Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Several studies have reported women's worry that sexual intercourse may harm the course of pregnancy. This worry might lead to avoidance of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Aim: To assess if fears about harming the pregnancy are associated with avoidance of sexual i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Sexual Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116121001100 |
| _version_ | 1797708030846959616 |
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| author | Thanh C. Phan, MD Long B. Hoang, MD, MPH Thanh K. Tran, MPH Trang T.T. Pham, MPH Anh V. Bui Hoa T. Dao, MD, PhD Toan V. Ngo, MD, PhD Cuong D. Tran, MD, PhD |
| author_facet | Thanh C. Phan, MD Long B. Hoang, MD, MPH Thanh K. Tran, MPH Trang T.T. Pham, MPH Anh V. Bui Hoa T. Dao, MD, PhD Toan V. Ngo, MD, PhD Cuong D. Tran, MD, PhD |
| author_sort | Thanh C. Phan, MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Introduction: Several studies have reported women's worry that sexual intercourse may harm the course of pregnancy. This worry might lead to avoidance of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Aim: To assess if fears about harming the pregnancy are associated with avoidance of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 Vietnamese pregnant women in the first or second trimester who visited our hospital for antenatal care. We explored 5 types of fears including miscarriage/preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, bleeding, infection, and injury to the fetus. Fears were measured by modified questions from the Reasons For Not Engaging in Sexual Activity During Pregnancy questionnaire. Using the total fear score, pregnant women were categorized into having low, moderate, and high fear. Main Outcome Measure: Not having sexual intercourse during the past 4 weeks. Results: 72 (28.8%) pregnant women had no sexual intercourse for the past 4 weeks. All types of fear were considered important among pregnant women; the more important fears were infection and injury to the fetus. In multivariable regression analysis, the prevalence of not having sexual intercourse was higher in both women who had moderate (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.84, 95% CI 1.42–5.67) and high fear (adjusted prevalence ratio = 4.39, 95% CI 2.28–8.44). Conclusion: Avoidance of sexual intercourse was common among Vietnamese pregnant women and was associated with the fears about harming the pregnancy. This can be a target in the health education programs for pregnancy couples.Thanh C. Phan, Long B. Hoang, Thanh K. Tran, et al. Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100430. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:16:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0731820d3f7641a59a61d0cb082f8996 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-1161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:16:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-0731820d3f7641a59a61d0cb082f89962023-09-03T02:32:56ZengOxford University PressSexual Medicine2050-11612021-12-0196100430Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional StudyThanh C. Phan, MD0Long B. Hoang, MD, MPH1Thanh K. Tran, MPH2Trang T.T. Pham, MPH3Anh V. Bui4Hoa T. Dao, MD, PhD5Toan V. Ngo, MD, PhD6Cuong D. Tran, MD, PhD7National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, VietnamNational Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi, VietnamInstitute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Department of Planning, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Hanoi, VietnamNational Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Corresponding Author: Cuong D. Tran, MD, PhD, National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 43 Trang Thi St, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, Vietnam. Tel: +84 917 948 648.ABSTRACT: Introduction: Several studies have reported women's worry that sexual intercourse may harm the course of pregnancy. This worry might lead to avoidance of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Aim: To assess if fears about harming the pregnancy are associated with avoidance of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 Vietnamese pregnant women in the first or second trimester who visited our hospital for antenatal care. We explored 5 types of fears including miscarriage/preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, bleeding, infection, and injury to the fetus. Fears were measured by modified questions from the Reasons For Not Engaging in Sexual Activity During Pregnancy questionnaire. Using the total fear score, pregnant women were categorized into having low, moderate, and high fear. Main Outcome Measure: Not having sexual intercourse during the past 4 weeks. Results: 72 (28.8%) pregnant women had no sexual intercourse for the past 4 weeks. All types of fear were considered important among pregnant women; the more important fears were infection and injury to the fetus. In multivariable regression analysis, the prevalence of not having sexual intercourse was higher in both women who had moderate (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.84, 95% CI 1.42–5.67) and high fear (adjusted prevalence ratio = 4.39, 95% CI 2.28–8.44). Conclusion: Avoidance of sexual intercourse was common among Vietnamese pregnant women and was associated with the fears about harming the pregnancy. This can be a target in the health education programs for pregnancy couples.Thanh C. Phan, Long B. Hoang, Thanh K. Tran, et al. Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100430.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116121001100Sexual IntercourseAvoidanceFearsAdverse Pregnancy Outcomes |
| spellingShingle | Thanh C. Phan, MD Long B. Hoang, MD, MPH Thanh K. Tran, MPH Trang T.T. Pham, MPH Anh V. Bui Hoa T. Dao, MD, PhD Toan V. Ngo, MD, PhD Cuong D. Tran, MD, PhD Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study Sexual Medicine Sexual Intercourse Avoidance Fears Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes |
| title | Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | fear related reasons for avoiding sexual intercourse in early pregnancy a cross sectional study |
| topic | Sexual Intercourse Avoidance Fears Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116121001100 |
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