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  • Title: Sexual behavior in pregnancy among Hong Kong Chinese women.
    Author: Haines CJ, Shan YO, Kuen CL, Leung DH, Chung TK, Chin R.
    Journal: J Psychosom Res; 1996 Mar; 40(3):299-304. PubMed ID: 8861126.
    Abstract:
    Sexual behavior during pregnancy was examined in a retrospective study of 150 Hong Kong Chinese women interviewed in the immediate postpartum period. Sexual activity was found to decline abruptly during the first trimester of pregnancy, and continued to decrease in frequency as the pregnancy advanced. The frequency of intercourse was lower both before and during pregnancy than has been reported in similar studies among Western populations. There was no consistent relationship between age, parity, level of education, or employment status and sexual behavior either before or during pregnancy. These results suggest that a relatively conservative attitude toward sexual activity persists within this population. 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.
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