Sex during pregnancy

Sex during pregnancy

Women are often worried about how safe it is to have sex during pregnancy, as they fear harming their unborn babies.

The good news is, unless you’ve been advised to abstain for medical reasons by your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife, sex during pregnancy is perfectly healthy and safe, and although your libido might suffer from the tiredness and nausea of early pregnancy, once you reach the second trimester (weeks 13-28) your energy levels will re-establish themselves and you should start to feel better. Combine this with increased blood circulation to your pelvic area and more vaginal lubrication due to pregnancy hormones, and you could be enjoying some great sex!

There still might be occasions when both of you just don’t feel like it though, and this doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. After all, it’s not just the physical aspects of your pregnancy that might affect your lovemaking – there are also the emotional issues. The looming responsibility of parenthood can diminish sexual desire for either partner, as can other practical or physical worries. Your partner may fear that sex might harm your baby (don’t worry – it won’t); while you might not feel very attractive as your bump grows. Towards the end of your pregnancy, it might be difficult to find comfortable lovemaking positions.

As with everything, the key is to keep the lines of communication open. If things are bothering you, talk to each other about them – you may be able to set each other’s minds at rest.

See our feature on positions for sex in pregnancy and pregnancy sex: the good the bad and the ugly for a more detailed look at sex during pregnancy. If you’re at all concerned about any physical aspect of lovemaking during pregnancy, discuss your worries with your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 02/07/2007

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