Can You Have Sex While Pregnant

Sex In The Second Trimester

Womens sexual desire and habits vary in the second trimester too . During this stage, couples might find that they rekindle their sex life. Women may find that their libido increases because they’ve accepted their pregnant body , or it may decrease .

One study suggested that couples felt more secure and intimate in their love during pregnancy. They might isolate themselves to concentrate on their relationship. The same study also reported that one fifth of couples experience a ‘five-month crisis’. They suggested that this can happen as some women may turn inwards, which can make their partners feel isolated and that this can cause difficulties in their relationship .

Some couples dont feel comfortable with the idea of having sex during pregnancy and will decide not to. They might abstain from intercourse itself but still use other ways and means of feeling sexually satisfied in their relationship .

Sexual Positions During Pregnancy

âAs she grows, the traditional man-on-top position is more uncomfortable for pregnant women,â Foreman says. Other, more comfortable sexual positions during pregnancy may include intercourse from behind or side-to-side .

And âat some point, a pregnant woman should not be flat on her back because the growing uterus can compress major blood vessels,â Salasche says. This can cause pelvic pressure and pain. This phenomenon typically occurs during the third trimester. Lying flat on their back can also cause “supine hypotensive syndrome,” which results in a change in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead to dizziness and other symptoms or signs.

One sexual act to avoid during pregnancy is blowing during oral sex, Foreman adds. âIf oral sex is performed on the pregnant woman while blowing air into the , the woman can develop an air embolus, which can travel to the lung and have potentially fatal consequences.â

When Should You Avoid Sex During Pregnancy

Your midwife or doctor may advise you to avoid sex if:

• youve had any heavy bleeding during this pregnancy sex may increase the risk of more bleeding
• there are any problems with the entrance of your womb
• youre having twins and are in the later stages of pregnancy
• youve had previous early labours and are in the later stages of pregnancy
• your waters have broken sex may increase the risk of infection

If you are having sex with someone who may have a sexually transmitted infection , its important to use barrier contraception, such as a condom, to protect both you and your baby. If you think you might have an STI, you should get tested.

You should also avoid oral sex if you or your partner have a cold sore. This is because the same virus also causes genital herpes, which could put your baby at risk of a serious illness called neonatal herpes.

Theres no evidence of a link between sex during pregnancy and miscarriage. If you have had recurrent miscarriages in the past, depending on the reason for the miscarriage, your doctor may recommend that you don’t have sex during the first 3 months of pregnancy, or around the time your period would normally have been due. In most people, if your pregnancy is normal, having sex and orgasms won’t cause a miscarriage.

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Can You Have Sex While Pregnant Is It Safe

It is common for couples to wonder whether sex and pregnancy are safe together. Unless your health care provider advises you otherwise, sex during pregnancy is safe for both you and your baby. The baby is protected by the amniotic fluid in the womb, by your abdomen, and by the mucus plug which seals your cervix and helps guard against infections.

What Are The Best Sex Positions During Pregnancy

If youre comfortable, have a good time and be creativeespecially with positions as your body continues to change. And if youre worried about hurting the baby, dont be. Usually kids are pretty resilientand theres fluid to cushion the baby. Its like theyre swimming, Dr. Minkin says.

If youre not comfortable with sex, talk to your partner, and just say, Listen, Im just not very interested right now, Dr. Minkin says. Vaginal intercourse and sex in general arent the only forms of intimacy for couples. Kissing, touching and hugging also can provide closeness, and may be a lot more comfortable for you especially in the later months of pregnancy.

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When Is Sex During Pregnancy Not A Good Idea

In some circumstances, you may have to skip certain activities or positions, or stop having sex entirely for part or all of your pregnancy. Your ob-gyn or midwife will let you know whether you have or develop any complications that make sex a no-go.

Your healthcare provider may tell you not to have sex if you have:

• A dilated cervix before the third trimester
• Ruptured membranes
• An outbreak of genital herpes

Your ob or midwife may advise you to avoid sex in other situations as well like if there are signs you might be at risk for preterm delivery. If you’re uncertain, ask your provider.

Is Oral Sex During Pregnancy Safe

It’s also not safe for you to receive oral sex during pregnancy if:

• Your partner has an active outbreak of oral herpes or feels one coming on. And during the third trimester, if your partner has ever had oral herpes, you shouldn’t receive oral sex at all, whether or not your partner has symptoms.
• You don’t know if your partner has HIV or an STI. In this case, use a dental dam . There’s some evidence suggesting that a person may be able to transmit HIV, as well as STIs such as herpes, gonorrhea, and HPV, through microabrasions or tiny cuts in the mouth.

