Document Type
Article
Department
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan
Abstract
Sexuality is an expression of love, care, and intimacy between couples but pregnancy, and the early postnatal period can have a significant impact on sexual health. Numerous physiological and psychological changes take place during pregnancy[1]. These changes may have a deep influence on the sexual lives of married couples in a variety of ways. [2]
The degree of sexual health awareness, myths, rituals, and beliefs about sexual activity during pregnancy are some of the contributing factors which promote or hinders the sexual relationships during pregnancy [3]. The most common fear related to sexual intercourse is the risk of miscarriage or dyspareunia[4]. The common reasons for refraining from sexual activity in pregnant mothers include exhaustion, social awkwardness, experiencing labor pains, or external genital cramping. These fear-based factors not only have an impact on sexual function, and sexual pleasure, but also on intimate relationships [3]. According to research, 45% of women indicated that they believed having intercourse was bad for the fetus, and five of them considered it bad for female fetuses [5]. Another major contributor to false beliefs and myths is a lack of formal sexual health education from healthcare professionals during antenatal visits, which emphasizes the need to focus on this important aspect of health to provide holistic care to pregnant women by midwives during antenatal and postnatal visits. In some cultures, pregnant women cannot ask themselves about their sexual health concerns for moral reasons and do not believe it is appropriate to discuss sexual health topics openly. Therefore, they tend to find information from other sources such as family members, friends or internet sources [6].
Recommended Citation
Zafar, M, & Aslam, M. Is it safe to have sexual intercourse during pregnancy? A commentary paper. Journal of Asian Midwives. 2023;10(1):48–51.
