Female Sexual Function and Its Associations with Number of Children, Pregnancy, and Relationship Satisfaction

TLDR

The study investigates how number of children, pregnancy status, and relationship satisfaction are associated in a population-based sample of 2081 women aged 33‑43. The authors analyze data from 2081 women aged 33‑43 to examine these associations. Multiparous women reported fewer orgasm problems, nulliparous women had more pain problems and lower sexual satisfaction, first‑trimester pregnant women experienced fewer pain problems and higher sexual satisfaction, and higher overall relationship satisfaction correlated with greater sexual satisfaction and fewer sexual function problems.

Abstract

Associations between number of children, pregnancy, and overall relationship satisfaction were explored in a population-based sample of 2081 women, aged 33-43 years. Multiparous women had less orgasm problems compared to nulliparous women. Nulliparous women had more pain problems and were sexually less satisfied compared to women with children, regardless of the number. Women pregnant with the first child had fewer pain problems compared to a matched nonpregnant control and were sexually more satisfied. Being more satisfied with the overall relationship was related to higher sexual satisfaction and less sexual function problems.