Pregnant Having Sex

Pregnant Having Sex
Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on February 07, 2021
Pregnant women and their partners often wonder if it's safe to have sex during pregnancy . Will it cause a miscarriage? Will it harm the unborn baby? Are there sex positions to avoid? Here's what to know.
Sex is a natural, normal part of pregnancy -- if you're having a normal pregnancy. Penetration and intercourse’s movement won't harm the baby, who is protected by your abdomen and the uterus’ muscular walls. Your baby is also cushioned by the amniotic sac’s fluid.
The contractions of orgasm aren't the same as labor contractions . Still, as a general safety precaution, some doctors advise avoiding sex in the final weeks of pregnancy, believing that hormones in semen called prostaglandins can stimulate contractions. One exception may be for women who are overdue and want to induce labor . Some doctors believe that prostaglandins in semen actually induce labor in a full-term or past-due pregnancy, since the gel used to "ripen" the cervix and induce labor also contains prostaglandins. But other doctors think that this semen/labor connection is only a theory and that having sex doesn't trigger labor.
Talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to have sex while you’re pregnant. They may advise you not to have sex if you have any of the following types of high-risk pregnancy:
Keep in mind that if your doctor says "no sex," that may include anything that involves orgasm or sexual arousal, not just intercourse. Discuss it so you’re clear on what they mean.
Call your doctor if you have unusual symptoms during or after sex, such as:
Every woman's experiences during pregnancy are different -- including how they feel about sex.
For some, desire fades during pregnancy. Other women feel more deeply connected to their sexuality and more aroused when they're pregnant.
During pregnancy, it's normal for sexual desire to come and go as your body changes. You may feel self-conscious as your belly grows. Or you may feel sexier with larger, fuller breasts. Not having to worry about birth control is another perk.
Here's a common pattern of libido during pregnancy:
Tell your partner what you're feeling and what works. You may need to play with positions, especially later in pregnancy, to find one that's both comfortable and stimulating for you. If something doesn't feel right for either of you, change what you're doing and talk to your OB about any physical problems.
Avoid lying flat on your back in the "missionary position" for sex after the fourth month of pregnancy. That way, you can avoid the weight of the growing baby constricting major blood vessels.
Get on top or lie on your side, with your partner behind. Or get on your hands and knees , with your partner kneeling behind. These positions reduce pressure on your belly.
Use a lubricant if vaginal dryness makes sex uncomfortable.
Enjoy intimacy in other ways. Cuddle, kiss, or massage each other. Enjoy a bubble bath together.
As always, if you're not absolutely sure about your partner's sexual history, use condoms. Pregnancy doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections -- such as HIV, herpes, genital warts, or chlamydia -- and those infections can affect your baby.
The first six weeks after delivery are called the postpartum period. Sex during this time may be the last thing on your mind. You may have less desire because of:
Intercourse is generally safe after any incisions have fully healed and you feel the delicate tissues of your vagina have healed. This healing usually takes several weeks. You can ask your doctor what they recommend. Most doctors will say to wait at least 6 weeks after delivery before intercourse. Equally important is feeling emotionally ready, physically comfortable, and relaxed.
After pregnancy, some women notice a lack of vaginal lubrication. A water-based lubricant can ease the discomfort of vaginal dryness during sex.
For both you and your partner, patience is a virtue. Given the realities and stresses of early parenthood, it can take up to a year for a couple's normal sex life to return in full bloom.
Women who breastfeed have a delay in ovulation -- when an egg is released from the ovary -- and menstruation. But ovulation will happen before you start having periods again. So you can still get pregnant during this time. Follow your health care provider's recommendations on birth control .
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: "Sexuality and Sexual Problems," "Preterm Labor," "Especially for Fathers."
Nemours Foundation: "Sex During Pregnancy."
March of Dimes: "Sex During Pregnancy."
University of California at San Francisco Children's Hospital: "Sex During Pregnancy."
Mayo Clinic: "Sex during pregnancy: What's OK, what's not."
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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Is it safe to have sex during my pregnancy?
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Is it safe to have sex, masturbate, or use a vibrator during pregnancy?

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Is it safe to have sex while pregnant? Yes, in most cases sex is safe during pregnancy (including anal sex and oral sex) unless you have certain complications or your water has broken. In the first trimester, exhaustion and nausea may mean pregnant sex is far from your mind; but for many, sex drive returns in the second trimester. Because of increased blood flow, sex during pregnancy may feel better than ever.
In most cases, yes! As long as you're having a normal pregnancy without complications, you can continue to have sex right up until your water breaks or you go into labor.
Don't worry: Having sex during pregnancy won't hurt your baby. Your baby is protected by your uterus and a layer of muscles, and is safely cushioned by the surrounding amniotic fluid. The mucus plug inside your cervix also helps guard against infection.
