Pregnant Women's Experiences of Sexual Activity during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study

Pregnancy is a sensitive time in women’s lives, as they experience numerous physical, psychological, and behavioral changes that can affect their sexual and marital relations. Due to the significance of this topic, the present study aimed to examine pregnant women’s experiences of sexual activity during pregnancy. The participants in this qualitative content analysis study were 23 pregnant women who visited hospitals in Babolsar, Iran (2019-2020) and were selected using purposive sampling. Following in-depth interviews, a semi-structured questionnaire guide was used to collect qualitative data. Data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. The MAXQDA 10 software was utilized for qualitative data analysis. In the present study, pregnant women ranged in age from 19 to 35 years. The analysis of pregnant women’s experiences of sexual activity during pregnancy led to the identification of four categories including sexual changes perceived during pregnancy, strategies for coping with sexual changes during pregnancy, sexual changes leading to the couple’s development, and factors influencing sexual activity during pregnancy. During pregnancy, women observe various sexual changes in themselves and their partners, influenced by gestational age, medical disorders, physical changes, psychological and emotional factors, and underlying factors. Accordingly, it is recommended that couples be educated on sexual health during pregnancy which emphasizes the need for further research in this area.