Objectives: Pregnancy loss is associated with distress which can have a significant emotional impact on women and their spouses including a lower sexual quality of life and sexual dysfunction. The present study aimed to assess sexual quality of life and sexual function in women after fetal death.
Material and methods: A total of 110 women with a history of pregnancy loss hospitalized in the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology were included. In order to evaluate the sexual quality of life and sexual functions the standardized questionnaires - the Sexual Quality of Life (SQoL-F) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), respectively were used.
Results: Women declared a lower sexual quality of life. Most of them (52.73%) were at a risk of sexual dysfunction in the areas of desire (4.15 ± 1.21) and orgasm (3.82 ± 1.48). The older the age and length of the relationship was (p = 0.002; r = -0.298) the worse the sexual quality of life (p < 0.001) and sexual function were (p < 0.05). The sexual quality of life (p < 0.001) and sexual function in the area of desire (p = 0.001), arousal (p = 0.001) and orgasm (p < 0.001) were significantly better in the women who have experienced one pregnancy loss than in those with more than one pregnancy loss. Sexual function was better in women who did not plan to have a pregnancy. The week in which the pregnancy was lost and the fact of having other children have not been statistically significant.
Conclusions: The sexual quality of life and female sexual function in women after an experience of fetal death were less satisfying.
Keywords: miscarriage; pregnancy loss; sexual function; sexual quality of life.