Pregnancy is a time of anticipation for both parents, filled with surprises, lasting approximately nine months until you can hold your baby in your arms. During this period, due to the primary focus on the health of the mother and baby, you may have to give up many habits ingrained in your normal life or change your routines.
Your eating habits, clothing choices, mobility, and sexual life are some of these adjustments. One of the most concerning and curious issues for expectant couples is how their sexual life will be during pregnancy.
Spouses often have doubts about whether sex is appropriate during pregnancy. In fact, many people fall into the misconception that sexual intercourse may not be suitable for the baby’s health. So, how should sexual life be during pregnancy, until which month can sexual intercourse continue, and in which cases should caution be exercised? Let’s explore the answers to these questions together.
Until Which Month Can You Have Intercourse During Pregnancy?
The first trimester, which comprises the first three months of pregnancy, is the most critical period of pregnancy. During this time, events such as the embryo attaching to the uterus, the development of pregnancy, and the possibility of miscarriage, which is most commonly seen during these months, occur. Therefore, while doctors recommend being more cautious during these initial months, expectant mothers also try to adapt to the fact of pregnancy and refrain from having sexual intercourse during the first months for the healthy development of the baby.
However, many women continue their sexual lives normally until they learn they are pregnant. In other words, if an expectant mother is unaware of her pregnancy, she is already continuing to have sexual intercourse, and this situation has not negatively affected the baby’s health in any way.
In short, if there are specific conditions in the early months, such as the risk of miscarriage, if your doctor advises against sexual intercourse and has forbidden it for a while, or if you experience pain, discomfort, or bleeding during intercourse, it would not be appropriate to engage in sexual intercourse. However, it is not correct to specify a definite time for sexual intercourse during pregnancy as long as the conditions are suitable, and you have the desire for sexual activity, sexual intercourse can be continued from the early stages of pregnancy.
Frequency and Duration of Sexual Intercourse During Pregnancy
During the time you are expecting a baby, another question that you and your partner may wonder about is the duration and frequency of sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Experts state that for expectant mothers without any risky conditions, sexual intercourse can be continued from the early months to the last months of pregnancy.
There is no need to make a distinction as to how many times a week you have intercourse or how long it should last. If both partners desire sexual intercourse and your doctor has not warned against it, you can engage in sexual intercourse as often and for as long as you wish. The essential thing is for the male partner to be gentle with the expectant mother and to prefer positions recommended by your doctor. Having sexual intercourse in a comfortable position and avoiding vigorous movements, regardless of how many times and how long it lasts, can be beneficial for the baby’s development and the mother’s well-being as serotonin hormone secretion increases during intercourse.
Conditions Where Sexual Intercourse is Forbidden During Pregnancy
During the time from the moment you find out you are pregnant until delivery, you can continue your sexual life, but there are some situations in which doctors may not find sexual intercourse appropriate for the health of the mother and baby and may prohibit it for a while. Situations where sexual intercourse should be avoided during pregnancy:
- Pregnancies with a risk of miscarriage
The risk of miscarriage, especially prevalent during the early months of pregnancy, requires expectant mothers to be cautious in all aspects throughout pregnancy. The attachment of the baby to the uterine wall may be problematic, and sudden movements and exhaustion may trigger miscarriage. Therefore, in such pregnancies, experts do not find sexual intercourse appropriate and may prohibit it. - Vaginal bleeding
Some expectant mothers may experience bleeding for various reasons during pregnancy. If you have unexplained vaginal bleeding or experience bleeding during intercourse, you should immediately consult your doctor. - Risk of preterm birth
If you have a risk of premature birth during your pregnancy, and your doctor identifies such a risk, sexual intercourse may also be prohibited in such pregnancies. - Placenta previa
In some pregnancies, the placenta may descend early into the cervix, blocking the entrance to the uterus. This event increases the risk of vaginal bleeding. Therefore, sexual intercourse is prohibited if the placenta settles near the cervix. - One of the partners having a sexually transmitted disease
If the father-to-be has HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases, which could potentially be transmitted to the baby, sexual intercourse may be prohibited to prevent transmission. - Vaginal infections
If the mother has a vaginal infection causing inflammatory and itchy discharge, sexual intercourse is prohibited until the infection is treated. - The last month of pregnancy
In normal pregnancies, sexual intercourse is not advised during the last month of pregnancy or within the last three months for those with multiple pregnancies. - Premature rupture of membranes
In pregnancies where there is a risk of early rupture of the membranes and leakage of amniotic fluid, sexual intercourse is not appropriate.
If an expectant mother experiences at least one of these special conditions, it means that sexual intercourse is prohibited until receiving a second approval from her doctor. In addition to these, other situations where doctors are cautious and recommend against intercourse include:
- Bleeding during sexual intercourse,
- Pain or cramps during sexual intercourse,
- Itching or foul-smelling discharge in the vaginal area,
- Pain in the groin and lower back,
- Previous experience of miscarriage,
- Conception through different methods such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Sexual Intercourse in the Last Months of Pregnancy
As you enter the last months of pregnancy, there may be a change in perspective on sexuality due to the increase in weight and decrease in mobility. With the excitement of approaching childbirth, there may be a decrease in the mother’s sexual desire. There is no problem with having intercourse between partners as long as you feel ready and willing.
However, although there is no clinical study or data, doctors do not recommend intercourse as you approach the last month of pregnancy. This is because sperm cells contain prostaglandin hormone. Prostaglandin can cause cervical dilation and nipple stimulation. Similarly, orgasm during intercourse can increase oxytocin secretion, leading to contractions in the uterus and potentially premature labour.
For these reasons, the answer to whether you can have intercourse while being nine months pregnant will be to follow your doctor’s advice.
Precautions for Sexual Intercourse During Pregnancy
- Avoid movements that put pressure on the baby during intercourse and prefer positions recommended by your doctor.
- Do not use lubricants containing chemical substances.
- Stay away from condoms containing scents and flavours due to their chemical content.
- Avoid sexual intercourse during periods prohibited by your doctor.
- If bleeding occurs during intercourse, you should consult your doctor without delay.
As long as pregnancy progresses healthily and there are no medical obstacles, there is no problem for partners to have sexual intercourse.
Every individual’s situation may vary. Your doctor will provide you with the most appropriate answer regarding sexuality during pregnancy.
