Sexual compatibility among Iranian couples: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Sexual compatibility increases the stability of marriage and partners’ relationships and decreases sexually transmitted diseases. This qualitative study using a content analysis approach was conducted with 36 married men and women. Interviews were conducted for data collection. As the main theme of this study, “couple's sexual companionship” emerged as the main theme of sexual compatibility, that means couples’ participation for fulfilling each other sexual needs and solving problems arising from sexual discrepancies based on sexual understandings, sexual agreements and interests for continuing the sexual relationship with the aim of mutual sexual satisfaction. Sexual compatibility did not necessarily mean similarities, as during the marital life sexual discrepancies were inevitable. However, compatible couples encountered such a situation based on understandings, agreement and love. Active participation in sexual relationships, forgiveness and consideration, no huffing, mutual respect, flexibility and an occasional use of non-penetrative sexual relationships, sexual conversation with spouses, patience and development of the sexual relationship were the prominent feature of sexually compatible couples.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual agreement
• sexual satisfaction
• sexual understanding
• love
• marriage stability

Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge the research deputy of School of Nursing and Midwifery affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Also, the participation of couples for taking part in this study is appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. During menstruation, penetrative sexual relationships especially vaginal sex is forbidden according to Islamic jurisprudence.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maryam Nekoolaltak

Maryam Nekoolaltak is M.D., Ph.D. in Reproductive Health, Student Research Office, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Zohreh Keshavarz

Zohreh Keshavarz is M.D., Ph.D. in Reproductive Health, Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Masoumeh Simbar

Masoumeh Simbar is Ph.D. in Reproductive Health, Professor, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Ali Mohammad Nazari

Ali Mohammad Nazari is Ph.D. in Counseling, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahrood University of Medical Sciences, Shahrood, Sciences, Shahrood, Iran.

Ahmad Reza Baghestani

Ahmad Reza Baghestani is Ph.D. in Biostatistics, Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.