Utilizing Electronic Modules to Educate on Sexual Health Practices During Pregnancy
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Standard ACOG Educational Article, Interactive Sexual Health Educational Module.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Sexual Health Education During Pregnancy, Communication About Sexual Health in Prenatal Care, Sexual Function and Intimacy in Pregnancy. Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This study looks at whether an interactive online education module can improve knowledge, comfort, and communication about sexual health during pregnancy. Many pregnant individuals experience changes in sexual function and intimacy but may feel uncomfortable discussing these topics or may have misconceptions about what is safe during pregnancy. Participants who are pregnant and receiving routine prenatal care will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will complete an interactive, evidence-based educational module focused on sexual health and intimacy during pregnancy. The other group will review a standard educational article from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) about sexual activity during pregnancy. Participants will complete surveys before and after reviewing the educational material, as well as a follow-up survey two weeks later. These surveys will measure knowledge about sexual health during pregnancy, comfort discussing sexual concerns with healthcare providers, and sexual function. The goal of this study is to determine whether an interactive educational approach can better support pregnant individuals' understanding of sexual health and encourage open communication with healthcare providers during pregnancy.
Detailed description
This is a prospective, randomized controlled study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive educational module on sexual health knowledge, comfort with communication, and sexual function during pregnancy.
Pregnant participants receiving routine prenatal care at the Loyola University Medical Center outpatient women's health clinic will be recruited during clinic visits. Eligible participants will be adults aged 18 years or older with a low-risk pregnancy at or beyond 12 weeks' gestation who are English-speaking and able to read English. Individuals with pregnancy complications requiring management by maternal-fetal medicine or with contraindications to sexual activity during pregnancy will be excluded.
Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two study arms. The intervention group will complete a pre-test survey, view an interactive, evidence-based educational module addressing sexual health, intimacy, and common misconceptions during pregnancy, and then complete an immediate post-test survey. The control group will complete a pre-test survey, review a standard ACOG educational article on sexual activity during pregnancy, and then complete an immediate post-test survey. All participants will receive a follow-up survey two weeks after the initial intervention.
Primary outcomes include changes in knowledge about sexual health during pregnancy. Secondary outcomes include changes in comfort discussing sexual concerns with healthcare providers and changes in sexual function as measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Survey data will be collected electronically using REDCap and analyzed using a per-protocol approach.
Interventions
- Behavioral Standard ACOG Educational Article
A publicly available educational article from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) titled "Is it Safe to Have Sex During Pregnancy?" providing general guidance on sexual activity during pregnancy - Behavioral Interactive Sexual Health Educational Module
An interactive, web-based educational module designed to educate pregnant individuals on sexual function, intimacy, and safe sexual practices during pregnancy. The module addresses common myths, physiological changes, communication with partners and healthcare providers, and evidence-based guidance regarding sexual activity during pregnancy.
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Sexual Health Knowledge During Pregnancy [Time frame: Baseline (pre-test), immediately post-intervention, and 2 weeks post-intervention]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Change in Comfort Discussing Sexual Health With Healthcare Providers [Time frame: Baseline (pre-test), immediately post-intervention, and 2 weeks post-intervention]
- Change in Sexual Function During Pregnancy [Time frame: Baseline (pre-test) and 2 weeks post-intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Pregnant individuals at or beyond 12 weeks gestation
- Age 18 years or older
- English speaking with English reading proficiency
- Experiencing a low risk pregnancy with no major complications
- Not currently followed by Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) for high risk pregnancy management
Exclusion criteria
- Pregnancy complications requiring management by Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM)
- Placed on pelvic rest
- Advised by their provider to abstain from sexual intercourse
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Loyola University Medical Center — Maywood
Publications
- Aksoy Derya Y, Gok Ugur H, Ozsahin Z. Effects of demographic and obstetric variables with body image on sexual dysfunction in pregnancy: A cross-sectional and comparative study. Int J Nurs Pract. 2020 Jun;26(3):e12829. doi: 10.1111/ijn.12829. Epub 2020 Mar 10. PMID 32155306
- Corbacioglu Esmer A, Akca A, Akbayir O, Goksedef BP, Bakir VL. Female sexual function and associated factors during pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2013 Jun;39(6):1165-72. doi: 10.1111/jog.12048. Epub 2013 May 30. PMID 23718891
- Mohammadi M, Khani M. Comparing the effect of face-to-face education and using educational films on couples' sexual dysfunction during pregnancy. J Educ Health Promot. 2021 Sep 30;10:335. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1535_20. eCollection 2021. PMID 34761021
- Bartellas E, Crane JM, Daley M, Bennett KA, Hutchens D. Sexuality and sexual activity in pregnancy. BJOG. 2000 Aug;107(8):964-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb10397.x. PMID 10955426
- Cassis C, Mukhopadhyay S, Morris E, Giarenis I. What happens to female sexual function during pregnancy? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2021 Mar;258:265-268. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Jan 15. PMID 33485263
- Bahrami Vazir E, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Kamalifard M, Ghelichkhani F, Mohammadi A, Mirghafourvand M. The correlation between sexual dysfunction and intimate partner violence in young women during pregnancy. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2020 Sep 14;20(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12914-020-00245-9. PMID 32928215
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07497971 · 219476