Sex During Pregnancy

The question of sex during pregnancy can be an awkward one if you aren’t comfortable talking about your sex life with your doctor or midwife. Fortunately there are many online sources with plenty of information about any questions you have pertaining to sex during a pregnancy. This article lists some of the basic facts around sex during pregnancy, and will hopefully answer some of those burning questions.

Can I have sex if I am pregnant?

In short, yes. It is perfectly safe to engage in sexual intercourse during a pregnancy. There is no evidence whatsoever for any negative effects on the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child caused by sex, which will undoubtedly come as a massive relief!

Can my partner’s penis/my penis make contact with the baby or womb?

This is actually a question frequently asked by both men and women, and can weigh heavily when it comes to deciding whether or not to have sex during a pregnancy. The answer is no, the penis can’t penetrate any further than the vaginal tract, meaning that it is nowhere near the baby or womb at any point during sexual intercourse. The concern is an understandable one as it is a concept that, unsurprisingly, many men and women would be uncomfortable with. However as this article shows, the concern is an unfounded one.

Is it normal for my sex drive to change during pregnancy?

A pregnancy involves many physical changes which are enacted by drastic hormonal changes which can also cause behavioural changes and mood swings. Hormones like oestrogen can increase by as much as 100 fold, so you shouldn’t be surprised if you find that your sex drive changes. Different people respond differently to these changes in hormone level, so your feelings about sex are going to be unique to you.

Male partners should respect the fact that female sexual urges will be different during pregnancy. At a time like this communicating about sex and how both of you feel is the best way to avoid any misunderstanding, and to ensure that both of your feelings on sex during the pregnancy are respected.

Considerations

There are a number of facts about sex during pregnancy which you should bear in mind. Even though intercourse is safe, it can cause what are called Braxton Hicks Contractions during the later stages of a pregnancy. These contractions feel like a hardening of the muscles of the womb, and are perfectly safe and normal. They will usually subside with some deep breathing and a short rest.

Your antenatal care team might advise against having sex if you have experienced any particularly heavy bleeding during your pregnancy. In this instance it is better to err on the side of caution as there is a risk of infection present should you have sex.

As a female partner’s baby bump gets bigger, sex can become logistically trickier and many couples find that they need to experiment with different positions. The baby belly isn’t the only consideration here as many women find their breasts become particularly sensitive during certain parts of their pregnancy, and as such favour positions which don’t involve irritating or agitating the breasts.

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