Sexual Drive in Women during Pregnancy
Pregnancy alters
the physical as well as hormones of the body. With changes in these hormones,
there are also changes in a woman’s sexual desires, responses, and practices. Pregnancy does have a significant effect
on a woman’s sex drive. The significant increases and decreases in libido are
normal. The arousal levels in a woman can change at different stages of
pregnancy. Every woman has a different level of sex drive, some women have
higher levels of arousal and more intense orgasms than other women during
pregnancy. Women’s sexual desire and coital frequency usually
decline in the first trimester of pregnancy, then in the second trimester, their
sexual desires may vary and in the third trimester, it decreases sharply.
Every
woman’s pregnancy experience is unique and different but there are a few common
things among women’s libido changes during pregnancy. A woman’s sex drive comes
and goes throughout her pregnancy. Women, in general, are apprehensive about having sex during pregnancy. If
women have adequate knowledge about sexual health, then they will be able to
approach sex during pregnancy with less hesitation and more realistic
expectations.
Let
us look at how pregnancy is different and tends to affect sex drive during each
trimester.
How does pregnancy affect sex drive?
Pregnancy
triggers many changes including physiological changes and hormonal changes that
can affect a woman’s sex drive. During pregnancy, the levels of estrogen and progesterone
increase, and with also an increase in blood flow to the genitals, it can lead
to a heightened sexual desire. On the other hand, women do not always have a heightened
sex drive throughout pregnancy. There are many factors like nausea, fatigue, stress,
and other physical changes that can result in a reduced woman’s desire to have
sex.
All
women do not react in the same way to hormonal changes. Some women may have more
sex drive than other women. However, it is the same for every woman to have
their sex drive decrease during the first trimester, peak in the second, and go
down again in the third.
First trimester (weeks 0–13)
In the first trimester, some women have
lower sexual desire and also less sexual satisfaction i.e., less orgasm. This
may happen because of an increase in hormone levels, experiencing uncomfortable
physical symptoms, and stress. These all factors contribute to a decrease in a woman’s
libido.
When an embryo is implanted in the uterus
then the cells in the placenta produce a hormone called human chorionic
gonadotropin (HCG). Then HCG stimulates the production of other pregnancy hormones,
such as estrogen and progesterone. Surges in estrogen and progesterone levels
during the first trimester are mainly the cause of mood swings and nausea. And
is a factor that affects libido in the first stage of pregnancy. This may also
be the cause of other symptoms like:
- Fatigue/tiredness
- Increase
in stress level
- Digestive issues
- Having tender breasts
But for some women, the changes in levels
of estrogen and progesterone can increase their libido during the first
trimester.
Second trimester (weeks 14–27)
It is common for most of the women’s
libidos to increase during the second trimester. The levels of HCG increase
around the 6th week of
pregnancy and it is at its peak. But after week 6, the levels of HCG start
decreasing, which means you’ll start to have less nausea and higher levels of
energy.
In addition to this, estrogen and
progesterone levels continue to rise during the second trimester. This may
increase the libido of a woman as estrogen increases vaginal lubrication and the
blood flow to the vulva. As a result, women have a higher sex drive with heightened
arousal, sensitivity, and pleasure.
Third trimester (weeks 28–40)
The third trimester is usually hard
for women as they often face some of their biggest challenges during that time.
Like swelling of feet and hands, an increase in weight, exhaustion or fatigue,
and body aches can make women not engage in any sexual activity.
You may experience some discomfort during
sexual activity and it causes some concern, but it is usually common. To
experience minimum discomfort during intercourse you may want to try different
positions. Women who want to have sex but find discomfort during intercourse
should find other types of sexual activity. There are other forms of intimacy that you should be willing to try.
Is it safe to have sex or masturbate
during pregnancy?
Intercourse
is not the only form of sex you can have during pregnancy there are other forms
of sexual activity pregnant women can do. Sexual activity can include anything
that involves orgasm or arousal, or it could also be a vaginal penetration
specifically. If you have any concerns regarding any sexual activity during
pregnancy you can take the help of a healthcare professional.
Abstain
from sex only if a healthcare professional recommends you to do so. Otherwise, most
forms of sex like vaginal, anal, and oral sex, are perfectly safe during pregnancy.
Many
women will find that they can perform more sexual positions during the first
two trimesters than the third trimester because the bump is quite small in the
first two trimesters.
Different
forms of sex:
1. 1.Vaginal
sex
Women
and their partners are generally worried about harming the foetus during
vaginal sex. But there is no need to worry as the cervix, uterus, and amniotic fluid protects
the foetus. However, it goes without saying that pregnant women and their
partners should exercise some caution during sex. As the pregnancy progresses
the level of discomfort increases for women and for some women deep penetration
can be uncomfortable or even painful.
Sexual
positions like a partner on top can be uncomfortable due to sore or tender breasts
for some women. You can try positions, where both partners are lying on their
sides, which are good alternatives in this situation. You can try any sex position
as long as you feel comfortable.
2. 2.Anal
sex
If women are comfortable then having
anal sex while being pregnant is alright. As long as women do not suffer from
any health conditions that affect the lower digestive system, such as haemorrhoids
it is safe to have anal sex. Haemorrhoids during pregnancy are common and they
can be developed by the weight of the growing foetus as it puts a significant
amount of pressure on the intestines which causes the veins in or near the anus
to swell.
So, if you have haemorrhoids then having anal
sex can irritate them and can result in discomfort, pain, and even bleeding. It
is important to always clean the penis or sex toy before having anal sex or
when you switch from anal sex to vaginal sex. By doing this you will prevent
harmful bacteria from entering the vagina.
3. Oral sex
Oral sex is a good alternative to vaginal
and anal sex. In general, women find engaging in oral sex while being pregnant
a safe sexual activity. In some cases, women find oral sex to be more
satisfying than vaginal sex.
But there are some things you should
avoid while engaging in oral sex. Like, a woman’s partner should avoid blowing
into her vagina, this could create a blood bubble or an embolism. Although it
is rare that an embolism can happen but it can be life-threatening, such
as heart attacks or heart failure.
4. Masturbation
If a healthcare professional
recommends you to abstain from sex, then you can try engaging in masturbation
during pregnancy. Masturbation helps in relieving tension and stress. Make sure
if you are masturbating with a sex toy then make sure to clean them before use. Women who are pregnant
should not masturbate if their doctor has advised them n advises them not to do
so as it can lead to pregnancy complications or there are concerns about
preterm labor.
When to avoid sex or masturbation
during pregnancy?
There may be cases where a healthcare
professional might advise women to abstain from sex during pregnancy if:
- there is a certain risk of a miscarriage
happening
- there is some unexpected vaginal bleeding
- women’s water has broken, or amniotic fluid is
leaking
- the women have placenta previa in which a
placenta is unusually low and covers the cervix
- women are showing signs of preterm labor
Knowing what you can expect in
pregnancy can make you feel more comfortable with the changes in your body. It
is normal and expected for a woman’s sex drive to ebb and flow throughout
pregnancy. The changes in sex drive happen due to the physical and hormonal
changes that occur in each trimester.
Unless an obstetrician advises you to
abstain from sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, oral sex, and masturbation are safe
during pregnancy. An obstetrician may advise against sex to a pregnant woman if
she has a high risk of miscarriage or a history of preterm labor. It is
advisable to discuss any concerns you have with your obstetrician. Pregnant
women and their partners can safely participate in any form of sex as long as
it is consensual, comfortable for women, and is safe for women and babies.
References:https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324556#when-to-avoid