Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in Sexual Experiences and Relationship Quality During Pregnancy

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present research examined changes in sexuality and relationship quality during pregnancy. In three studies, participants completed self-report scales of sex-related emotions, thoughts, motives, and experiences, as well as relationship quality. Study 1 (N = 361) examined the differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women in sexual and relational experiences. Study 2 (N = 25) monitored women’s sexuality and relationship quality throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy. Study 3 examined gender differences in changes in sexual and relational experiences during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy among 31 cohabiting couples. The findings revealed that pregnant women were more sexually motivated by relational concerns than both their partners and non-pregnant women. Additionally, the results pointed to the involvement of two corresponding processes: Sexual enjoyment declined as pregnancy progressed, whereas relational satisfaction was relatively unchanged during pregnancy. These findings suggest that the progress of pregnancy may independently affect sexuality and relational quality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, W. J. (1988). Sexuality and happiness ratings of husbands and wives in relation to first and second pregnancies. Journal of Family Psychology, 2, 67–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allgeier, A. R., & Allgeier, E. R. (1995). Sexual interactions (4th ed.). Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartellas, E., Crane, J. M. G., Daley, M., Bennett, K. A., & Hutchens, D. (2000). Sexuality and sexual activity in pregnancy. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 107, 964–968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basson, R. (2000). The female sexual response: A different model. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 26, 51–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Basson, R. (2001). Using a different model for female sexual response to address women’s problematic low sexual desire. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 27, 395–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Bad is stronger than good. Review of General Psychology, 5, 323–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F., Catanese, K. R., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Is there a gender difference in strength of sex drive? Theoretical views, conceptual distinctions, and a review of relevant evidence. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5, 242–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., Rovine, M., & Fish, M. (1989). The developing family system. In M. R. Gunnar & E. Thelen (Eds.), Systems and development: The Minnesota symposia on child psychology (Vol. 22, pp. 135–158). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bienat, M., & Wortman, C. B. (1991). Sharing of home responsibilities between professionally employed women and their husbands. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 844–860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, G. E. (2007). Attachment orientations, sexual functioning, and relationship satisfaction in a community sample of women. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, 21–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, G. E., Cohen, O., & Wertheimer, V. (2007). Is it all about intimacy? Age, menopausal status, and women’s sexuality. Personal Relationships, 14, 167–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, G. E., & Gillath, O. (2006). Measuring subgoals of the sexual behavioral system: What is sex good for? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23, 675–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, G. E., Hirschberger, G., & Goldenberg, J. L. (2011). Desire in the face of death: Terror management, attachment, and sexual motivation. Personal Relationships, 18, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, G. E., & Laser-Brandt, D. (2002). Gender differences in the experience of heterosexual intercourse. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 11, 143–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, G. E., & Reis, H. T. (2006). Women’s sexual working models: An evolutionary-attachment perspective. Journal of Sex Research, 43, 328–342.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Birnbaum, G. E., Reis, H. T., Mikulincer, M., Gillath, O., & Orpaz, A. (2006). When sex is more than just sex: Attachment orientations, sexual experience, and relationship quality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 929–943.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bittman, S., & Zalk, S. R. (1983). Expectant fathers. New York: Ballantine Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bitzer, J., & Alder, J. (2000). Sexuality during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 25, 49–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogren, L. Y. (1991). Changes in sexuality in women and men during pregnancy. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 20, 35–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L., Shapiro, C. M., & Powers, A. M. (1998). Motivations for sex and risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young adults: A functional perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1528–1558.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, C. P., & Cowan, P. A. (1992). When partners become parents. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, K., & Wardle, J. (1994). Body image and dieting in pregnancy. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 787–799.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Judicibus, M. A., & McCabe, M. P. (2002). Psychological factors and the sexuality of pregnant and postpartum women. Journal of Sex Research, 39, 94–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2003). What does sexual orientation orient? A biobehavioral model distinguishing romantic love and sexual desire. Psychological Review, 110, 173–192.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, S. A., & Watson, J. P. (1985). Sex during pregnancy and the first postnatal year. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 29, 541–548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falicov, C. J. (1973). Sexual adjustment during the first pregnancy and post partum. