it can be used as an indicator of fertility and can be used as method of family planning. In unmarried persons it can be an indicator about the risk of having a sexually transmissible infection. Coital frequency varies in different cultures and socioeconomic standards. The current study was carried out to bridge the knowledge gap about coital frequency in a group of Egyptian married women. Factors affecting this frequency will be also looked for.
Patients and Methods: The Participants of this cross-sectional study were 306 married women attending the outpatient clinic of Benha University Hospital (for reasons other than sexual councelling). A self-report questionnaire designed by the investigators was used.
Results: The most common coital frequency was 2-3 times/week (64.05%). This frequency was suitable for 78.43% of participants. Husband's desire was the most important determinant of coital frequency (89.87%). The most common cause of low coital frequency was unavailability of husband (56.86%). Problems within the family (57.19%) or with the husband (82.03%) negatively affect coital frequency. Coital frequency declines with aging and long duration of marriage.
Conclusion: The most common coital frequency was 2-3 times / week followed by once/ month. Advance in age and long duration of marriage were associated with a low coital frequency. Other factors affecting coital frequency were husband's unavailability , husband's ill health, husband's sexual desire, presence or absence of problems with husband or within the family.