Sexuality in Pregnancy
What is Sexual Health?
The World Health Organization describes sexual health as the physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being of a person in relation to their sexuality. Good sexual health includes safe, pleasurable, and respectful sexual relationships.
Is Sex Safe in Pregnancy?
The short answer, research does not demonstrate a relationship between sex and harm to babies.
The frequency of intercourse commonly decreases over pregnancy, sharply declining after 37 weeks of gestation. This is in part due to fears of miscarriage, preterm labor, or fetal harm. Other reasons cited for the decline include discomfort, lack of lubrication, a decline in desire, decreased ability to orgasm, and changes in body image. Many pregnant people experience embarrassment and fear of being judged by their partners and even their community.
Yet the desire for closeness and non-sexual intimacy actually increases during pregnancy. Additionally, many report an increase in relationship satisfaction. Sexual behavior shifts during pregnancy are normal and not dysfunctional unless there is a desire to change.
When Should I Avoid Sex In Pregnancy?
There are very few conditions in pregnancy that can be negatively impacted by sex. These are divided into two categories: absolute and relative. Absolute is a strong recommendation against sex and relative is more flexible.
Absolute- unexplained vaginal bleeding, placenta previa, premature cervical dilation, premature rupture of membranes
Relative- history of preterm birth, multiple gestations
Tips for Good Sex in Pregnancy
Don’t skimp on the foreplay
Use lubrication liberally
Experiment with different positions
Practice good communication
Use condoms too if your partner has traveled to areas with a high number of Zika virus cases.
What are Sexual Problems & Dysfunctions?
Desire disorders: lack of sexual desire or interest in sex.
Arousal disorders: inability to become physically aroused or excited during sexual activity.
Orgasm disorders: delay or absence of orgasm (climax).
Pain disorders: pain during intercourse
If any of these conditions fit you, don’t hesitate to reach out to your midwife!
References
ASHA, 2017, http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/sexual-health/
Jordan, R., Farley, C., & Grace, K. (2019). Prenatal and postnatal care: A woman-centered approach (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.
Murtagh, J. (2010). Female sexual function, dysfunction, and pregnancy: Implications for practice. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 55(5):438-446.
Rosenthal, L., & Lobel, M. (2016). Stereotypes of Black American women related to sexuality and motherhood. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 40(3), 414-427. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5096656/
WHO, 2017, http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/sexual_health/sh_definitions/en/
