, Lemos A, and Amorim MM contributed to the conception and design of the present study, to the data collection or to the analysis and interpretation of data, as well as to the writing of the article or to the critical review of the intellectual content, and to the final approval of the version to be published.


 

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