Is sex in pregnancy safe?

Many women crave sex during pregnancy while
others dread it. The good news – or bad news,
depending who is looking at it – is that sex during
pregnancy is extremely safe and desirous for most
men and women. Sex on a regular basis is safe as
long as the pregnancy is proceeding normally —
but you might not always want to. Emotions and
hormones often take a toll on one’s sex drive and
can cause fatigue, nausea and potential adverse
pregnancy outcomes. Miscarriages, preterm labour
and excessive bleeding from sex is rare but still
very important conditions to be aware of. Sex is
generally not the cause of miscarriage as it is
usually related to genetics and other
chromosomal abnormalities — not due to anything
you do or don’t do. However, poor lifestyle
management such as an inadequate diet and lack of
exercise can result in excessive weight gain,
gestational diabetes, hormonal imbalances and
additional labour complications. These can
increase the risk a large baby and the need of
Caesarean delivery — also known as a C-section.
Sexual activity – unless it’s excessively rough –
won’t affect the baby. The baby is protected by
the strong muscles of the uterus and suspended in
a sac of fluid. The man-on-top position does become
progressively more uncomfortable and should be
avoided during the third trimester. At this time,
the growing uterus can compress major abdominal
blood vessels and cause an array of symptoms
associated with diminished blood flow. A condition
called supine hypotensive syndrome can develop if
the blood vessels are compressed. This can change
blood pressure, heart rate, and negatively affect
the foetus. Experts agree that experimenting
with positions is what works best. This approach
allows you to keep safety in mind while still
focusing on mutual pleasure and comfort. Popular
positions include lying next to your partner
sideways or have the female on top. Both men and
women need to practice safe sex regardless of
pregnancy status. Exposure to sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) during pregnancy
can terminate the pregnancy or severely affect
the health of the mother and unborn child.
Conditions such as hepatitis B, HIV, herpes,
gonorrhoea, chlamydia and genital warts are
easily transmittable. Anal sex is not recommended
during pregnancy. Anal sex is often painful and
uncomfortable with pregnancy-related
haemorrhoids. Anal sex can cause trauma and
bleeding that increases the risk of spreading
infections between partners and foetus. If you
choose to receive oral sex during pregnancy, make
sure your partner does not blow air into your
vagina. This act can cause a deadly blood clot
that travels to the lungs. Oral sex is generally
considered safe during pregnancy but it also has
risks of STI transmission. Use a latex condom each
and every time you have sex. Limit the number of
sexual partners if you’re single, unmarried or
not committed. The more partners you have, the
more likely you are to catch a STI. To reduce your
risk, practice monogamy. This means having sex
with only one person. Regardless of if you’re
pregnant or not, don’t use alcohol, tobacco or
drugs before or after sex. These substances can
damage the foetus and being drunk or high often
prevents safe sex practices. Have fun, listen to
your body and be responsible when it comes to sex
during pregnancy. Sex during pregnancy is often
better because the pressures are off.