Is it OK to have Sex while Pregnant? | Benefits of Pregnancy Sex

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Is your pregnancy affecting your sex drive? Do you find yourself wanting more sex or less? Either way, we have put together this article to give you all the information you need to know about having sex while pregnant.

Not only is sex during your pregnancy safe, but it is also encouraged. And the best advice is to make the experience comfortable and fun.

INTRODUCTION

After all that trying, you are finally pregnant. You are excited about your baby’s health and growth and maybe have already grilled your OB about all things related to the baby. Did you stop to ask about sex? You’ll be happy to know that you can safely enjoy sex while pregnant as long as your pregnancy is uncomplicated and you are in the mood.

Sex can even be more fun while pregnant because the pressure is already off. For those who were trying for a long time to have sex, they now can stop having routines and rules for what to do before and after sex. When you are already pregnant you don’t have to worry about the time of month, withdrawal, birth control, etc. This helps to reduce the parts related to sex that often make it seem like a chore. Now it can all be just fun and games in bed.

With all that said, here are some answers to some of the most common questions couples and moms to behave about having sex while pregnant.

Is it OK to Have Sex When Pregnant?

Yes. It is ok to have sex during your pregnancy as long as your OB does not say otherwise. You don’t have to worry about hurting the baby as they are inside your uterus. The uterus is made up of strong muscles and inside the uterus, the amniotic fluid provides even further protection for the baby.

Can Sex During my Pregnancy cause a Miscarriage?

You may worry that all the banging around down there may dislodge something and cause a miscarriage. But don’t worry, the act of sex while pregnant will not cause a miscarriage. Most often a miscarriage is due to the fetus not developing normally.

What are the Best Sexual Positions During Pregnancy?

Any position that you are comfortable in is a good position to have sex when you are pregnant. These positions may change throughout the pregnancy as you get heavier and your belly gets bigger. So this may require some amount of experimentation on your path to figuring out which positions work best for you and your partner.

Are Condoms Necessary?

If you acquire a sexually transmitted infection while you are in a pregnant state, this can cause a bunch of serious health problems. If you are not in a mutually monogamous relationship you should use a condom. If you are having sex with a new partner while pregnant you should use a condom.

If you or your partner has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, you should avoid all forms of sex; vaginal, oral and anal.

When to Avoid Sex

If you need to avoid sex, your OB will tell you and will also tell you why it is important to do so. Indeed, female orgasms, particular hormones in the semen and breast stimulation can all cause the uterus to contract.

Your doctor may restrict sex for a number of reasons. These can include, the presence of vaginal bleeding that cannot be explained, the leaking of amniotic fluid, incompetence of the cervix, placenta Previa or if you have had a previous premature birth.

Anything that leads to contractions or that will boost your risk for early labor is a reason to restrict sex. With placenta Previa, the opening of the cervix is covered by the placenta. There is also placental abruption where the placenta separates from the uterus.

In the event, your cervix dilates prematurely you will also be asked not to have sex. When your cervix dilates prematurely you are at higher risk of infection pushed into the uterus. So if your doctor says no sex, ask what that means. Does this mean no penetration or no orgasms?

What is Safe Pregnancy Sex?

Sometimes pregnancy sex will require a little experimentation. It is safe to use vibrators, dildos, and lube as long as you are not pushing anything too hard or deep into the vagina. Keep all the toys clean to prevent the risk of infection.

Oral sex is fine as long as you are NOT on pelvic rest. As you get closer to birth you will have thinning cervical mucus so things can get very messy for your partner. If your partner has ever had a cold sore, you want to completely forego oral sex in the 3rd trimester.

What Positions are Best?

From pregnant women and doctors advise the most popular positions are side by side, the woman on top and doggie style are the most comfortable and the most popular. Different positions offer different benefits so it is up to what you want from the position and what you want from sex.

Some positions will provide you a way to support your belly, others provide you a way to have sex without your belly getting into the way. Some positions will help you to control the depth of penetration so you can continue to have enjoyable sex while pregnant.

When you get to your third trimester you will need to completely skip the missionary position. Your belly will get in the way and your doctor won’t want you on your back. Being on your back while pregnant can increase your blood pressure and decrease blood flow to the heart since your uterus will press on your aorta.

What If I Have Cramps After Sex?

If you have experienced cramping after sex, you don’t have to freak out. It is not unusual to have mild cramps an hour or two after sex when pregnant. These cramps are due to the prostaglandins from semen or your orgasm which may cause some uterine contractions.

