Pregnancy is a special time in the lives of women and couples. Medical literature has demonstrated through numerous studies that there are no contraindications to sexual intercourse during a physiological pregnancy [1][2]. Sexual difficulties during pregnancy can have negative effects on the marital relationship and can represent an obstacle to women’s adaptation to the physical and psychological changes of pregnancy [3][4]. Information and support for women during this period are still insufficient, especially in modern African society, where sexuality remains a taboo subject. Health care providers should assume a proactive role, essential to helping future parents enjoy their sexuality and dispel myths about sexuality [5][6]. A study was carried out in 2004 in the said department and the practice of sexuality during pregnancy constituted a reality contrary to received ideas [4]. We felt it was necessary to return to the question 10 years after this first study to revisit this theme and address some factors influencing female sexuality during pregnancy in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine (DGOMR) of the Sourô Sanou University Hospital (CHUSS) in Bobo-Dioulasso.

The study took place in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine (DGOMR) of the Sourô Sanou University Hospital (CHUSS) in Bobo-Dioulasso. It was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study over a two-month period from February 1^st to March 30^th 2025 inclusive. The study population consisted of pregnant women with a physiological pregnancy seen at their prenatal follow-up and whose gestational age was greater than or equal to 37 weeks. Pathological pregnancies were excluded from the study. The sampling was exhaustive. The SCHWARTZ formula was used to determine the sample size. When we consider that “n” represents the sample size, “p” the estimated prevalence, “e” the desired precision for the study and set at 5%, “Z” the standard deviation for a 95% confidence interval or 1.96, the calculation formula is as follows for a retained precision of 1% : n = z2p (1 − p) / e2. Considering p = 0.5%, calculated n will be equal to n = (1.96) (1.96) (0.5) × [(1 − 0.5)]/(0.05) (0.05) = 384. This gives a minimum sample size of 384 women to be surveyed. In order to overcome the possible risk of non-responses occurring in such studies, and to not have a value below the minimum size which guarantees the precision in the estimation of the parameters and especially to increase the power of the test, this sample was increased by 15%. The sample was thus increased to four hundred and fifty (450) women to be surveyed. The data collection was carried out by investigators including 3 men and 3 women made up of students at the end of the medical cycle previously trained for 2 days for the data collection. The data collection was done by direct interview with the patients in the outpatient room using a questionnaire including the study variables. At the end of the interview, the investigators made each respondent aware of the possibility of having sexual intercourse at 3rd trimester of pregnancy and sexual practices compatible with pregnancy. The collected data were entered into Epi data and then analyzed using SPSS software in its version 17.4. The p-values were calculated. Statistical significance was assessed using the χ² test. The data were statistically significant if p was less than or equal to 0.05. Data collection authorization was obtained before the start of the study. Client anonymity was respected and their consent obtained before the interview.

Our study has some limitations such as only the 3^rd trimester was taken into account. It would have been interesting to divide the sample into three, and this according to the term of pregnancy, since each period has particular characteristics. This was not practical since most women do not know the date of their last period. The study was carried out in a last-level reference center; the vast majority of women were seen in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Our study involved 450 pregnant women, most of whom were aged 15 to 44, which is the average childbearing age for women.

The study allowed us to note that sexuality constitutes a reality among pregnant women in the 3^rd trimester of pregnancy in our context, with a decrease in the frequency of sexual intercourse. The influencing factors were primiparity, profession, polygamy and certain prejudices such as the fear of harming their baby. Information on sexuality during pregnancy was not addressed by health care providers during prenatal consultations, hence the need to include it in the themes of prenatal talks.