ORIGINAL PAPER Changes in Sexual Experiences and Relationship Quality During Pregnancy Dafna M. Sagiv-Reiss • Gurit E. Birnbaum • Marilyn P. Safir Received: 12 November 2010 / Revised: 17 July 2011 / Accepted: 17 July 2011 / Published online: 14 September 2011 Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 Abstract The present research examined changes in sexuality and relationship quality during pregnancy. In three studies, par- ticipants completed self-report scales of sex-related emotions, thoughts, motives, and experiences, as well as relationship qual- ity. Study 1 (N = 361) examined the differences between preg- nant and non-pregnant women in sexual and relational experi- ences. Study 2 (N = 25) monitored women’s sexuality and rela- tionship quality throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy. Study 3 examined gender differences in changes in sexual and relational experiences during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy among 31 cohabiting couples. The findings revealed that pregnant women were more sexually motivated by relational concerns than both their partners and non-pregnant women. Addi- tionally, the results pointed to the involvement of two correspond- ing processes: Sexual enjoyment declined as pregnancy pro- gressed, whereas relational satisfaction was relatively unchan- ged during pregnancy. These findings suggest that the progress of pregnancy may independently affect sexuality and relational quality. Keywords Motivation Á Pregnancy Á Romantic relationships Á Sexual functioning Á Sexuality Introduction Pregnancy is a unique period in a woman’s life and a significant part of the couple’s experience. This transitional period is distinc- tive in its physical, emotional, and cognitive aspects, and may affect both sexual experiences and relationship quality. Indeed, previous studies have revealed that sexual functioning changes during preg- nancy, when compared with sexual functioning prior to conception (for reviews,see Haugen,Schmutzer,& Wenzel, 2004;vonSydow, 1999). However, the vast majority of previous studies used cross- sectional designs and assessed behavioral rather than subjective aspects of sexual activity. In addition, most studies focused on women only and not on both partners (cf. Bienat & Worthman, 1991). Furthermore, past research has yielded conflicting results about whether, for whom, and when changes in sexuality and relationship quality occur during pregnancy (e.g., Hackel & Ruble, 1992). The present research relied on complementary methodologies to examine changes in subjective sexual expe- riences and quality of couple relationships during pregnancy. Many physical and emotional changes occur over the 40 weeks of an average pregnancy. Changes, such as somatic symptoms (e.g., tiredness, nausea), increasing abdominal size, pain during sexual activity, and fear related to the fetus (e.g., harming the fetus, miscarriage) may exert a strong influence on women’s sexuality and the types of sexual activities in which couples engage (e.g., Hackel & Ruble, 1992). For example, fatigue and weakness are almost universally reported by women as reasons for loss of sexual desire during late pregnancy and postpartum (e.g., Glazener, 1997; Lumley, 1978). In addition, hormonal and mood chan- ges, backache, and sensitiveness of the breasts may result in dis- comfort during sexual activity and diminish women’s interest in sexual interactions. A review of the literature on sexuality during pregnancy and postpartum reveals that the vast majority of studies focused on behavioral and quantitative aspects of sexual activity, such as the D. M. Sagiv-Reiss Gender Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel G. E. Birnbaum (&) School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, P.O. Box 167, 46150 Herzliya, Israel e-mail: birnbag@gmail.com M. P. Safir Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel 123 Arch Sex Behav (2012) 41:1241–1251 DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9839-9