Sexual activity during and after pregnancy

The factors related to sexual behavior during pregnancy and after childbirth were studied in 352 Nigerian women. Sexual frequency was higher during the postnatal period (1.7 times per week) compared to the pregnancy period (1.5 times per week). Coital frequency also showed no difference for the various social class and age groups but was more prevalent among the primigravidas compared to the higher parity groups (p<0.05). Vulval itching was experienced in 246 (69.9%) women although this had no effect on sexual activity in 114 (46.5%) of them. The earliest date of resumption of sexual intercourse following childbirth was 3 days while the latest was 84 weeks. However, sexual activity was resumed between 6 and 12 weeks after delivery in 114 respondents (48.7%). The overall mean resumption time for sexual activity postpartum was 16.5 weeks. The longest mean resumption time occurred for breastfeeding/cultural reasons (41 weeks) and family planning reasons (23.9 weeks) while the shortest resumption time occurred for pleasure reasons (3.2 weeks). The attitude toward sexuality among African women during pregnancy and after childbirth can be said to be positive and purposeful, and this should be taken into account in the overall management of sexuality in the pregnant African woman.