Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

Pregnancy can be an incredible journey and each woman’s experience can be unique, including how they feel about sex.

Some may feel uncomfortable or will have no desire to have sex during pregnancy. Others could feel deeply connected to their sexuality and feel more aroused while they're pregnant. It’s also natural for sexual desires to come and go during pregnancy, with new changes in your body as your journey progresses.

If you are interested in having sex while you are pregnant, you might have a couple of doubts, especially to ensure the baby’s health and safety. Well, there is not much to worry about in this case. Here’s everything you need to know about having sex during pregnancy.

Having sex during pregnancy is absolutely fine. You are not going to poke or harm your fetus due to penetration and intercourse’s movement. The baby is protected by your abdomen and the uterus’ muscular walls and also cushioned by the amniotic sac’s fluid.

In fact, sex is recommended by doctors if your due date has come and gone. This is because sperm is rich in hormones called prostaglandins, which can stimulate the uterus to contract.

However, if you are being treated for preterm labor and are at a risk of going into labor early, you should avoid having sex as prostaglandins could bring on unwanted contractions.

Here’s how women’s sexual drive is usually affected during the pregnancy:

First trimester: Morning sickness, fatigue, or breast tenderness may hamper your sex drive in these initial stages.

Second trimester: With higher levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, you may enjoy sex even more than you did before pregnancy. Increased blood flow throughout your body during this stage can also enhance your orgasms.

Third trimester: Sex may feel uncomfortable as your due date approaches.

It is best to have an open communication with your partner as to what you're feeling and what works best for both of you. If something doesn't feel right for either of you, consult your obstetrician for a check-up or guidance.

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Different positions may be more or less comfortable as the trimesters progress. So choose whatever suits you the best. Sex can also become more adventurous and liberating during this time, particularly for those who used to restrict themselves or were stressed as they didn't want to get pregnant earlier.

There's no right or wrong position to have sex when during pregnancy as you are not going to harm the baby. However, when it comes to comfort, rear entry or pregnant woman on top is considered more suitable, according to health professionals.

Sex during pregnancy can also come with a bunch of benefits for you and your partner. Increased blood flow to the genitals during pregnancy could lead to an increased number of powerful orgasms. Orgasms release endorphins which can help the expecting mother and even the baby feel happier and relaxed.

A 2004 study also found that sex increases an antibody called IgA in your body, that helps to keep infections at bay. Some couples also feel that sexual activity during pregnancy helps to bring them closer to each other.

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As mentioned above, you should avoid sex during pregnancy if you are at risk of preterm labor. Apart from this, you should also stop if you experience any usual pain with sex during pregnancy and see your obstetrician.

If you have placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta is covering your cervix, you should abstain from having intercourse and orgasms. This is essential to avoid the risk of causing the placenta to bleed.

In case you experience bleeding after intercourse, avoid having sex and see your obstetrician-gynecologist. If you think your partner has any STI, abstain from sex as your baby could pick up that bacteria.