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First Why Can Your Libido Change During Pregnancy

Feeling very pregnant and horny? Thats actually pretty common. Some people feel pregnancy is a sexual condition, Brian Levine, M.D., board-certified ob-gyn and New York practice director for the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, tells SELF. Yes, that means you might feel super ready for sex while expecting, and you can thank your fluctuating hormones for part of that. During pregnancy your body ups its levels of estrogen, progesterone, and a hormone called human placental lactogen , but the MVP in this game is testosterone, according to Jamil Abdur-Rahman, M.D., board-certified ob-gyn and chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois. Your testosterone levels increase during pregnancy, so some women find their libidos go through the roof, he tells SELF.

Sex can also feel better during pregnancy since theres a tremendous increase in blood supply to the uterus, cervix, and vaginal area, Dr. Abdur-Rahman says. That helps your nether regions feel more sensitive than usual. Plus, thanks to that increased blood supply, you may find its easier to get naturally lubricated as the action goes down.

How You Define Sex

What “having sex” means to you will be important to clarify when you are talking to your doctor about pelvic rest, as some forms of sex that you practice might be OK while others you might need to avoid.

Common types of sex include:

• Genital rubbing
• Touching your own genitals, having a partner touch your genitals, or using a device like a vibrator to stimulate your genitals

Your health care provider might ask you to avoid , which can include nipple stimulation.

These are reasonable and responsible questions that will empower you to protect your health and the health of your baby. Asking direct questions will help you get clear answers.

Keep in mind that even if youve been advised to avoid sex during your pregnancy, there are still many ways for you to experience pleasure and express love with a partner.

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Why Do I Always Get Leg Cramps/charley Horses While Having Sex

Those intense leg cramps can occur anytime, pregnant or not. Sometimes during pregnancy these leg cramps tend to happen a lot more. Its not very clear why these leg cramps occur more during pregnancy, but there are a few theories:

• Carrying extra weight

• Restricted blood flow in the legs

• Dehydration/lack of vitamins/minerals

• Pregnancy hormones

Of course, these leg cramps tend to occur when laying down, which means sex is a prime time to experience these awful things.

While they may just be something you have to work through, there may be some things you can do to avoid them:

• Avoid laying flat during sex

• Flex your feet often

• Stretch your legs often

• Consider taking a calcium, magnesium, and potassium supplement as being deficient in these can cause charley horses and even lots of Braxton Hicks contractions

How Soon Can You Have Sex After Giving Birth

Its best to wait until after your postpartum checkup to have sex again. Use birth control when you feel ready to start having sex again. Talk to your provider about when its safe to start birth control and what kind is safe to use if you’re breastfeeding.

Even after your body has healed, these common changes may affect your sex life:

• Your sex drive may be lower than usual. This may be because of the changes in hormones after giving birth. This is normal, so dont worry! There are lots of reasons for feeling less interested in sex, like being really tired or stressed from taking care of your baby. Or you may worry that sex will be uncomfortable or painful. Try being close at time other than bedtime to help boost your sex drive. If youre not up for sex, try other ways of being close with your partner.
• You may feel fatigue taking care of your new baby. You and your partner may want to sleep after your baby has fallen asleep. You may also have less interest right away because you have less time, energy and focus for sex as a new parent.

It can be hard to take care of yourself when youre focused on caring for a new baby! To help you feel better, eat healthy foods, do something active every day and rest as much as you can.

Most couples go back to having an active sex life sometime during the first year of their babys life. If youre still worried, feel pain or discomfort when resuming sex or feeling pressure about having sex, tell your provider.

Last reviewed February 2020

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How Safe Is Pregnancy Sex

Unless your doctor or midwife has strict, specific reasons for you to not have intercourse, its absolutely safe for you, your partner, and your developing baby.

Right now, revel in the knowledge that pregnancy sex isnt just safe. Its probably good for you, too.

Women who have orgasms during pregnancy benefit from calming hormones and increased cardiovascular blood flow, and those benefits get passed down to baby, notes Aleece Fosnight, a physician assistant and sex counselor in urology, womens health, and sexual medicine.