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 117, 991–1000.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzpatrick, M. A., Vangelisti, A. L., & Firman, S. M. (1994). Perceptions of marital interaction and change during pregnancy: A typological approach. Personal Relationships, 1, 101–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher, G. J. O., Simpson, J. A., & Thomas, G. (2000). The measurement of perceived relationship quality components: A confirmatory factor analytic approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 340–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glazener, C. M. A. (1997). Sexual function after childbirth: Women’s experiences, persistent morbidity and lack of professional recognition. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 104, 330–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gokyildiz, S., & Beji, N. K. (2005). The effects of pregnancy on sexual life. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 31, 201–215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hackel, L. S., & Ruble, D. N. (1992). Changes in the marital relationship after the first baby is born: Predicting the impact of expectancy disconfirmation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 944–957.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, C. J., Shan, Y. O., Kuen, C. L., Leung, D. H. Y., Chung, T. K. H., & Chin, R. (1996). Sexual behavior during pregnancy among Hong Kong Chinese women. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 40, 299–304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haugen, E. N., Schmutzer, P. A., & Wenzel, A. (2004). Sexuality and the partner relationship during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In J. H. Harvey, A. Wenzel, & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality in close relationships (pp. 411–435). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kravetz, S., Drory, Y., & Shaked, A. (1999). The Israeli Sexual Behavior Inventory (ISBI): Scale construction and preliminary validation. Sexuality and Disability, 17, 115–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R., Brant, H. A., & Robson, K. M. (1981). Childbearing and maternal sexuality: A prospective survey of 119 primiparae. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 25, 373–383.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., & Rosen, R. C. (1999). Sexual dysfunction in the United States: Prevalence and predictors. Journal of the American Medical Association, 281, 537–544.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levy-Shiff, R. (1994). Individual and contextual correlates of marital change across the transition to parenthood. Developmental Psychology, 30, 591–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lumley, J. (1978). Sexual feelings in pregnancy and after childbirth. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 18, 114–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, W. E., & Friedman, S. (1989). Male and female sexuality during pregnancy: Behavior and attitudes. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 1, 17–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, N. M. (1975). The frequency of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 4, 501–507.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Regan, P. C., Lyle, J. L., Otto, A. L., & Joshi, A. (2003). Pregnancy and changes in female sexual desire: A review. Social Behavior and Personality, 31, 603–612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruble, D. N., Hackel, L. S., Fleming, A. S., & Stangor, C. (1988). Changes in the marital relationship during the transition to first time motherhood: Effects of violated expectations concerning division of household labor. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 78–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Safir, M. P., & Hoch, Z. (1980). Couple interactional classification of sexual dysfunctions. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 6, 129–134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snowden, L. R., Schott, T. L., Awalt, S. J., & Gillis-Knox, J. (1988). Marital satisfaction in pregnancy: Stability and change. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 325–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Sydow, K. (1999). Sexuality during pregnancy and after childbirth: A metacontent analysis of 59 studies. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 47, 27–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, P. M., & Gotlib, I. H. (1990). Marital adjustment during the transition to parenthood: Stability and predictors of change. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 21–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, S. E., & Reamy, K. (1982). Sexuality and pregnancy: A review. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 11, 429–444.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiederman, M. W. (2004). Methodological issues in studying sexuality in close relationships. In J. H. Harvey, A. Wenzel, & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality in close relationships (pp. 31–56). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, R. B. (1995). Changes in psychological health and the marital relationship through childbearing: Transition or process as stressor. Australian Journal of Psychology, 47, 86–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gender Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel

    Dafna M. Sagiv-Reiss

  2. School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, P.O. Box 167, 46150, Herzliya, Israel

    Gurit E. Birnbaum

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Marilyn P. Safir

Authors
  1. Dafna M. Sagiv-Reiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gurit E. Birnbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marilyn P. Safir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gurit E. Birnbaum.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sagiv-Reiss, D.M., Birnbaum, G.E. & Safir, M.P. Changes in Sexual Experiences and Relationship Quality During Pregnancy. Arch Sex Behav 41, 1241–1251 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-011-9839-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-011-9839-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation