What are the 7 big questions about having sex while being pregnant? 

 

• Pregnancy is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your body will go through incredible changes, and as your belly grows, you'll have a lot of questions, including ones about having sex while pregnant.

 

• Here's some good news: Sex is perfectly safe during most pregnancies, so don't be afraid to indulge if you're in the mood. (And, surprisingly, you might even feel super turned on!)

 

• According to Leah Millheiser, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., board-certified ob-gyn at Stanford Health Care and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Stanford Medicine, having sex is a great way to strengthen and maintain the emotional connection you have with your partner, which can be difficult to do during this hectic time.

 

• However, there will be times when sex is the last thing on your mind, and you may have to fight the urge to scream if anyone approaches you. Here's why it's all normal, as well as everything you need to know if you decide to try pregnancy sex.

 

1. First, why can your libido change during pregnancy?

• Are you pregnant and horny? That is a fairly common occurrence. "Some people believe pregnancy is a sexual condition," says Brian Levine, M.D., board-certified ob-gyn and Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine's New York practise director. Yes, you might feel super ready for sex while pregnant, and you can blame it on your fluctuating hormones.

 

• According to Jamil Abdur-Rahman, M.D., board-certified ob-gyn and chairman of obstetrics and gynaecology at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois, your body increases its levels of oestrogen, progesterone, and a hormone called human placental lactogen (hPL) during pregnancy, but testosterone is the MVP in this game. "Your testosterone levels rise during pregnancy, so some women's libidos skyrocket," he says.

 

• According to Dr. Abdur-Rahman, "there is a tremendous increase in blood supply to the uterus, cervix, and vaginal area" during pregnancy. As a result, your nether regions will feel more sensitive than usual. Furthermore, because of the increased blood supply, you may find it easier to get naturally lubricated as the action slows.

 

• Furthermore, if you're in a monogamous relationship, you won't have to worry about barrier methods like condoms, which can add an exciting sense of freedom and intimacy to your sex life. And revelling in the way your body changes during pregnancy can make you feel physically tuned in and in awe of what you're capable of—both of which are great ways to get in the mood.

 

• Having said that, pregnancy isn't all horniness and rainbows. Doing what got you into this situation in the first place may not sound appealing when you're not feeling well. Perhaps you're in your first trimester and experiencing morning sickness. 

 

• Perhaps you're in your third trimester and have a belly that has rendered you immobile. Maybe you just don't feel sexy at times, which is a common complaint Dr. Abdur-Rahman hears from his patients. Because all of this is normal, your desire for sex may wax and wane.

 

2. Are there general risks or side effects to be aware of when having sex while pregnant?

• If you're not in a monogamous relationship and have a normal pregnancy, you can have sex as long as you use protection, such as a condom or a dental dam, because increased blood supply to your uterus and cervix may make it easier for a sexually transmitted infection to enter your bloodstream, according to Dr. Abdur-Rahman. According to the US Office on Women's Health, using protection not only keeps you safe, but it also protects your baby because some STIs can be passed from mother to child.

 

• Then there's one major thing to avoid, according to Dr.Abdur-Rahman: make sure your partner never blows air directly into your vagina, which could happen if you're having oral sex. Forcing air into a pregnant woman's vagina can result in an air embolism1, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when an air bubble enters a blood vessel. Although the chances of this happening are extremely low, it is better to be safe than sorry.

 

3. When should you stop having sex once you’re pregnant?

• As long as your pregnancy is normal, you should be able to continue having sex (though it's always a good idea to check in with your ob-gyn first). Dr. Abdur-Rahman actively informs his patients that pregnancy sex is generally safe, owing to all of the late-night calls he's received from confused and worried expectant mothers.

 

• "If you have a normal pregnancy and are considered low risk, there's no reason you can't have sex as long as you're comfortable," says Salena Zanotti, M.D., a Cleveland Clinic board-certified ob-gyn.

 

• However, there are times when you should consult with your doctor to determine whether it is safe for you to have sex while pregnant. The Cleveland Clinic lists the following as examples:

 

• You’ve had a prior premature labor: During an orgasm, your brain produces oxytocin, which can cause contractions. If you've previously had a preterm birth, your doctor may advise you to avoid sex during certain stages of pregnancy.

 

• You have placenta previa: According to the Mayo Clinic, you have placenta previa when your baby's placenta covers part or all of your cervix. Penetrative sex may damage the baby's placenta and cause excessive bleeding in this case, as the condition already increases the risk of preterm birth or severe bleeding during labour. This leads us to our next point....

 

• You have a lot of vaginal bleeding: Many women bleed during pregnancy, and it's not always dangerous. According to Dr. Levine, spotting can occur after sex during pregnancy because the cervix is engorged with blood vessels. You don't have to panic if you see blood, but any spotting should be reported to your doctor. And, if you're bleeding profusely, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to be on the safe side.

 

• You experience leaking from your vagina: This could indicate that the wall of the amniotic sac surrounding your baby has ruptured. If this occurs, you may contract a bacterial infection as a result of having sex during this time. If you have any leaks, check with your doctor to make sure it's nothing serious.