Many people find sex during pregnancy liberating because there's no reason to worry about getting pregnant. That said, if you're not in a mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner, always use male condoms or female condoms to protect you – and your baby – from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Many STIs – including chlamydia , gonorrhea , and syphilis – can cause serious complications during pregnancy.
Sex during pregnancy may look (and feel) a little different than it used to: As your belly grows, you may have to experiment to find the pregnancy sex positions that work best for you. For example, the missionary position gets increasingly difficult as your pregnancy progresses and becomes nearly impossible in late pregnancy.
Check out our slideshow for more ideas, information, and illustrations on the best pregnancy sex positions . You'll find helpful suggestions and tips for making pregnancy sex comfortable (and enjoyable!) at every stage.
Besides having sex during pregnancy just for the sheer fun and pleasure of it, other possible benefits include:
In some circumstances, you may have to skip certain activities or positions, or stop having sex entirely for part or all of your pregnancy. Your ob-gyn or midwife will let you know whether you have – or develop – any complications that make sex a no-go.
Your healthcare provider may tell you not to have sex if you have:
Your ob or midwife may advise you to avoid sex in other situations as well – like if there are signs you might be at risk for preterm delivery. If you're uncertain, ask your provider.
Spotting or mild cramping can happen after sex when you're pregnant, but this doesn't always mean there's a problem. However, call your ob-gyn or midwife if you have any unusual symptoms during or following intercourse, including:
Don't hesitate to contact your healthcare provider any time you have any questions or concerns, especially if you aren't sure whether you should be having sex during pregnancy, or if you're worried about your baby's health or safety.
And if your provider does tell you to stop having sex, make sure you ask whether this means you need to avoid specifically intercourse, or whether you shouldn't put anything in your vagina or do any activity that could bring you to orgasm.
Most women say that sex does feel different for at least part of their pregnancy. You may find it more pleasurable at times but not really enjoy it or feel up to it at other times.
Certain physical changes can also make sex during pregnancy feel different. Increased blood flow to the pelvic area can heighten sensation that may add to your pleasure during sex. You may have more natural vaginal lubrication, which could be a plus. (For those who don't feel like they have more natural lubrication during pregnancy, using lube while you're pregnant is safe – just be sure to buy a water-based one.)
On the other hand, more sensitivity in certain areas may feel uncomfortable or even unpleasant during pregnancy sex. You may also have some mild abdominal cramps or contractions during or immediately after intercourse or orgasm, which can be worrisome even though they're aren't uncommon.
Always let your partner know during sex if anything feels uncomfortable, even if it's something you're used to doing together.
When it comes to your pregnancy sex drive, there's a wide range of individual experiences. Some women want more sex during pregnancy; others, not so much. One study found that pregnant women's sex drive decreased in the first trimester, but increased again in the second trimester.
In general, sexuality is different for every woman and depends on how you're feeling physically and emotionally – which changes a lot during pregnancy!
You may feel too tired, moody , or nauseated for sex, especially in the first trimester. It's also not unusual to feel overwhelmed by the physical and emotional changes you're going through. But you may find that your libido returns in full force once you reach the second trimester, when morning sickness and pregnancy fatigue typically ease up.
Don't be surprised if your desire fades again in the third trimester, especially in the last month or two of pregnancy. At this point, you may feel too big, achy, or exhausted to even think about third-trimester sex. You may also be preoccupied with upcoming labor and birth.
If you feel like being less physically affectionate than usual, try to share your feelings and reassure your partner of your love. Keeping the lines of communication open will help you support each other as best you can while you go through these changes together.
Even if you can't have intercourse, or if you're turned on but not enjoying penetration, you can explore other ways of expressing your love:
Most partners find their pregnant lover as attractive as ever, or even more so. But pregnancy worries can also affect your partner's sex drive. For example, your partner may be anxious about the reality of parenthood, and that can affect their libido.
Also, partners often become more tentative about sex during pregnancy because they're afraid the penetration will hurt the baby. But rest assured – if you have a male partner, his penis doesn't go past your vagina during intercourse, so it can't harm the baby.
Never underestimate the importance of simply sharing your feelings with each other as a way to feel close. Open communication can defuse a lot of tension and allow you to relax, enjoy each other, and find ways to be intimate, whether or not you're having sex.
For the most part, giving and receiving oral sex during pregnancy is safe. For you, licking is fine, but be sure that your partner never blows into your vagina. Forcing or blowing air into the vagina could form a bubble of air that gets into your blood circulation (embolism). This very rarely happens, but it can be life-threatening for you or your baby.
It's also not safe for you to receive oral sex during pregnancy if:
In most cases, yes, anal sex during pregnancy is safe, though there are some exceptions. Anal sex during pregnancy may not be a good idea if you have:
It's safe for your partner to touch, play with, or caress your breasts during pregnancy, as long as it feels good to you.
