Is it safe to have sexual intercourse during the first trimester of pregnancy?

Feb 07, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Lu

Introduction

"Having sex" usually refers to engaging in sexual intercourse. Generally, sexual intercourse should be avoided during the first three months of pregnancy. Pregnant women should pay attention to rest, avoid strenuous exercise and excessive fatigue, maintain a good mood, and avoid significant emotional fluctuations during the first trimester. At the same time, they should maintain good personal hygiene, keep the vulva clean and dry, and prevent infections.

Intercourse generally refers to engaging in sexual activity. Under normal circumstances, sexual activity should be avoided during the first three months of pregnancy. The specific reasons are as follows:

During the first three months of pregnancy, the embryo is in a critical stage of growth and development, the placenta has not yet fully formed, and the connection between the embryo and the mother is not yet strong enough. Engaging in sexual activity at this stage may stimulate the uterus due to sexual activity, increasing the risk of miscarriage. Additionally, a pregnant woman's immunity is relatively low during pregnancy, and sexual activity may introduce bacteria or viruses into the reproductive tract, potentially causing infections. These infections can not only affect the mother's health but also negatively impact fetal development.

Pregnant women should get adequate rest during the first trimester, avoid strenuous exercise and excessive fatigue, maintain a positive mindset, and avoid significant emotional fluctuations. Additionally, attention should be paid to personal hygiene, keeping the vulva clean and dry to prevent infections. Regarding diet, nutrition should be balanced, and foods rich in folic acid should be consumed to help prevent fetal neural tube defects.

View All

Can a woman get pregnant without breaking the hymen?

The hymen is generally referred to as the vaginal membrane. Under normal circumstances, pregnancy is still possible even if the vaginal membrane remains intact, although the probability is relatively low. Whether or not pregnancy occurs primarily depends on whether sperm meets and fertilizes an egg, rather than on the integrity of the vaginal membrane. It's important to note that if you do not plan to become pregnant, protective measures should be taken during any intimate contact, regardless of whether the vaginal membrane is intact.

View Full Answer

What are the reasons for questioning the effectiveness of fertility awareness-based (calendar) methods of contraception?

A woman's ovulation time can be affected by emotions, stress, environment, and other factors, potentially causing it to occur earlier or later than expected. This can render the originally calculated safe period inaccurate and increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. For women with irregular menstrual cycles, it is difficult to accurately predict ovulation and the safe period. Relying on this method for contraception significantly increases the likelihood of failure due to miscalculation.