Attitudes and Sexual Function in Thai Pregnant Women
Attapol Kerdarunsuksri MD*, Sumonmal Manusirivithaya MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ratchaphiphat Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To evaluate the attitudes towards sexuality and sexual function in Thai pregnant women.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 347 healthy pregnant women, aged
14-42 years, who attended the antenatal clinic, Ratchaphiphat Hospital. The Female Sexual Function Index
(FSFI) questionnaire was used for sexual function assessment.
Results : The mean age of the pregnant women was 26.3 years. The mean gestational age was 25.7 weeks and
52, 146 and 149 pregnant women were in their first, second and third trimester respectively. Half of the
pregnant women believed that having sex during pregnancy is a natural and normal part and about 70% were
not concerned about decreasing sexual desire throughout pregnancy. Only 11.2% of pregnant women
displayed a positive attitudes that sexuality during pregnancy made them happy and 47% were concerned
that sexual intercourse during pregnancy may be harmful to the fetus. Nineteen percent of pregnant women
had had no sexual intercourse in the past four weeks. The mean total FSFI score was 15.49, 93.4% had FSFI
score of < 26.5, which was defined as potential sexual dysfunction. Comparing the mean FSFI score of every
domain including total score, the pregnant women reported a significant decrease in all domains between the
first and third trimester.
Conclusion : Potential sexual dysfunction in Thai pregnant women was rather high. Sexuality was decreased
significantly throughout pregnancy. However, most of the pregnant women were not concerned about
decreasing sexual desire during pregnancy.
Keywords : Sexual function, FSFI, Pregnancy, Thai women
