[Reality of the impact of pregnancy on sexuality. Results about review of 200 Ivoirians pregnant women]

Abstract

Background: Sexuality during pregnancy is a subject little approached during the antenatal follow-up while it sometimes constitutes a source of preoccupation for pregnant women for the preservation of the harmony of the couple.

Objective: Determine the opinions and the practices of women in sexuality during pregnancy.

Patients and method: Prospective transverse study of type knowledge practical attitude which took place from September 1st, 2008 to February 28th, 2009 at the General Hospital of South Abobo. It concerned 200 pregnant women who agreed to answer a pre-tested questionnaire, with their confirmed pregnancy.

Results: It is noted that 95,5% of pregnant women consider that it is possible to have sexual relations during the pregnancy. So 89% of them continue to have sexual relations during their pregnancy. The continuation of the sexual activity aims mostly at satisfying the pleasure of the woman and her partner (34,4%). Twenty-six percent of the questioned women consider that the sexual relations can have consequences on the pregnancy and that they would be responsible, for 60,9% of them, for miscarriages. Nine of 22 patients who observe a sexual abstinence during their pregnancy are afraid of hurting their fetus. Only 21,1% of pregnant women have appealed to the medical and paramedical staff to inquire on sexuality during pregnancy. They assert in 81,6% to have a decline of the libido and 54,7% find the sexual relations less satisfactory than before the pregnancy.

Conclusion: The pregnancy influences negatively the sexual practices during the pregnancy. Pregnant women are badly informed and convey prejudices. The medical staff should offset for this deficit of information by daring to speak about it during the antenatal visits.