Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTrimestersRisksCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Trimesters
Risks
Coping
Sexual intimacy can be part of a healthy pregnancy. Depending on how far along the pregnancy is, some adjustments may need to be made to keep things fun and comfortable.
Avoiding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is the chief concern when it comes to risks for most pregnancies. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, discuss pregnancy sex risks with your healthcare provider.
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Trimesters and Pregnancy Sex
There is very little evidence suggesting that there are risks associated with having sex during pregnancy.Despite this, several risk factors may cause healthcare providers to encourage pregnant individuals to abstain from intercourse during the first trimester.These include vaginal bleeding and a history of early pregnancy loss.
Although research does not suggest that vaginal intercourse is associated with either of these outcomes, many healthcare providers take a cautious approach to pregnant sex for couples who have experienced one or more losses.
Couples that are non-monogamous or where one has asexually transmitted diseaseshould be aware that it is important to appropriately manage STI risk during pregnancy. Several sexually transmitted infections have the potential to affect pregnancy outcomes.
If there is any risk of STI transmission during pregnancy, it is advisable to usebarriers. Before taking a new sexual partner during pregnancy,STI screeningis also a good idea.
Over the course of a pregnancy, certain types of sex can become less comfortable or enjoyable. Couples who wish to continue with sexual intimacy can try different sexual positions to figure out what works best for them as the pregnancy continues to develop.
Positions where the pregnant person is seated or lying on their side may be more comfortable than where they are lying on their back, particularly later during pregnancy.
Risks of Pregnancy Sex
There is remarkably little data about the risks of different types of sexual intimacy during pregnancy. In general, there is no reason to anticipate that sex during a low-risk pregnancy will cause problems, particularly in monogamous couples where both partners have been tested for STIs.
Healthcare providers tend to be more concerned about high-risk pregnancies, but again there is very little data. People who are concerned about pregnant sex should discuss their individual risk/benefit calculations with their providers.
Theoretical risks that people are concerned may be associated with pregnant sex include:
Pregnant people are sometimes advised to avoid air being blown into the vagina during oral sex, which could potentially lead to a venous air embolism. Air can sometimes also be forced into the vagina during penile or other penetration.
Everything You Need to Know About Pregnancy Cravings
Coping With Pregnancy Sex
Sexual desire and interest can change substantially over the course of a pregnancy. For some people, pregnancy may be a time when they feel highly sexual. They may seek out more sexual intimacy with their partners.
Other people may feel less sexual during pregnancy. This can be because of changes in how they feel about their body and their overall sense of well-being. It can also be because of increased sensitivity to certain smells, tastes, and sensations that may occur during sex.
Couples for whom sexual intimacy is important should consider exploring different types of sexual intimacy during pregnancy if their usual menu of sexual choices isn’t working as well for them. This can include activities such asmutual masturbationor one partner holding the other while they masturbate.
Couples who want to continue to have intercourse during pregnancy may also need to explore different positions as the pregnant person’s body changes over the course of gestation. It is not uncommon for the frequency of intercourse to decrease, even in couples who continue to be sexually active throughout pregnancy.
Perineal Massage and Vaginal Birth
Couples experiencing their first pregnancy may hear about the benefits of perineal massage. Perineal massage has been shown to reduce the risk of both an episiotomy and requiring stitches after a tear during delivery.
Although perineal massage doesn’t have to be sexual, it certainly can be. In many ways, perineal massage is like carefulfingeringand other types of digital sex. Just make certain that any hands involved are clean, you’re using appropriate lubricant, and you’re not going any faster than is comfortable for the pregnant person.
Research on perineal massage is focused on using the practice once or twice a week, starting at 35 weeks.While clear benefits have been shown for people who have not previously undergone a vaginal delivery, that’s less true for those who have.
Still, if it’s something couples enjoy during a first pregnancy, there’s no reason they shouldn’t continue to do perineal massage during later pregnancies.
A Word From Verywell
Can you have sex during pregnancy? Yes, if you want to. Although there isn’t all that much research about sexual activity during pregnancy, most of what’s out there says that pregnant sex doesn’t noticeably increase the risk to either parent or infant.
The exception is where sex during pregnancy can lead to a new infection withherpes,syphilis, or another STI that increases the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. In a mutually monogamous relationship, where neither partner has an outside exposure, pregnancy sex is generally considered low to no risk.
However, in the case of high-risk pregnancy, couples should consult their healthcare provider before engaging in pregnant sex.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MacPhedran SE.Sexual activity recommendations in high-risk pregnancies: what is the evidence?.Sex Med Rev. 2018;6(3):343-357. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.01.004Moscrop A.Can sex during pregnancy cause a miscarriage? A concise history of not knowing.Br J Gen Pract. 2012;62(597):e308-e310. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X636164Jones C, Chan C, Farine D.Sex in pregnancy.CMAJ. 2011;183(7):815-818. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091580Curry A, Williams T, Penny ML.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364.Jawed-Wessel S, Sevick E.The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on sexual behaviors: a systematic review.J Sex Res. 2017;54(4-5):411-423. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1274715Beckmann MM, Stock OM.Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD005123. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005123.pub3
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MacPhedran SE.Sexual activity recommendations in high-risk pregnancies: what is the evidence?.Sex Med Rev. 2018;6(3):343-357. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.01.004Moscrop A.Can sex during pregnancy cause a miscarriage? A concise history of not knowing.Br J Gen Pract. 2012;62(597):e308-e310. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X636164Jones C, Chan C, Farine D.Sex in pregnancy.CMAJ. 2011;183(7):815-818. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091580Curry A, Williams T, Penny ML.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364.Jawed-Wessel S, Sevick E.The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on sexual behaviors: a systematic review.J Sex Res. 2017;54(4-5):411-423. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1274715Beckmann MM, Stock OM.Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD005123. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005123.pub3
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MacPhedran SE.Sexual activity recommendations in high-risk pregnancies: what is the evidence?.Sex Med Rev. 2018;6(3):343-357. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.01.004Moscrop A.Can sex during pregnancy cause a miscarriage? A concise history of not knowing.Br J Gen Pract. 2012;62(597):e308-e310. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X636164Jones C, Chan C, Farine D.Sex in pregnancy.CMAJ. 2011;183(7):815-818. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091580Curry A, Williams T, Penny ML.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364.Jawed-Wessel S, Sevick E.The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on sexual behaviors: a systematic review.J Sex Res. 2017;54(4-5):411-423. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1274715Beckmann MM, Stock OM.Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD005123. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005123.pub3
MacPhedran SE.Sexual activity recommendations in high-risk pregnancies: what is the evidence?.Sex Med Rev. 2018;6(3):343-357. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.01.004
Moscrop A.Can sex during pregnancy cause a miscarriage? A concise history of not knowing.Br J Gen Pract. 2012;62(597):e308-e310. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X636164
Jones C, Chan C, Farine D.Sex in pregnancy.CMAJ. 2011;183(7):815-818. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091580
Curry A, Williams T, Penny ML.Pelvic inflammatory disease: diagnosis, management, and prevention.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(6):357-364.
Jawed-Wessel S, Sevick E.The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on sexual behaviors: a systematic review.J Sex Res. 2017;54(4-5):411-423. doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1274715
Beckmann MM, Stock OM.Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4):CD005123. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005123.pub3
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