Fear-based reasons for not engaging in sexual activity during pregnancy: associations with sexual and relationship well-being.

Women who reported higher rates of refraining from sex due to fear that it could harm their pregnancy reported greater sexual distress, but not lower sexual functioning or sexual and relationship satisfaction. Results suggest that interventions focused on minimizing fears of sexual activity during pregnancy may not be essential for promoting women's broader sexual and relationship well-being in pregnancy, but may help to reduce women's global feelings of worry and anxiety about their sexual relationship.