Sex can reduce tension, improve sleep, release emotions and express intimacy during pregnancy. The physical and psychological changes that occur in women at this time encompass a wide range of normal feelings, emotions and desires.
Misconceptions
Sexual intimacy is not a cause of miscarriage or premature birth, according to the Mayo Clinic. In normal pregnancy, the growing fetus is well-protected by abdominal muscles, pelvic bones, amniotic fluid, the thick walls of the uterus and a mucus plug in the closed cervix. During sex, the penis does not come in contact with the baby and cannot rupture the placenta. Female orgasm is not harmful.
Cautions
Guard against sexually transmitted diseases during pregnancy, when they can endanger the baby's health. Precautions should also be taken to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectum to the vagina. The Mayo Clinic warns that blowing into the vagina could cause an embolism, or air blockage of a blood vessel. Health-care providers may advise pregnant women to avoid sex at times for certain conditions, such as unexplained vaginal bleeding, a history of miscarriage due to incompetent cervix, placenta previa, leaking amniotic fluid or increased risk of preterm labor.
Considerations
The need for open and honest communication with an understanding partner is key to handling changing desires during pregnancy. Women vary widely, but most have decreased libido in the first trimester because of nausea, fatigue and breast tenderness. A woman may have an increased need for attention and romance, however. Helen Varney, midwife and author of "Varney's Midwifery", states that between 13 and 32 weeks gestation, approximately 80 percent of women experience significant improvements in sexual satisfaction compared to pre-pregnancy and first trimester relations. Greater vaginal lubrication tends to heighten sensation and responsiveness. Varney asserts that a woman shifts psychologically during this time from wanting to be cared for by her mother to seeking caretaking from her partner. Vaginal muscles enlarge late in pregnancy and constrict vaginal walls. The tighter fit may increase pleasure, according to pregnancy coach Danielle Cavallucci and sexuality educator Yvonne Fullbright, authors of "Your Orgasmic Pregnancy." Prostaglandins, a group of hormone-like substances in semen, help soften the cervix when pregnancy reaches term and may prepare the womb to open more easily during labor and birth.
Problems
During the third trimester of pregnancy a woman may feel awkward and ugly, and may need frequent reassurance from her partner. By 34 weeks gestation, her abdomen can pose an obstacle and the weight of a lover's body may be uncomfortable. Pelvic/vaginal congestion caused by pressure of the baby descending into the pelvis may cause tingly, pinching or numbing sensations, according to Cavallucci and Fullbright. Deep penetration may be painful.
Solutions
Additional pillows and lubricant may be used to increase comfort. Positions with the woman on top or side-lying in front or face-to-face can allow her to control the depth of penetration. According to Varney, alternative ways to achieve satisfaction, such as oral sex or mutual masturbation, can either help or may create guilt, depending on the woman's attitudes toward them.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Sex During Pregnancy
- "Varney's Midwifery"; Helen Varney, CNM; 2003
- "Your Orgasmic Pregnancy"; Danielle Cavallucci, Yvonne Fullbright, Ph.D.; 2008
