Pregnancy dilemma: When is it safe to have sex?

It is generally safe to have sexual intercourse during pregnancy.

Embracing the journey of parenthood is a special and transformative time for any couple. However, they often forget the importance of nurturing their relationship while preparing for the arrival of a new family member.

Many couples experience intimacy issues during these nine months. Some attribute this to hormonal changes and mood swings, while others feel apprehensive due to a lack of knowledge.

It's crucial to understand that maintaining physical intimacy during pregnancy is important for both partners. This connection helps reinforce your bond and supports emotional well-being, creating a healthier and happier environment for your growing family.

Intimacy during pregnancy fosters emotional connection and supports the couple's relationship dynamics. Engaging in physical closeness can strengthen bonds, enhance trust, and reinforce emotional support between partners.

In most uncomplicated pregnancies, sex is perfectly safe throughout all trimesters. The amniotic sac and strong muscles of the uterus protect your baby.

It is generally safe to have sexual intercourse during pregnancy. Although there are a few cautions to it, the notion of avoiding sex during this time is a total myth that needs to be cleared up.

Sometimes pregnant women can have undiagnosed haemorrhages below the placental development, called a subchorionic bleed. If undiagnosed, this small blood clot at the implantation site can be aggravated by heavy physical activity, including deep penetration or vigorous sex, increasing the risk of miscarriage.

Additionally, if a partner is a carrier of an infection, it can be transmitted, thus intercourse is best avoided in the first trimester. However, after that, unless advised otherwise by a doctor because of specific risk factors, there is no contraindication to having intercourse.

It's mainly during the initial trimester when there is some bleeding inside that we avoid intercourse. High-risk cases, such as IVF pregnancies, twin or multiple pregnancies, or previous miscarriages, might require extra caution. In these situations, doctors might advise avoiding intercourse to be extremely conservative

Protection is not mandatory if the couple is in a monogamous relationship and both are free of major infections.

Using a condom can sometimes cause challenges during intercourse due to reduced lubrication, which can occur because of vaginal edema, fatigue, or stress. In such cases, a mild lubricant might be helpful.

Intimacy is a broad spectrum and does not necessarily involve intercourse. There are many ways for a couple to stay close and connected, which can also help in better parenting.