Maternal sexuality during pregnancy and after childbirth in Muslim Kuwaiti women.

The sexuality of Kuwaiti Muslim women before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and 6 months after childbirth was studied. A group of 220 women attending the prenatal clinic of the Maternity Hospital Kuwait were randomly selected; 40 (18.2%) declined at the outset, 10 (4.6%) withdrew due to miscarriage and 10 (4.6%) due to failure to attend interviews. The semistructured interview was conducted by a female obstetrician at 4-week intervals starting from 12 weeks pregnancy to 6 months after childbirth. The study led to the following observations: (i) All the women were religious and abided by the Islamic rules and way of life. (ii) The diagnosis of pregnancy led to a decline in sexuality that continued throughout the pregnancy, with a second and early third trimester increase in sexuality but still below the prepregnancy baseline. (iii) Each woman had a consistent pattern of sexuality during pregnancy reflecting her prepregnancy level of sexuality. (iv) Younger age group, multiparity, low-level of education, lesser duration of marriage, and intention of breast-feeding characterized the sexuality pattern positively, as did attitudes towards sexuality during pregnancy and after childbirth. Breast-feeding mothers exceeded their prepregnancy level of sexuality earlier than bottle-feeding mothers.

Maternal sexuality during pregnancy and after childbirth in kuwait.

Although pregnancy had an adverse effect on sexuality, many women improved at the mid-trimester and early postpartum period. Sociocultural attitudes and pre-pregnancy sexuality level are important determinants. A study of sexual adjustment of 160 pregnant Muslim women of Kuwait revealed that pregnant women showed a decline in sexual activity soon after the diagnosis of pregnancy that continued throughout the whole pregnancy with a second trimester and early third trimester increase in sexuality, but continued to be below the pre-pregnancy base line. Resumption of sexual activities was not problematic for many of our patients at eight or twelve weeks postpartum, except for those with marital disharmony. For some women, pregnancy and labor improved their sexuality in general. But the majority of our subjects had a consistent pattern of sexuality during pregnancy that reflects their pre-pregnancy level of sexuality. This study shows clearly the important influence of the father-to-be on the sexuality of his wife. Sociocultural taboos influence sexual adjustment during pregnancy, as this highly important topic is always ignored during discussion between patients and doctors at ante- and post-natal clinics. It is recommended for obstetricians to counsel patients about sexual activity, keeping in mind the prevailing sociocultural attitudes.