Sexual Function, Body Image, Kinesiophobia and Physical Activity in Pregnant Women

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a condition felt around the posterior iliac crystals, gluteal region and the sacroiliac joints, may spread to the back of the thigh, and may occur together or separately with pain in the symphysis pubis. Pregnancy-related PGP causes problems in the sexual life of women. Body image differs with the development of physical symptoms and changes in body size and shape during pregnancy. Body dissatisfaction resulting from physical changes can cause problems in women's attitudes towards sexuality. Sexual function is affected by physiological, anatomical and psychological changes that occur during pregnancy. Sexual function during pregnancy has been associated with conditions such as body image, physical activity level, and pain.

In the literature, there are studies evaluating the relationship between sexual function and body image in pregnant women and in different populations. However, in these studies, questionnaires specific to pregnant women were not used to evaluate sexual function and body image, and a comparison of these parameters was not investigate in women with and without pregnancy-related PGP.

Therefore, this study was planned to compare sexual function, body image, kinesiophobia and physical activity levels in women with and without pregnancy-related PGP.

The outcome measures are Pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory (PSRI), Body Image in Pregnancy Scale (BIPS-Turkish), Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TKS) and Pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ).

The clinical diagnosis tests are Active Straight Leg Rise, Posterior Pelvic Pain Provocation Test, Long Dorsal Sacroiliac Ligament Palpation, Pelvic Compression, Pelvic Distraction, Patrick-Faber Test and Gaenslen Test.

Inclusion criteria

• Being between 18 and 40 years-old,
• Being second or third trimester of pregnancy
• Being literate in Turkish

Exclusion criteria

• Having a pregnancy complication (preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, diabetes, etc.),
• Having a known gynecological or urological problem that may mimic PGP
• Having neurological (multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, etc.), orthopedic (hip dislocation, etc.), cardiopulmonary (heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.) problems that affect sexual function and physical activity,
• Having situations in which sexual activity is contraindicated and should be restricted (placenta previa, risk of premature birth, cervical insufficiency, antepartum hemorrhage, premature rupture of membranes, genital infection, etc.),
• Having visual, auditory and cognitive problems that may prevent participation in the study.