Sexualidade na gestação: ações de enfermagem no atendimento pré- natal

Abstract

The present study reflects upon the sexuality during pregnancy. It aims to identify the changes that take place in the experience of sexuality arising from pregnancy and discuss the actions of the nurse in relation to the sexuality of pregnant woman. This is a literature review of studies on sexuality during pregnancy and puerperal cycle published in the last twenty four years. The pregnancy implies psychophysical, emotional and socio-cultural changes which contributes to several changes in the couple´s sexual life. However, these changes do not hinder the healthy exercise of sexuality, since the desire, the interest and the sexual performance or the experience of sexuality is unique and singular for each woman and her partner. This experience depends on the personality and feminine identity and of the context where she lives and who she lives with. In the prenatal care, nurses have an important role in order to know the psychophysiological, emotional and socio-cultural universe of pregnant women, so as to understand their needs, among them the sexuality, a subject still little touched.