Your breasts change throughout pregnancy , and may feel tingly, tender, and unusually sensitive to touch, particularly in the first trimester. The tenderness generally subsides, but your breasts may remain more sensitive. Again, you may be turned on by this, or you may find it too intense and prefer that your breasts not be touched at all.
Late in pregnancy, as you near full-term, having your nipples stimulated may actually end up kickstarting labor. Nipple stimulation – sucking on or manually stimulating your nipples late for an extended period of time, around 15 minutes to an hour – releases oxytocin, which may help start labor by causing the uterus to contract.
More research is still needed on whether or not there's a definitive connection between nipple stimulation and the onset of labor. But if you've passed your due date and you're looking for ways to naturally induce labor at home, talk to your healthcare provider before performing any nipple stimulation first. Overstimulation might cause your uterus to cramp more than necessary, which could put too much stress on your baby.
As long as you're having monogamous sex with a partner who doesn't have any STIs, it's safe for your partner to ejaculate inside of you while you're pregnant.
Your partner may be nervous that their semen will reach and hurt the baby during penetrative vaginal sex, but this isn't possible: Your baby is protected by the placenta, the amniotic sac, and the mucus plug. Most semen and sperm that enter a woman's body during sex is discharged the same way it went in.
It's also good to remember that it's nearly impossible to get pregnant while you're pregnant , so unprotected sex is safe in that sense. And if you're performing oral sex on a male partner, know that it's okay to swallow sperm while you're pregnant .
Yes, masturbation and vibrators during pregnancy (as well as other sex toys) are fair game, with a few general precautions, and as long as your provider hasn't advised against them.
Sex during the third trimester of pregnancy is safe as long as you're having a healthy, normal pregnancy. That said, as your third trimester progresses and you get bigger, you may feel too tired or uncomfortable for sex, or you may find yourself having to get creative about pregnancy sex positions that actually feel good.
Sex during the third trimester may not be safe if you have:
It's safe to have sex if you're dilated in your third trimester and all is well with your pregnancy.
Your practitioner will recommend against having sex if you're dilated and not yet in your third trimester, though, because it may increase your risk of premature labor. This can happen if your cervix effaces (shortens) and dilates (opens) too early – a condition called cervical insufficiency or incompetent cervix.
Cervical insufficiency typically happens between 16 and 24 weeks and can result in miscarriage or preterm delivery. Your practitioner may recommend a cerclage (stitches) to help reinforce and hold your cervix closed until it's safe for your baby to deliver. Until your baby is delivered, you may need to avoid sex and exercise and take plenty of breaks off your feet.
Your practitioner may also advise you to abstain from sex for a couple of weeks if you've had any symptoms of preterm labor, even if you don't have cervical insufficiency.
Practitioners may vary on their advice about avoiding sex if you're dilated, because studies on the topic are lacking. Check in with your provider if you're in doubt. They can give you good advice based on your particular situation.
No, sex doesn't induce labor, not if you have a normal, low-risk pregnancy. Sexual stimulation or orgasm cannot start labor in late pregnancy, and it can't cause a miscarriage in early pregnancy either. Having an orgasm (or stimulating your nipples) may cause mild contractions, but these are generally temporary and harmless.
Some pregnant women, midwives, and ob-gyns may believe that having sex near the end of pregnancy might give you the boost you need to get labor started. One theory is that the hormones in semen (prostaglandins) and the contractions from an orgasm stimulate the cervix. While some studies have shown that sex while full-term might reduce the need for labor induction, there's no definitive link between having sex and going into labor.
As long as your pregnancy is healthy and uncomplicated, you can have as much sex as you want, right up until your water breaks. Just don't expect it to jump-start labor!

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

Fernandez-Carrasco, Francisco Javier et al. 2020. Changes in sexual desire in women and their partners during pregnancy. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7074242/ [Accessed December 2021]
Jones Claire et al. 2011. Sex in pregnancy. CMAJ 183(7):815-818. http://www.cmaj.ca/content/183/7/815 [Accessed December 2021]
Kirchner Jeffrey T. 2000. Tips from other journals: The role of bacterial vaginosis in preterm labor. American Family Physician 62(3):652-655. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0801/p652.html [Accessed December 2021]
Nemours Foundation. 2016. Sex during pregnancy. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sex-pregnancy.html [Accessed December 2021]
UCSF Health. University of California, San Francisco. Undated. Sex during pregnancy. https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/sex_during_pregnancy/ [Accessed December 2021]
University of Rochester Medical Center. Undated. Health encyclopedia: Sex during pregnancy. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=P01235 [Accessed December 2021]
Takahata, Kaori et al. 2019. Oxytocin levels in low-risk primiparas following breast stimulation for spontaneous onset of labor; a quasi-experimental study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12
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