Is it safe to have
sex when pregnant?
The answer to one of the most oft
asked questions is yes, it is safe for most couples to continue having
sex when pregnant, if the pregnancy is a no-risk and safe one, and the
mother is healthy.
What happens during
sex?
A woman's sexual pleasure gets enhanced
during pregnancy, due to the increased blood flow to her sexual organs
like the uterus, clitoris and vagina. As a result, her orgasms can be far
more intense. When the woman has an orgasm, her uterus contracts, and such
contraction is mostly harmless and does not hurt the foetus at all. She
may also develop slight cramps after sex, especially in the early stages
of pregnancy and similarly, such cramping is also mostly harmless. However,
if she has spotting, she should consult her gynaecologist immediately,
and not resume sex till her gynaecologist gives her the green signal.
Can penetration hurt
the foetus?
Rest assured, the foetus is safe
in the amniotic sac, and will not be hurt from penetration. At times the
woman may feel a slight discomfort during sex due to reduced vaginal lubrication.
It is perfectly normal for women to experience reduced lubrication when
pregnant, as hormone levels undergo a change. So if this is the case, you
may try alternate means of pleasuring one another, like oral sex. You could
also make use of lubricants to make sex more pleasurable and comfortable.
I am enjoying sex more
during my pregnancy. Is this normal?
While some women claim to enjoy sex
less during pregnancy, a majority of women report that they enjoyed sex
much more when they were pregnant. Which is normal? The answer: both. The
period after the first trimester and just before the last couple of weeks
of pregnancy was voted as the most enjoyable for sexual activity by most
women. Many women report that they just couldn't get enough sex during
this time, and that they resorted to pleasuring themselves. Masturbation
is perfectly normal and harmless for the foetus.
What if I don't want
to have sex when pregnant?
If you fall into the category of
women who do not want to have sex during pregnancy, it is perfectly understandable.
Your body is going through tremendous changes, and you may feel too tired,
drained out and weary to have intercourse. Try substituting sex with alternate
pleasurable activities like giving each other body massages, bathing together,
and so on.
When is it unsafe to
have sex during pregnancy?
Was your first child premature? If
so, you are more at risk of having a second premature delivery, and thus
you should consult your gynaecologist about whether it is safe for you
to have sex when pregnant. Sex and orgasms have been known to bring about
premature labour. Similarly, if you have had a previous miscarriage, or
if you are a high-risk case, you should have sex only after first consulting
with your gynaecologist.
Can one have too much
sex?
If you are trying to conceive and
if your husband has a low sperm count, the answer is yes. You should try
to have sex only every alternate day during the ovulation period. This
is because men with a low sperm count need the extra day to build up their
sperm count to more fertile levels. You could, however, have sex as often
as you want - even 20 times a day during the non-fertile days of your
cycle. Women are fertile in the days just before they have ovulated, when
they start secreting a thick cervical fluid.
