Objectives: To compare the female sexual function index and sexual function of their partners between groups of pregnant and non-pregnant Turkish women.
Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 321 women, including 252 healthy pregnant and 69 healthy nonpregnant women. Assessment of female sexual function index (FSFI), ARIZONA scores of their partners were compared in relation to some of the sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy trimesters.
Results: Comparison of the groups revealed a significantly higher FSFI score in the non-pregnant group whereas the ARIZONA score was significantly higher in the pregnant group (p < 0.001). Age, gravidity, parity and smoking rate adjusted mean differences of scores remained statistically significant (p < 0.001). Higher ARIZONA (> 11) score rate was significantly higher in pregnant groups (55.6% vs 23.2%, p < 0.001). Pregnancy was a risk factor for high ARIZONA score [OR: 4.1 (95% CI 2.2-7.6, p < 0.001)]. Lower FSFI score rate was significantly higher in the pregnant group (26.4% vs 69.4%, p < 0.001). Pregnancy was a risk factor for low FSFI score [OR: 6.4 (95% CI 3.5-11.7, p < 0.001)].
Conclusions: Both female sexual function index and ARIZONA scores of their partners were found to be significantly different between groups of pregnant and nonpregnant Turkish women which indicated altered sexual function of couples during pregnancy.
Keywords: ARIZONA score; female sexual function index; partner; pregnancy.