Effects of pregnancy on sexual function. Findings from a survey of Saudi women

OBJECTIVE: To assess sexual function during pregnancy in Saudi women.

METHODS: We recruited 454 sexually active Saudi women (221 pregnant women, and 233 non-pregnant women) from the antenatal and gynecological clinics of King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a tertiary referral university hospital, between May and October 2011. Participants were asked to complete an Arabic version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. This questionnaire assesses all the major domains of sexual dysfunction: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. The overall FSFI scores, and those for each domain, were calculated for the pregnant and non-pregnant women. The scores were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women, as well as among women in each trimester of the pregnancy.

RESULTS: The pregnant and non-pregnant women did not differ significantly in any of the 6 domains of the FSFI or in the overall scores. However, among the pregnant group, FSFI scores in each domain and overall scores decreased progressively from each trimester of pregnancy to the next. In general, FSFI scores were lower in our sample, as compared with those found in other populations in previous studies.

CONCLUSION: There are no differences in indices of sexual function between pregnant and non-pregnant Saudi women. However, indices of sexual function show significant declines over time during pregnancy. A modified FSFI cutoff score for diagnosis of sexual dysfunction in Saudi women may be needed.