Sexual intercourse during pregnancy as a source of anxiety in pregnant women

Abstract Background: Pregnant women feel and accept the need for sexual activity and in most cases engage in intercourse during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to assessment of the occurrence of anxiety associated with the possibility that the fetus is at risk, which results from having sexual contacts by healthy women during pregnancy. Methods: 373 women were surveyed using a self-constructed questionnaire containing questions about sexual life during pregnancy. The examination took place between the first and the fifth day after delivery, when patients stayed in the Obstetric Ward. All women delivered healthy children on time. The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Among 373 examined women, 319 (85,5%) had intercourses during pregnancy, while 54 (14,5%) were not sexually active. In a group of sexually active women, 196 (52,2%) felt anxiety that pregnancy may be at risk due to this activity. Conclusions: It is advisable for the doctor and midwife to talk with a pregnant woman about differences in intercourse and quality of sex life during pregnancy, minimizing the occurrence of fear about fetus well-being.