Sex During Pregnancy

In general, sex during pregnancy is safe for you and your baby. However, some women with high-risk pregnancies may be advised to avoid sexual intercourse during pregnancy.

Many adults have questions about what is normal and safe sex during pregnancy.  Often expectant parents worry that sex can be harmful during pregnancy. They fear that intercourse or a strong orgasm could hurt the baby, cause miscarriage, or cause discomfort or pain for the pregnant woman.

While the above concerns are common, in most situations the worries are not realistic.  Unless your health care provider advises you otherwise, sex during pregnancy and orgasm during sex are safe for you and your baby. As long as your pregnancy is proceeding normally, you can have sex as often as you choose. Sex during pregnancy will not harm the baby.  If your pregnancy is considered to be high risk, you need to discuss this with your health care provider and in the area of sex you may need to be more cautious. 

Many women find that their interest in sex and the positions for sexual intercourse vary during certain stages in their pregnancy.  Some women find that fatigue, raging hormones, and self-consciousness about  body changes result in a decreased interest in sex while other women find that pregnancy actually increase their sex drive.  What is most important is not how often you and your partner have sex but that you and your partner maintain open and honest channels of communication about your sexual relationship.

Typical positions for sexual intercourse used before pregnancy and in early pregnancy can be uncomfortable or even unsafe at later stages of the baby’s development.  Many health care providers advise that during intercourse you should avoid lying flat on your back after the first trimester.

As relates to the issue of sex and health, your exposure to sexually transmitted diseases during pregnancy increases the risk of infections that can affect your pregnancy and your baby's health. If you have a new sexual partner during pregnancy, you should make sure the man uses a condom.  Obviously, the condom is not needed to avoid pregnancy but it is needed to avoid sexually transmitted disease.