As long as a pregnancy is considered “normal,” it is safe to continue having sex in a mutually monogamous relationship up until your water breaks or you deliver your baby. Under certain circumstances, your doctor may advise you to modify your sexual activity or abstain from sex completely, so it is important to receive good pre-natal care from an obstetrician.
Will sex hurt my baby?
Your baby is protected inside the strong muscular walls of the uterus and surrounded by amniotic fluid, so sexual activity will not affect your baby.
Will sex cause a miscarriage?
No, not if you have a normal, low-risk pregnancy. Miscarriages generally happen because the baby is not developing normally.
What about oral or anal sex? Are those safe?
Oral sex while pregnant is safe. Whether you are pregnant or not, it is important to make sure that, if you are receiving oral sex while pregnant, your partner does not blow air into your vagina. Rarely, this can cause an air embolism (a blood vessel blocked by the burst of air), which could be life-threatening for you and the baby. If you have anal sex, it is very important not to follow anal sex with vaginal sex because this could transfer bacteria into the vagina and cause an infection.
Can sex trigger labor?
In a normal, low-risk pregnancy, sex while pregnant will not trigger labor. It may cause mild uterine contractions, but these usually are temporary and harmless. In spite of many DIY labor-inducing tips suggesting that sexual intercourse can trigger labor, studies indicate that having sex at the end of your pregnancy will not induce labor.
How do I protect myself and my baby from sexually transmitted infections or diseases (STIs or STDs)?
If you are not in a mutually monogamous relationship (each of you having sex with only each other) or if your partner may have an STI or STD, you are at risk for an STI or STD. The only way to completely protect yourself and your baby is to abstain from all sexual activity. If you’re pregnant or think you’re pregnant and you have questions, feel free to leave a message in the comments below or call us at 530.272.6800 for an appointment. All of our services are confidential and provided at no cost to you.