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Sexual Life in Pregnancy
JURIGOVÁ, Gabriela
Abstract The public, often also medical professionals, live under the influence of widespread sexual myths and half-truths which substantially affect their attitudes towards sexuality. Sexuality in pregnancy is all the more encompassed with a lot of superstitions, myths, prejudices and fear. There is a lack of quality information and even professionals, physicians and midwives, often give partners inadequate recommendations. Essentially, pregnancy is a natural fulfillment of biological sense of sexual life. It affects a mental condition not only of a woman but both partners, and consequently influences their sexual life. The objective of this thesis was to determine the level of pregnant women´s knowledge about sexuality in pregnancy and to analyze sexual life in pregnancy. To meet the objective of the research, the quantitative research technique using anonymous questionnaires was applied. Three kinds of anonymous questionnaires were used: one was my own questionnaire focused on finding the level of pregnant women´s knowledge on sexuality in pregnancy. The second and third questionnaires were standardized questionnaires SFŽ ( Sexual Function of a Woman) and Erotic Stimuli Inventory (Hoon - Winoze) (Annex 1). Women were asked to fill in questionnaires both from the perspective of their current situation and from the perspective matching their experience prior to pregnancy. The research set were comprised of women in the third trimester of pregnancy attending the antenatal clinic of the obstetrics-gynaecological department of 1. LF UK (Medical Faculty of the Charles University) and VFN ( the General Faculty Hospital) in Prague. The data stated in the standardized questionnaires were assessed and thereby sexual life of women in the period before pregnancy and during pregnancy was analyzed, the research goal was met. In this thesis the following hypotheses were tested. Hypothesis 1 assuming that pregnant women do not have sufficient information about changes in sexual life during pregnancy and research has been confirmed. Although most women considered the level of their knowledge as sufficient, a proportion of women who want to be informed about the changes in sexual life during pregnancy is prominent. Most women want to be informed about changes in sexual life during pregnancy in an anonymous form. This finding confirms the hypothesis 2 assuming that pregnant women want to be informed about the possibilities of sexual satisfaction during pregnancy. Hypothesis 3 assuming that pregnant women are not satisfied with the level of information about sexuality in pregnancy provided in prenatal counseling has been confirmed. Low percentage of women receives information from a physician or a midwife and they themselves do not ask questions mostly because of shame. Communication about sexuality in our society is still taboo for both professionals and the general public. Hypothesis 4 assuming that the need for sexual intercourse is decreased in pregnancy has been confirmed by the survey. In pregnancy libido, the frequency of sexual intercourse, the need for contact and the ability to achieve orgasm are reduced. Responses to erotic stimuli are shifted to a lower degree of erotic excitement according to the results of the research. The results of the research carried out in the obstetric-gynaecological hospital have revealed the need to improve communication and the information supply provided by the medical staff members to pregnant women and their partners. It is necessary to consider the possibility of anonymous forms of providing information that is not affected by prejudices, attitudes, myths. An information booklet seems to be an appropriate resource. Women in pregnancy want more information and have the right to get it. This is where a midwife can play a significant role by giving professional advice and having open communication with a pregnant woman and her partner.
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