Sex During Pregnancy, Enjoy It!

Reviewed and approved by the psychologist María Alejandra Castro Arbeláez.

Written by Indira Ramírez Terán

Last update: 27 December, 2022

The fact that you are pregnant doesn’t mean that you should put your life and all the pleasures that surround it on hold. Sex during pregnancy is recommended. Practice it! Enjoy it!

Despite all the physical and hormonal changes that occur during the stages of pregnancy and the array of myths about whether it is advisable to have sex while being pregnant, most experts and doctors recommend it.

They only consider that extra care should be taken in the case of high risk pregnancies or when either one of the partners has a medical condition that prevents intimacy.

Making love with your partner allows for the secretion of oxytocin: “the love hormone.” It causes a feeling of relaxation and a general sense of well-being.

Another benefit of sex is the fact that it can increase self-esteem. It causes the woman to feel wanted and therefore it increases her security which is important in this moment in which many corporal changes are occurring.

The baby is not hurt during sex. The cervix is covered with a thick membrane and although an orgasm produces small contractions of the uterus, it does not cause any harm to the baby.

In addition, the love that the couple transmits during the act is favorable to the development of the fetus.

Sexual desire during pregnancy

In the first months during the bouts of nausea and the other typical discomfort that a woman feels during this phase, this usually results in a lower sex drive. Speak to your partner in order to let them know the reason for the absence of sexual desire.

During the last months of pregnancy, sexual desire can be affected by exhaustion, the extra pounds and anxiety about the proximity of childbirth.

There are some women who actually experience an increase in their sex drive. They feel their desire more intensely and want to have sex more frequently. They also claim to feel more pleasurable orgasms.

Beware of sexually transmitted infections

During pregnancy, women tend to be more susceptible to urinary tract infections and general discomfort of the genitalia.

In order to prevent this, pay even more attention to your hygiene and ask you partner to do the same. If for some reason you feel some kind of discomfort speak to your doctor about it.

If you don’t have a stable partner or don’t know the health status of possible sexual partners, it is better to refrain from putting both your baby’s and your health at risk.

Positions you can do

During pregnancy some positions might become uncomfortable. The size of the belly prevents for example, the missionary position.

It is therefore suggested then to use creativity in order to find new and exciting ways to love each other. Sexual games, oral sex and increasing foreplay can all be pleasurable. You can also try to incorporate new positions.

• Take control by placing yourself on top of your partner. This way you can keep the rhythm. It is a position that allows you to place your belly on your partner’s abdomen. You will be able to move smoothly.
• Sideways is another way of experiencing pleasure. Lay on your side positioning your back towards your partner. In this position there is little risk of discomfort. A variation of this position is by resting on hands and knees or standing with your hands resting on the wall.
• Do not forget to enjoy sex, do not lose your sensuality. Incorporate toys, lingerie and all those things that make intimacy with your partner more rewarding and pleasurable.