Evaluation of Sexual Life According to Pregnancy Trimesters

EVALUATION OF SEXUAL LİFE ACCORDİNG TO PREGNANCY TRİMESTERS ABSTRACT Aim: Changes that occur during pregnancy physiologicaly; affects the couple's sexual life. Sexuality, which is an important part of health, is disrupted during pregnancy due to some beliefs and taboos. With the strong influence of hormones, changes in sexual desire and arousal are inevitable. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sexual function levels of pregnant women according to trimester periods. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted prospectively; Those who applied to the Gynecology and Obstetrics polyclinic in between November 2023 and December 2023; Women whose pregnancy was between 6 and 40 weeks were included. After obtaining consent from patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the 'Female Sexual Function Index-FSFI' questionnaire was administered face to face and age, parity, educational status, employment status, and body mass indexes were calculated and recorded. Results: A total of 198 pregnant women between 6-40 weeks of gestation who applied to the gynaecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic accepted to participate in the study. Of the pregnant women who participated in the study, 64 were in the first trimester, 64 were in the second trimester and 67 were in the third trimester. When the groups were compared, 93.75% of the first trimester pregnant women, 93.75% of the second trimester pregnant women and 98.5% of the third trimester pregnant women were diagnosed with sexual dysfunction and the rate of sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in the third trimester. Conclusion: One of the important factors affecting the quality of life and relationship of women is to have a healthy sexual life. During pregnancy, interest in sexual intercourse decreases in most women as pregnancy progresses. This study also showed that sexual function problems of women increase in the first and last trimesters of pregnancy; sexual desire and satisfaction with sexuality, arousal and orgasm decreases. Key words: pregnancy, sexual function, trimester