EXPERIENCE OF THE FEMALE SEXUALITY IN THE GESTATIONAL PERIOD: UNDER THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ORAL THEMATIC HISTORY

Several aspects of the human sexuality still remain as taboos. The gestation becomes one of the periods of bigger difficulty for this kind of approach, mainly due to the repression and the denial of the existence of the sexuality in this period. We aimed at identifying the experience of the sexuality in women during the gestational period. It is characterized as a qualitative and exploratory research, using the method of the oral thematic history. Ten women who were pregnant in the year 2006 were interviewed. The analysis has unveiled four thematic categories: “Couple's sexual behavior during the gestational period”; “Physiological modifications during the pregnancy and its influence on sexual activity”; “Sexual desire of women during the gestational period”; “Influence of the antenatal in the sexual activity” . The statements have revealed that the experience of the feminine sexuality depends on physical, psychological and cultural factors. The way in which the partner understands and behaves is also constituted as a determining factor for achieving a healthy sexual experience between the couple. Another point highlighted was the fragility of the guidelines about sexuality in the antenatal consultations. It is necessary having a mutual relationship between the couple for facing the difficulties that arise in this period.