What Changes Are Expected During Pregnancy

Sex during pregnancy can still happen but realize your usual practices may need to adjust to keep things more comfortable given all the changes your body has gone through. Here are some things to consider when thinking about sex during pregnancy:

• The common missionary position may become uncomfortable and warrant considering other positions such as side by side or with you on top.
• As your breasts increase in size, they may become more tender or sore. Encourage your partner to explore other parts of your body and to find other ways to caress you. With the changes in your breast, it is best to avoid direct nipple stimulation.
• There is increased blood flow to the pelvic area that can lead to engorgement of the genitals and heighten the sensation however, for some women, this can be more uncomfortable.
• Exhaustion, hormonal fluctuations, tender breasts and self-consciousness about weight gain can bring your sex drive to a halt. Sometimes you may need rest to regain energy give yourself a break.

Unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise, you and your partner should be able to enjoy sex during your pregnancy. Pay attention to your body and make adjustments so that you can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Want to Know More?

Compiled using information from the following sources:Planning Your Pregnancy and Birth Third Ed. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Ch. 5.Mayo Clinic Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy Harms, Roger W., M.D., et al, Introduction.

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Pregnancy Sex Can Reduce Stress

Hello, oxytocin! The hormone responsible for helping induce labor is also responsible for helping put you in a good mood. Aside from the good workout that can help your muscles relax and get you on your way to a good nights sleep, the stress-relieving qualities of having sex while pregnant center around oxytocin and its ability to relieve pain and generally make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

How Does Conception Occur

The ability to conceive is miraculous. It requires the meeting of a males sperm with a females egg. Once a womans ovary releases an egg, the egg lives for only between 12 and 24 hours. The male sperm can live for about three days.

The typical female cycle is 28 days. Day 1 is when she starts her period. A woman typically ovulates around day 14 .

Ovulation is when a womans ovary releases an egg for fertilization. If a sperm is available in the uterus, pregnancy can occur.

Ovulation can vary based on a womans cycle. Some women have a longer cycle of around 35 days between periods. Ovulation would then happen around day 21. Women with a shorter cycle of 21 days ovulate around day 7.

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Changes To Your Body That Can Affect Sex

Your libido or sex drive may change at different times during your pregnancy. This is normal. The pregnancy hormones may mean you have more desire for sex than usual. At other times, the hormones, combined with tiredness and other factors, may mean that you do not feel like having sex.

During the pregnancy you may experience sensations more intensely during sex. This could be due to hormones and also to changes in blood flow around your genitals. This can make sex more intense and pleasurable. For some women this increased sensation can be uncomfortable. Communication with your partner is key, especially if you are feeling uncomfortable.

Your breasts will become larger and heavier during pregnancy. They may become more sensitive and may feel tender at times. You may no longer enjoy having your breasts touched during sex.

Basal Body Temperature Method

Also called the temperature method, you take your temperature each morning as soon as you wake up . You use a basal body thermometer, which may go in your mouth or your rectum. A basal thermometer is more sensitive than a regular thermometer. It measures body temperature to a tenth of a degree.

A womans basal body temperature rises slightly during ovulation . If you track your temperatures leading up to ovulation, you should see a sustained rise in your basal body temperature after ovulation.

To help you plan, write your body temperature down each day on a tracking sheet. You should track your temperature for at least three months before using this method for family planning.

However, its important to note that the basal body temperature method is not good at predicting your ovulation when trying to conceive. Once you identify the rise in your temperature, youve already ovulated. However, this method is a good tool to monitor your pattern of ovulation.

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How Can Someone Get Pregnant On Their Period

Although women are most likely to get pregnant when they are ovulating, there is always a chance of getting pregnant when having penetrative sex, said , a practicing gynecologist and clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale University School of Medicine. She added that women on hormonal birth control are fine to have sex during their periods because theyre not ovulating.

Getting pregnant from period sex can happen in one of two scenarios: an irregular cycle or long-living sperm.

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Sex In The Third Trimester

While male interest in sex remains during the third trimester, sexual activity decreases . Overall, couples are less likely to use ‘on top’ positions during pregnancy and more likely to use side-by-side or rear entry positions.

In the third trimester, a lot of women are worried about orgasms making their uteruses contract. They can also worry about positional difficulties, feeling unattractive or the sexual satisfaction of their partner . Many women find sex more difficult during this time due to the discomfort of various sexual positions, pelvic congestion and their babys engagement in the pelvis .

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Can You Lose Weight During Pregnancy

There is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there when it comes to weight gain and weight loss during pregnancy. So, can you actually lose weight while pregnant

Yes, you can lose weight while pregnant, but it is not recommended. Losing weight while pregnant can lead to a number of health problems for both you and your baby.

Pregnancy is not a time to diet or try to lose weight. You should strive to gain the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy. Gaining the right amount of weight will help ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

If you are concerned about your weight, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you create a healthy plan for weight gain during pregnancy.