 

• You have a sexually transmitted infection: If you get a STI while pregnant, consult with your OB/GYN about the best way to treat it. Because a STI can harm your baby, you should avoid having unprotected sex until you've been treated.

 

• You feel a lot of pain: Prostaglandins, chemicals found in sperm, can cause normal uterine cramping for 20 to 30 minutes after having sex while pregnant, according to Dr.Abdur- Rahman. To be safe, he advises his patients to make an appointment if the cramps are persistent or extremely painful.

 

4. Are there certain pregnancy sex positions that feel best?

• Both penetrative and oral sex are generally safe during pregnancy (as long as you ask your ob-gyn about whether or not you should consider barrier methods first, as we mentioned). Sex cannot upset or "scar" the baby during a normal pregnancy. You also won't be "poking" it because your cervix prevents objects like your partner's penis or sex toy from coming into contact with your uterus.

 

• You also don't have to be concerned about the baby being aware that you're having sex. "The baby will be gleefully floating around in the amniotic fluid and will have no idea what's going on," Dr. Millheiser says. Many of her patients are concerned about miscarriage during the first trimester, and they are wary of anything that might "endanger" the pregnancy, but Dr. Millheiser assures them that sex will not harm their baby's health.

 

• Of course, the best sex positions during pregnancy are those that feel the most comfortable for you, but as your belly grows, you may need to get a little creative. "Your uterus is at your belly button around 20 weeks, and it keeps going up from there," Dr. Abdur-Rahman says. As your pregnancy progresses, you may notice that your missionary position becomes less and less comfortable. 

 

• According to Dr. Abdur-Rahman, you could try other sex positions that don't put as much weight on your belly (such as doggy style or woman on top). It's all about experimenting to find out what makes you happy.

 

• Another thing to remember as your pregnancy progresses is that you should avoid lying on your back, including during sex. "The uterus grows so large that it presses against the inferior vena cava vein in the abdomen, which sends blood from the lower body to the heart," Dr. Abdur-Rahman explains. Pressure on the inferior vena cava can obstruct blood flow and cause dizziness and low blood pressure.

 

• If you're going to lie on your back, make sure you're leaning more toward your left side than your right (this is just a suggestion, not medical advice). "The inferior vena cava is on your right, and the aorta [your body's largest artery] is on your left," Dr. Abdur-Rahman explains. 

 

• "Veins have thinner walls than arteries, so they're more easily compressed," he says, implying that your aorta can keep blood flowing better than your inferior vena cava. However, if in doubt, consult with your doctor (or any other pregnancy sex position questions you may have). A good ob-gyn will gladly assist you in figuring it all out.

 

5. Can having an orgasm induce labor?

• Certain things, such as nipple stimulation or orgasm, can cause cramps or contractions, which can be startling if you're not expecting it. However, if "your body isn't ready" to have the baby yet, those contractions are unlikely to result in preterm labour, according to Dr. Zanotti. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there isn't any concrete evidence that this method actually gets the baby moving, despite the fact that many people swear by it anecdotally.

 

6. What happens to the sperm when a person is already pregnant and having sex?

• Dr. Zanotti claims that if your partner ejaculates inside of you during pregnancy sex, the sperm will not reach the baby or harm it in any way. "It can't get through the amniotic sac," she explains.

 

• She explains that the sperm will most likely come out of your vagina with the semen when you stand up or urinate. Some sperm could theoretically enter your fallopian tube. However, pregnancy raises your levels of the hormone progesterone, which immobilises and kills sperm, preventing them from entering your cervix.

 

• In extremely rare cases—so rare, in fact, that there isn't enough data to show how frequently this occurs—the possibility of a second conception, known as superfetation, exists. 2 Although experts are unsure why this occurs, some women may still ovulate very early in their pregnancy (in the first few weeks), allowing another egg to be released and fertilised by the sperm. But, once again, this is extremely unlikely.

 
7. How soon can you have sex after giving birth?

• In general, your doctor should keep you updated on when it is safe to have sex after giving birth. "Everything is usually healed by five or six weeks postpartum, and we usually clear people at that point," Dr. Zanotti says.

 

• However, this timeline is highly dependent on a number of factors, including whether you delivered vaginally or via C-section and whether you suffered any injuries, such as vaginal tears, which may necessitate a longer wait as your body heals.

 

• Even if your ob-gyn gives you the all-clear to have sex, you may simply not feel like it, and that is entirely your choice. Being a parent can be a huge adjustment from your previous lifestyle, so you'll most likely be stressed and exhausted at first. Postpartum depression, which affects up to one in every seven women who give birth, can also temporarily impair your sexual drive.

 

• Changes in your body may also make sex less enjoyable, if not painful, especially if you're nursing your child. "Breastfeeding lowers your natural oestrogen and testosterone levels, which often leads to vaginal dryness," says Dr. Millheiser. This, in turn, can cause discomfort during sex.

 

• So, if you really want to get intimate with your partner, you might just need to ease back in with plenty of foreplay and lubricant to ensure you have the best experience possible. "If it's still painful, talk to your clinician, get checked out, and make sure it's not related to the healing process," Dr.Milheiser advises.

 

• After all, having a baby is both exciting and exhausting, so it's critical that you take as much time as you need to recover physically and emotionally before returning to bed.