Pregnancy is an adventure unlike any other. Your body will go through some incredible changes, and you’ll have questions as your belly grows—including plenty about having sex while pregnant.
Here’s some great news: Sex is perfectly safe during most pregnancies, so you shouldn’t hold back if you’re in the mood. (And surprisingly, you may even find yourself feeling super turned on!)
In addition to relieving the stress that comes with pregnancy, having sex is a great way to strengthen and maintain the emotional connection you have with your partner, which can be tough to do during this hectic time, Leah Millheiser, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., board-certified ob-gyn at Stanford Health Care and clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Standford Medicine, tells SELF.
But understandably, there are moments when sex will be the last thing on your mind, and you may have to fight the urge to scream if anyone tries to come near you. Here’s why all of this is totally normal, plus everything you need to know if you end up giving pregnancy sex a go.
First, why can your libido change during pregnancy?
Feeling very pregnant and horny? That’s actually pretty common. “Some people feel pregnancy is a sexual condition,” Brian Levine, M.D., board-certified ob-gyn and New York practice director for the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, tells SELF. Yes, that means you might feel super ready for sex while expecting, and you can thank your fluctuating hormones for part of that. During pregnancy your body ups its levels of estrogen, progesterone, and a hormone called human placental lactogen (hPL), but the MVP in this game is testosterone, according to Jamil Abdur-Rahman, M.D., board-certified ob-gyn and chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois. “Your testosterone levels increase during pregnancy, so some women find their libidos go through the roof,” he tells SELF.
Sex can also feel better during pregnancy since “there’s a tremendous increase in blood supply to the uterus, cervix, and vaginal area,” Dr. Abdur-Rahman says. That helps your nether regions feel more sensitive than usual. Plus, thanks to that increased blood supply, you may find it’s easier to get naturally lubricated as the action goes down.
Plus, if you’re in a monogamous relationship, you probably don’t have to worry about barrier methods like condoms, which can add an exciting sense of freedom and intimacy to your sex life. And reveling in the way your body changes during pregnancy can make you feel physically tuned in and in awe of what you’re capable of—both of which are pretty great feelings to get you in the mood.
With that said, pregnancy isn’t all horniness and rainbows. When you’re not feeling well, doing what got you into this situation in the first place may not sound remotely appealing. Maybe you’re in your first trimester and dealing with morning sickness. Or maybe you’re in the third trimester with a belly that’s basically rendered you immobile. Or maybe you just don’t feel sexy at times, which is a common issue Dr. Abdur-Rahman discusses with his patients. All of this is normal, so your desire for sex may simply wax and wane.
Are there general risks or side effects to be aware of when having sex while pregnant?
If you’re not in a monogamous relationship and have a normal pregnancy, feel free to have sex as long as you use protection, like a condom or a dental dam, as increased blood supply to your uterus and cervix could make it easier for a sexually transmitted infection to get into your bloodstream, Dr. Abdur-Rahman says. Using protection not only helps keep you safe, but it also helps protect your baby since some STIs can be passed from mother to child, according to the U.S. Office on Women’s Health.