Sex In Pregnancy

Common Questions About Sex In Pregnancy

Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

Is it normal to have an increased or decreased interest in sex?

I worry about hurting the baby during sex. Is that a risk?

What about orgasms? Sometimes after sex I feel crampy or see a drop or two of blood.

Is oral sex OK in pregnancy?

Are infections spread to the baby by sex in pregnancy?

Questions about sex during pregnancy are common. Many couples want to continue an active sex life but worry that having sex will harm the pregnancy. Although such fears are usually unfounded, the concern is both normal and understandable. Below are some answers to commonly asked questions regarding sex in pregnancy.

Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

Yes. There is no evidence that having sex whether intercourse or oral sex is dangerous. There are only a few conditions in which abstaining from sex is recommended. These include preterm labor and placenta previa (a placenta that covers the inside opening of the cervix). Such complications are unusual, and when they are diagnosed, your practitioner will tell you if precautions regarding sex apply to you.

Is it normal to have an increased or decreased interest in sex?

Each couple's reaction to the news of the pregnancy is different. Some become more interested in sex, others less. The physical changes associated with a growing pregnancy (and mother's abdomen) may require experimentation with new positions and activities. Some are interested in such experimentation while others are happier just to be hugged, caressed or held. Communication is the key to a sex life that is satisfying for both partners.

I worry about hurting the baby during sex. Is that a risk?

No. The growing baby is well protected by the uterus and amniotic fluid. The baby floats inside the uterus, untroubled by pressure against the abdomen even during vigorous sexual activity. During intercourse the woman can safely position herself beneath, next to or on top of her partner without danger to the baby.

What about orgasms? Sometimes after sex I feel crampy or see a drop or two of blood.

Orgasms are not dangerous and will not cause preterm labor or delivery. Sometimes after having sex, however, women may feel an achiness or cramps. This probably results from stimulation of the cervix. Similarly, because the cervix is engorged and well supplied with blood in pregnancy, a spot or two of blood may be found after sex. Both the crampiness and blood should disappear after the woman rests an hour or two in bed. If, instead of improving, the symptoms get worse, call your practitioner. Such worsening, however, would be most unusual.

Some couples find that the cramps that can come with sex in pregnancy worry them so much that sex is no longer enjoyable for one or both partners. Such couples may wish to experiment with other forms of sexual activity or consider using a condom. Some of the chemicals in semen may stimulate the cervix, so catching the semen with a condom may prevent cramping.

Is oral sex OK in pregnancy?

Yes. If pleasurable, there is, in general, no reason to avoid oral sex. As a matter of caution, it may make sense to avoid oral sex (oral-genital contact) if your partner has cold sores because there is a small risk of spreading the virus that causes such sores.

Are infections spread to the baby by sex in pregnancy?

Whether pregnant are not, couples in which one partner has an infection such as gonorrhea, chlamydia or herpes should discuss treatment and the risks of transmission with their health care provider. It is important that such infections be identified and, if possible, treated anytime but especially in pregnancy. Your provider may offer special advice or precautions if one partner has evidence of herpes infection while the other shows no signs of the virus. Finally, HIV testing is recommended for all women in pregnancy, both to identify those women who would benefit from special care and to begin treatments that will reduce the risk of the baby's being infected.