Abstract
Little is known about how “reproductive orientation” (i.e., trying to get pregnant, ambivalent about pregnancy, trying to avoid pregnancy, or having had a sterilization surgery) is associated with sexual satisfaction among women of childbearing age. Using data from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers (N = 2811), we examined the association of reproductive orientation with sexual satisfaction, adjusting for relationship characteristics including union type (cohabitation versus marriage), quality, and length; infertility history; and demographic characteristics including age, parity, and race/ethnicity. Results indicated that women who were ambivalent or trying to get pregnant reported significantly higher levels of sexual satisfaction than women who were sterile in the unadjusted model, but not in the models that included relationship quality. The association of reproductive orientation and sexual satisfaction depended upon relationship quality; among women with lower relationship quality, “trying” was associated with higher, and among those with higher relationship quality, with lower sexual satisfaction.
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This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health [grant numbers R01-HD044144, P20GM109097]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the National Institutes of Health.
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Shreffler, K.M., Gibbs, L., Tiemeyer, S. et al. Is Reproductive Orientation Associated with Sexual Satisfaction Among Partnered U.S. Women?. Arch Sex Behav 50, 2459–2469 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-01984-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-01984-z