Title: Sexual behavior in pregnancy among Hong Kong Chinese women.

POPLINE Document Number: 120701

Author(s):

Haines CJ
Shan YO
Kuen CL
Leung DH
Chung TK
Chin R

Source citation:

JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC RESEARCH, 1996 Mar;40(3):299-304.

Abstract:

Changes in the sexual behavior of Hong Kong Chinese women during pregnancy were assessed through a retrospective study of 150 women randomly recruited from two teaching hospitals within 3 days after giving birth. The mean age of respondents was 28.7 years; 73.3% had had one lifetime sexual partner, while 20% reported two partners. Observed was a clear trend toward decreased sexual activity as pregnancy progressed. Before pregnancy, 116 couples (77.3%) were having intercourse less than three times a week. This statistic increased to 145 couples (96.7%) in the first trimester of pregnancy and 56 couples (37.3%) abstained from intercourse during this time. In the second trimester, no couples reported intercourse more than twice a week and 51 (34%) abstained. During the third trimester, 97 couples (64.7%) abstained. Concern about jeopardizing the pregnancy was the most commonly cited (62%) reason for the reduction in sexual activity. Frequency of orgasm and enjoyment of intercourse also decreased with advancing gestation. Although younger women were more likely than their older counterparts to experience both coitus and orgasm during the first trimester, there was no consistent relationship between age, parity, educational level, employment status, and sexual behavior either before or during pregnancy. These findings suggest that Chinese women living in Hong Kong are more conservative about sexual behavior during pregnancy than women in most cultures.

Keywords:

Hong Kong
China
Research Report
Retrospective Studies
Asians
Pregnant Women
Pregnancy
Sex Behavior
Sexual Intercourse
Coital Frequency
Women
Developed Countries
Asia, Eastern
Asia
Developing Countries
Studies
Research Methodology
Ethnic Groups
Cultural Background
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Reproduction
Behavior