Sex During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be an overwhelming, exciting time. The days of ovulation predictor kits and pregnancy tests are over. Now what? While you’re expecting, you may have concerns regarding your sex life and you and your partner’s ability to maintain a satisfying sexual experience for you both. First of all, know that sexual intercourse during pregnancy is completely safe and probably beneficial, except in certain cases. Here, we will explore some of the myths regarding sex in pregnancy.
There are four stages to a woman’s sexual response, and this does not change during pregnancy:
Desire—The thoughts and feelings that you want to have sex.
Arousal—Physical changes occur. Your vagina and vulva moisten and the muscles of the opening of the vagina relax. The clitoris engorges and enlarges. The uterus lifts up, and the vagina gets deeper and wider.
Orgasm—The peak of the sexual response. The muscles of the vagina and uterus contract and create a very strong feeling of pleasure. The clitoris can also experience orgasm, too.
Resolution—The vagina, clitoris, and uterus go back to their normal state.
During your first trimester, you will probably not notice any difference in you and your partner’s sex life. However, as pregnancy progresses (and your belly grows), you may notice some changes. There are major hormonal fluctuations that naturally occur in your pregnancy. Some women experience increased libido, while others may have a loss of sexual desire. If you do find yourself with a loss of desire, be assured that this will likely change throughout the course of your pregnancy, and these fluctuations in desire and your sexual response are normal.
In the second and third trimester, your growing belly may be a cause of concern to you. Don’t worry. However, you may want to try various position changes for the benefit of you and your partner. Due to the fact that your baby can block your blood flow to your brain when flat on your back, you may get dizzy in the traditional missionary position. The woman-on-top position can be very useful in the second trimester. You may find the vaginal rear-entry position much more comfortable as well, especially in the third trimester when your belly may be in the way. Also, you may experience mild contractions after experiencing orgasm. These contractions are usually normal and will subside after several minutes and are not associated with preterm labor. There is some evidence in the academic literature that orgasms near the time of your due date may help to induce labor, but this has not been proven conclusively. But there is no evidence that there is any time during a normal pregnancy that you should stop having sex (unless you want to).
Of course, there may be some situations where you should reconsider sexual activity. If you have had to stay in the hospital for preterm contractions or preterm labor, your doctor may prescribe what is called “pelvic rest.” This means nothing goes in the vagina, and often means avoiding clitoral or nipple stimulation, because the resulting orgasm may facilitate uterine contractions. Pelvic rest will probably also be prescribed if you experience PPROM. PPROM, or Preterm Premature Rupture Of Membranes, means your waters have broken early, and sexual activity can mean an increase in the risk of infection, both for you and your baby. Fortunately, most pregnancies are normal and you will not likely experience either of these conditions.
Now what about after you deliver? Many women are afraid of the first time they resume intercourse with their partners and are concerned with the timing. This is when you should let your body decide. Generally, your cervix (which opened to allow the baby to come out) has completely closed two weeks after delivery, so any time after that, the risk of infection in the uterus markedly diminishes and sex should be safe. If you have had an episiotomy (an opening made to facilitate delivery), you may want to wait longer. Many physicians advocate not resuming intercourse until six weeks afterwards, but there is no scientific data to support this timeframe.
Pregnancy is a great time of transition, especially with your first child. However, you should not deny yourself the pleasure and intimacy of sex for fear that you may harm your unborn child. You may just have to make a few adjustments to you and your partners’ sexual style to continue to experience what you both enjoy. The joy of sex should last a lifetime, even (and especially) when you’re pregnant.
