Summary: A small study conducted in Turkey found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, women reported an increase in sexual desire and in the frequency of sexual intercourse, while simultaneously reporting a decline in perceived sexual quality and more menstrual disturbances.
Source: Wiley
Study overview
A recent, small-scale clinical study from Turkey examined changes in women’s sexual behaviour and reproductive health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, compared self-reported measures from the pandemic period with the 6–12 months prior to the pandemic. The sample included 58 women who provided information about sexual frequency, sexual desire, contraception use, pregnancy intentions, menstrual health, and responses to a standardized questionnaire assessing sexual function.
Key findings
The study found several notable shifts during the pandemic period:
- Average sexual frequency increased to approximately 2.4 times per week during the pandemic, up from 1.9 times per week in the 6–12 months before the pandemic.
- Reported desire to become pregnant declined markedly, from 32.7% of participants before the pandemic to 5.1% during the pandemic.
- Contraception use decreased during the pandemic period, despite the reduced pregnancy intention reported by participants.
- Menstrual irregularities were more common during the pandemic, affecting 27.6% of participants versus 12.1% before the pandemic.
- Scores on a validated sexual function questionnaire were worse during the pandemic than prior, indicating a decline in perceived sexual quality even as frequency and desire increased for many participants.
Interpretation and context
These findings highlight a complex pattern: higher reported sexual desire and increased frequency of intercourse coexisted with lower ratings of sexual quality and greater prevalence of menstrual disorders. The study does not establish causation, and the sample size was limited, so the results should be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, the data point to changes in multiple aspects of women’s sexual and reproductive health during a period of major social, psychological, and lifestyle disruption.
Possible explanations for these divergent trends may include alterations in daily routines, increased time spent with partners due to lockdowns, shifts in emotional and psychological states, and broader stressors related to the pandemic. Lower pregnancy intentions and reduced contraception use occurring together may reflect complex decision-making influenced by access to services, concerns about health and economic stability, or shifting priorities; however, the study itself does not provide definitive reasons for these patterns.
Clinical relevance
For clinicians and public health professionals, the study underscores the importance of monitoring and addressing women’s sexual and reproductive health during prolonged public health crises. Changes in menstrual regularity and declines in sexual satisfaction reported by participants suggest areas where healthcare providers might prioritize screening, counseling, and access to reproductive health services. Given the small sample size, further research with larger and more diverse populations is needed to confirm these findings and to examine underlying mechanisms.
About this coronavirus research article
Source:
Wiley
Media Contacts:
Penny Smith – Wiley
Image Source:
The image is in the public domain.
Original Research: The study will appear in International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics.
Notes for readers
This report summarizes findings from a single, small study and is intended to convey the published observations. Readers should consider the limitations of sample size and study design when interpreting the results. The observations add to an emerging body of literature examining how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected sexual behaviour, reproductive intentions, and menstrual health among women.
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