Sexuality during pregnancy
- Fatigue or nausea sometimes get in the way of desire for sex.
- Painful tense breasts can become even more painful during sexual arousal.
- There may be a greater need for intimacy and touch than for sexual intercourse.
- In a normal pregnancy, there are no commandments or prohibitions regarding sexuality.
- The changes can be different each time, depending on how far along you are pregnant.
- Sometimes sex during pregnancy is painful. This can be caused by the physical changes around the vagina, as well as a full bladder, muscle cramps or vaginal dryness due to hormonal changes.
If you like it, you can and may have sex throughout the pregnancy. In specific situations, sexual intercourse or orgasm is discouraged. Should this apply to you, the midwife will indicate this.
It is better not to have intercourse or, in some cases, even better not to have an orgasm during pregnancy in the situations below:
- Blood loss
- Broken membranes and you lose
- When all or part of the placenta (placenta) lies in front of the exit of the uterus (placenta praevia)
- Imminent preterm birth
In these cases, penetration can sometimes pose a risk of infection and orgasm can sometimes cause premature labor. Making love without penetration or without orgasm is of course possible and can be pleasurable.
If you like this, you can and may have sexual intercourse (penetration) throughout the pregnancy. Some women or men prefer to avoid penetration anyway. Making love without penetration or without orgasm is always possible and can be pleasurable. In specific situations, sexual intercourse or orgasm is discouraged. Should this apply to you as well, the midwife will indicate this as well.
Sometimes sex during pregnancy is painful. This can be caused by the physical changes around the vagina, but also by a full bladder, muscle cramps or vaginal dryness due to hormonal changes. If intercourse was also painful before pregnancy, there are probably other causes. We recommend that you talk to us or your doctor about this, or seek advice from a sex therapist.
Learn more:
- Pregnancy and lovemaking (deverloskundige.nl)
- Pregnancy and sex, how does it work? (deverloskundige.nl)
- Making love and just giving birth? (deverloskundige.nl)
Do you have questions or concerns about your sex life during pregnancy? Ask them of your obstetrician.
Nasty sexual experiences?
If you have experienced something unpleasant sexually in the past, please let us know. During pregnancy, childbirth and in the postpartum period we will examine you regularly. We feel the growth and position of the child on your belly and internal examinations may be necessary. We can then take this into account and adjust our care in consultation with you. Please also talk to us if you are apprehensive about certain tests, such as an internal ultrasound or an internal examination. Together we can see what is possible and what you feel comfortable with.