Assesment of female sexual function of pregnant women: Relation with serum androgens and fetal gender

Introduction: As a result of physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy sexual health of women affected significantly. Aim: To evaluate sexual changes related to androgenic hormones and fetal gender in pregnant Turkish women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 194 healthy pregnant women evaluated at Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics. Pregnant women completed a self-administered questionnaire including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and questions related to socio-demographic characteristics. Serum androgens were run simultaneously. Main outcome measures: FSFI total and domain scores , the level of maternal serum total testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and 1-4 delta androstenedione were measured. Results: There was a rate of 68% sexual dysfunction among Turkish pregnant women. The sexual dysfunction rate comprises the total and domain scores of FSFI throughout the pregnancy. Although the total and domain scores of FSFI did not differ between trimesters, orgasm domain scores were found to be decreasing with increasing gestational age. Along with an increase in total testosterone, the DHEAS level decreases with increasing gestational age. When the women with female fetus were evaluated for FSFI scores and androgen levels between trimesters, the mean level of total testosterone in third trimester was higher than the levels of first and second trimesters besides the mean level of DHEAS in the first trimester was higher than the levels of second and third trimesters. There was not any significant difference according to the androgen levels, FSFI total and domain scores between trimesters of the women with male fetus. Conclusion: We found a high sexual dysfunction rate (68%) among pregnant Turkish women. The level of total testosterone, DHEAS and FSFI orgasm domain were found to be different between trimesters. Healthcare providers should provide more time for counseling about sexuality and encourage pregnant women to talk about sexual health and problems during antenatal visits