Comparison of Women's Sexual Activity Before and After being Infected with COVID-19

Abstract

Sexual activity is one of the main aspects of sexual health, which has been less considered during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted to compare the sexual activity of women before and after being infected with COVID-19. This descriptive cross-sectional study included 110 women diagnosed with COVID-19. The data were collected before and after one month of quarantine in a 24-hour clinic and a 24-hour referral center for COVID-19 in Pakdasht city, Tehran, Iran. The study was conducted from the spring of 2020 to the winter of 2022. Demographic characteristics questionnaire and FSFI questionnaire were used as data collection tools. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Based on the results, there was a significant difference in the total scores of the women's sexual activity before and after the infection (P˂0.0001). The scores showed a decrease following the infection, and the greater the severity of the infection, the more was the decrease. A significant difference was observed in all domains of the women's sexual activity before and after the infection, indicating that the pre-infection scores were higher (P˂0.05). Given the decreased scores of women's sexual activity after being infected with the coronavirus, more attention should be paid to this area. Women and their spouses should be educated during such pandemics and appropriate planning should be done before similar incidences to avoid long-term negative effects.