ATTITUDES AND PRACTICE OF COUPLES REGARDING SEXUAL RELATIONS DURING THE MENSES AND SPOTTING

To determine attitudes and practices regarding sexual relations during menstruation and vaginal spotting, a cross-sectional descriptive surv ey was performed at the Institute de Investigaciones Materno Infantil, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. A total of 287 women and 206 m en were randomly selected from an urban population. Attitudes, beliefs , and practices regarding sexual relations during vaginal bleeding wer e surveyed and stratified by educational level and other demographic c haracteristics. Overall, 70% of women and 72% of men were found to avo id sexual relations during menstruation. Fifty-four percent of women a nd 60% of men avoided sexual relations during vaginal spotting. Women with higher education (technical or university) were less likely to av oid sexual intercourse compared to those with a lower educational leve l (basic or secondary education) during menstruation (73% vs. 57%) and vaginal spotting (69% vs. 34%). Men with a higher educational level ( university) avoided intercourse less frequently when their partner was spotting (48% vs. 64%). As many methods of contraception affect a wom an's menstrual cycle, they therefore may affect the intimacy of a coup le. Counseling and education regarding the menstrual cycle and expecte d alterations by a contraceptive method may reduce any negative impact of a contraceptive device on a couple's sexual life.