Impact of gestation on female sexual function

PURPOSE. To investigate the impact of pregnancy on female sexual function. METHODS. It was conducted an analytical, cross-sectional study, with 181 non-pregnant and 177 pregnant women. The study included women aged between 18 and 45 years, pregnant and non-pregnant, premenopausal, sexually active and with steady partner and excluded those in antidepressant use or with depression diagnosis. Among these women, 11 (6.2%) were in the first trimester, 50 (28.2%) in the second trimester and 116 (65.5%) in the third trimester of pregnancy. The evaluation was done by an interview in which was applied the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program, version 16.0. In order to compare the mean FSFI values between pregnant and non-pregnant women the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used. RESULTS. Sexual dysfunction among pregnant women was 40.4% and among non-pregnant women 23.3%, being significant the difference between the scores of the studied groups (p=0.01). It was also significant (p<0.0001) the difference between the mean global FSFI values of the groups. There were significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women regarding desire (p<0.0001), excitation (p=0.003), lubrication (p=0.02), orgasm (p=0.005) and satisfaction (p=0.03). The same was not observed regarding pain. CONCLUSION. We conclude that pregnancy negatively influences female sexual function, particularly the desire and excitement domains, revealing the importance of addressing the issue by professionals dealing with pregnant women.OBJETIVO. Pesquisar o impacto da gestação na função sexual feminina. MÉTODOS. Foi realizado um estudo analítico, do tipo transversal, com 181 mulheres não gestantes e 177 gestantes. Foram incluídas mulheres com idade entre 18 e 45 anos, gestantes e não gestantes, na pré-menopausa, sexualmente ativas e com parceiro fixo e excluídas aquelas em uso de antidepressivos ou com diagnóstico de depressão. Destas, 11 (6,2%) encontravam-se no primeiro trimestre, 50 (28,2%) no segundo e 116 (65,5%) no terceiro. A avaliação se deu por entrevista na qual foi aplicado o Índice de Função Sexual Feminina (IFSF). Os dados foram analisados através do programa Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) versão 16.0. Para a comparação entre as médias do IFSF entre gestantes e não gestantes utilizou-se o teste não paramétrico de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS. A disfunção sexual entre gestantes foi de 40,4% e entre não gestantes de 23,3%, sendo significativa a diferença entre os escores dos grupos estudados (p=0,01). Também foi significativa (p<0,0001) a diferença entre as médias globais do IFSF entre os grupos. Foram observadas diferenças significativas entre gestantes e não gestantes no tocante aos escores dos domínios desejo (p