Is Sex During Pregnancy Safe? Know From Gynaecologist

If you are pregnant and confused about whether or not you can have sex during these nine months, this article is going to help you. A lot of couples out there do not know if they can indulge in some lovemaking sessions during the pregnancy period. In conversation with Dr. Aruna Kalra, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, Onlymyhealth spoke to her on the topic of sex during pregnancy. To know what she has to say, read this article till the end.

Is Sex Safe During Pregnancy? Know According to Trimester

Gynaecologists divide pregnancy into three trimesters- first trimester(0-12 weeks), second trimester(13-27 weeks) and third trimester(28-40 weeks). 

Sex in First Trimester

In the first trimester, the baby is really low this time and the placenta sometimes reduces. Sometimes women feel uncomfortable, experience cramping and increased urinary frequency. In short, most women experience discomfort in the first trimester. In such situations, they should refrain from making physical relations. However, if the first trimester is going smoothly without any difficulties & discomfort and if the doctor has not asked to refrain, couples can have gentle sex during the first trimester.

Also Read: Gynaecologist Explains Why Periods Are Painful In The Initial Days

Pregnancy sex in the second trimester

The second trimester of pregnancy is also called as the honeymoon phase of pregnancy. This is so because most of the pregnancy symptoms including vomiting, nausea, cramping, backache, frequency of urination, etc. are reduced by this phase. Thus, this is ideally the best time when couples can indulge in safe intercourse during pregnancy. 

You can also enjoy cuddling, hugging and oral sex if the woman is not comfortable in vaginal sex. Also, it would be better to consult your doctor about whether to use protection during sex or not. As it depends on your partner's sexual health. Protection is best recommended if you are not aware of whether or not your sexual partner has any sexually transmitted disease.

NOTE: If your partner has any kind of STDs, you should totally avoid sex during all the trimesters.

Third Trimester

It is safe to have sex in the third trimester until and otherwise, your doctor has asked you to refrain from it for either reason. Here is a list of circumstances where the doctor doesn’t allow pregnancy sex:

• If the woman has chances of pre-term labour 
• If the woman has a vaginal infection
• If the woman had precipitate labour in the previous pregnancy
• If the uterus mouth is open(cervical incompetence)
• If the placenta is very low(Placenta Previa)

In normal cases, having intercourse in the third trimester after completing 36 weeks is safe. According to the gynaecologist, sexual relationship in the third trimester or taking semen inside the body in the later stage increases the chances of vaginal birth or normal delivery. It has prostaglandins and it ripens your cervix.

Conclusion

According to Dr. Aruna Kalra, it is safe to have sex unless you don’t have any issues in pregnancy. If your doctor has not asked you to avoid intercourse during pregnancy out of any complications that you might be having, it is okay to indulge in some love-making with your partner before the baby arrives.

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