JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY, cilt.37, sa.3, ss.190-205, 2011 (SSCI)
The authors designed this study in order to understand changes in sexual behavior during pregnancy. The sample comprised 26 healthy women who were in at least their 37th week of pregnancy. The authors collected data through in-depth individual interviews. Participants reported the following most common reasons for ceasing sexual intercourse in the final stages of pregnancy: (a) physical discomfort during sex, (b) belief that it could be physically harmful to the fetus, (c) belief that it is sinful according to Islamic injunctions, (d) belief that the baby will be born ostainedo because of the misperception of vernix caseosa as sperm, and (e) changes in sexual life at the recommendation of health professionals.