What is it about?
During pregnancy, do couples think sex is great or terrible? The following study explores how sexual satisfaction varies among couples during pregnancy. Over 500 U.S. couples completed questionnaires assessing their sexual satisfaction, mental health, and relationship experiences during pregnancy. Results found that most couples (79%) reported being generally satisfied with their sexual relationship, while 21% reported more neutral satisfaction. One key factor that distinguished more satisfied couples from less satisfied couples was depressive symptoms among wives, with lower levels of depression linked to higher sexual satisfaction.
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Why is it important?
Contrary to expectations, most pregnant couples in the U.S. can expect positive sexual satisfaction during pregnancy. However, these experiences could be influenced by women’s depressive symptoms, which may be overlooked during pregnancy because of common physical and emotional changes. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing and supporting mental health during pregnancy. They also highlight that sex is positive for most expectant couples.
Perspectives
Normally, we think that sex will be terrible when you or your partner are pregnant. It is refreshing to know that for 4 out of 5 couples, it’s actually the opposite, where sex is rewarding and good. For the 1 out of 5 couples whose feelings about sex are neutral (still not terrible), they can pay attention to possible depression and get help if needed.
Dr. David B. Allsop
Northern Arizona University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Variable Sexual Satisfaction in Pregnancy: A Latent Profile Analysis of Pregnant Wives and Their Husbands, The Journal of Sex Research, September 2021, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2021.1970708.
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