Can you have sex during pregnancy, and will it have any impact?

Feb 24, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Lu

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, pregnancy refers to gestation, and sexual intercourse refers to sexual activity. Whether sexual activity can be performed during pregnancy needs to be determined based on specific circumstances. If the pregnant woman is in the second trimester, sexual intercourse is generally permissible and will not harm the fetus; however, if the pregnant woman is in the first or third trimester, sexual intercourse is not recommended. It is advised that pregnant women use appropriate sexual positions during sexual activity to avoid putting pressure on the fetus.

Generally speaking, "pregnancy" refers to gestation, and "having sex" refers to sexual activity. Whether sexual activity can be performed during pregnancy needs to be determined according to specific circumstances. If the pregnant woman is in the early or late stages of pregnancy, sexual activity is not recommended; if she is in the middle stage of pregnancy, sexual activity is generally permissible. Whether sexual activity affects the pregnancy also depends on specific circumstances. Sexual activity during early or late pregnancy may have certain effects; however, during mid-pregnancy, it may have no effects. If discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation is recommended. The detailed explanation is as follows:

I. Can sexual intercourse be performed during pregnancy?

If the pregnant woman is in the early or late stages of pregnancy, sexual activity is not recommended because the embryo may be unstable or the uterus is more sensitive, which could easily stimulate the uterus, cause contractions, and possibly increase the risk of miscarriage or premature birth. Additionally, if the pregnant woman has abnormalities such as placenta previa, placental abruption, threatened miscarriage, or if prenatal examinations reveal fetal instability, such as abnormal fetal heart rate or developmental delays, sexual activity should be strictly avoided.

If the pregnant woman is in her second trimester and in good health, sexual activity is generally safe and does not increase the risk of preterm birth or miscarriage. However, it is recommended to reduce the frequency of sexual activity during pregnancy and ensure the pregnant woman feels comfortable. Movements should be gentle, avoiding overly vigorous or rough actions that could harm the pregnant woman or the fetus.

II. Does sexual intercourse during pregnancy have any effects?

If a pregnant woman engages in sexual activity during the early or late stages of pregnancy, vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain may occur, potentially affecting the fetus. This is because during the early stages of pregnancy, the fetus is not yet stable, and sexual activity might lead to miscarriage; during the later stages of pregnancy, the woman's abdomen is large and movement is inconvenient, and engaging in sexual activity might lead to premature birth.

However, if sexual activity occurs during the middle stage of pregnancy, there may be no adverse effects. This is because the physical condition of the pregnant woman is usually more stable during mid-pregnancy, and sexual activity generally does not have adverse effects on the fetus or the pregnant woman.

It is recommended that pregnant women use appropriate sexual positions during sexual activity to avoid compressing the fetus and causing adverse effects. Additionally, both partners should maintain personal hygiene before and after sexual activity to prevent infections.

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