If you experience cramping, drink three glasses of water and put your feet up. Pay attention to the intensity of the cramping and if it gets worse, call your OB.

The same goes for spotting as well. The increased blood flow caused by sex can produce some amount of bleeding from the surface of the cervix. So if your partner’s penis touches the cervix you may have a bit of bleeding.

If you have a heavy flow of blood you need immediate care. Call your doc and get on your way to the hospital. Also, call if you have fluid discharge.

What If I Don't Want To Have Sex?

If you are not in the mood for sex, that is ok. Your libido will change when you get pregnant and for some, there is a decline. Share your needs with your partner in a loving way so that if sex is unappealing you can still have intimate physical contact by way of massage, kissing or cuddling.

Is Sperm Good For The Baby During Pregnancy?

Research shows that between 50 and 80% of women worry about sperm hurting their babies when they are pregnant. Men also worry about this. Remember that the baby is not in your vagina. It is in its little vault – the impenetrable walls of the uterus, behind the cervix.

What Happens To The Sperm When A Woman Is Already Pregnant?

A lot of men and women wonder what happens to sperm when they are pregnant. The sperm ejaculate will stay in the female until they die without doing any harm to the mother or baby.

In rare cases, a woman who is experiencing superfetation – which is when another egg is released even though she is already pregnant – can get another egg fertilized by sperm. This fertilized egg will then attach to the wall of the uterus and you will end up with two babies.

There are some advantages to sperm during pregnancy. Studies show that sperm released into the vagina help to lower blood pressure, improve sleep and increase intimacy with your partner. This helps to minimize the risk of conditions such as preeclampsia, morning sickness, and labor induction.

Preeclampsia is a high-risk pregnancy condition where the mother has high blood pressure and high urine protein content. This condition can cause preterm delivery, low birth weight, placental abruption, kidney failure, and even fetal or maternal death.

A 2017 study in Denmark showed that women who had unprotected sex with their partner’s sperm being ejaculated inside them had a lower risk of developing preeclampsia. Sperms contain HLA-G which is a protein that improves the immune system of the mom. As such more exposure to this protein helps to create a sort of immunity against preeclampsia.

Gordon Gallup a psychologist at SUNY notes that an increased exposure to sperm can help women to decrease their morning sickness symptoms. The theory is that morning sickens comes on as a result of the body being aware of this foreign (fetus) body inside it. As such he indicates that exposing yourself to more of the paternal DNA via sperm through oral or vaginal sex can help the mom’s body to develop a tolerance.

Sperm may also play a role in labor induction due to its content of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are what are used to induce labor such as misoprostol which is a synthetic form. As such when it comes down to the wire, women are often advised to have sex to induce labor if they are comfortable enough to get through it.

When Can You Have Sex After Giving Birth?

If all goes well with your delivery, your doctor will normally give you the sex go at around 6 weeks after birth. This gives you time for your uterus to shrink to its normal size and for any episiotomies or C-sections to heal.

Research shows that couples resume intercourse between seven weeks and six months after the birth of a baby. Studies show that the body may often be ready but libido may need coaxing. With the reduction of estrogen due to breastfeeding, you will find your vagina dry which can make sex uncomfortable further exasperating the problem.

You will be exhausted from taking care of the needs of a newborn and the best advice is not to rush each other into sex. Swedish research showed that by month 6 most couples had gone back to having high energy sex at least twice per month.

If you have passed the 6-month mark and your libido has not returned to its usual glory then you should talk to your doctor. This can be a sign of post-partum depression but don’t worry. Talk to your doctor who can give you information on how to proceed to get your sex life back to normal.

CONCLUSION

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to having sex while pregnant. You may have your concerns and your partner may have concerns as well. One of the primary concerns of both males and females, when it comes down to pregnancy sex, is if the baby will be safe during the act and the answer is, for the most part, a resounding yes.

Sex is beneficial for you and your partner and you may be in more ways than you can imagine. For example, sperm can help to lower your risk of preeclampsia. Which in turn reduces the risks of a number of pregnancy complications.

Sex when you are pregnant can be enjoyable unless your doctor says a definite “no” sex is safe for you and your baby. You will have to experiment to find positions that work best for you in your current state and that can make it all the more exciting.

Stay safe when having sex with new partners and ensure that you pay attention to your doctor’s instructions. When these instructions are not quite clear, ask questions to determine the specifics. Armed with all the knowledge you can be more comfortable about sex and so will enjoy it more.