Many women think that having sexual intercourse during pregnancy is harmful. This belief comes from misinformation heard from others. You should not fear that the penis will harm the baby, that labor will start early, or that the water will break prematurely. Except for certain special conditions (some high-risk pregnancies), you can have intercourse with your partner throughout pregnancy. The baby is well protected within the amniotic sac and fluid, surrounded by strong uterine muscles. The strong mucus plug in the cervix prevents infections from reaching the baby.

    If you have had a previous miscarriage, it may be more appropriate to avoid intercourse during the first 3-4 months. To date, there is no evidence that intercourse causes miscarriage. Although most miscarriages are known to be related to chromosomal abnormalities, progesterone deficiency, and infections, if your previous pregnancy ended in miscarriage, we think it is safer to avoid intercourse during these months. This is because many parents tend to associate a miscarriage with intercourse and may blame themselves.

    Sometimes in the later stages of pregnancy, you may notice that orgasm causes contractions known as Braxton-Hicks contractions. Although feeling this during orgasm can be uncomfortable, it does not cause any harm to you or your baby. However, if you have previously had a preterm birth, your partner should not ejaculate inside, because prostaglandins in semen may cause cervical dilation and trigger labor contractions.

The frequency of sexual intercourse should be adjusted according to the physical and psychological needs of the mother. Psychologically, concerns about pregnancy, feeling less attractive, and fear of harming the baby may reduce sexual desire. What is important here is that you can share and discuss these unnecessary concerns and feelings with your partner. Physically, nausea and vomiting in the first trimester (3 months), weight gain in the third trimester, breast tenderness, increased vaginal discharge, and yeast infections may reduce the desire for intercourse. Due to pregnancy hormones, vaginal secretion increases; however, as in the whole body, edema in the vagina may cause pain during intercourse. In the second half of pregnancy, as the mother begins to feel the baby’s movements, maternal instincts become stronger and sexual desire may decrease. On the other hand, hormonal activity and increased blood flow to the pelvis may increase sexual desire during certain periods of pregnancy.

Trying different positions during pregnancy may be beneficial. For example, the commonly used position where the man is on top may cause discomfort to the mother due to abdominal pressure in late pregnancy and may also affect the baby’s blood circulation. Positions where the woman is on top or on her side, allowing her to control the movements, may be preferred.

If you have had a previous premature birth, stimulation of the nipples may trigger labor contractions.

Situations in which intercourse should be avoided: 

  • Placenta previa, low-lying placenta
  • Cervical insufficiency
  • Threat of preterm labor
  • Unexplained vaginal bleeding or discharge
  • Unhealed herpes lesions in the mother or father
  • Frequent cramps