Anal Sex During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body will undergo numerous changes—hormonal changes included. These hormonal changes during pregnancy affect everyone differently. Some women may have no sex drive at all while they are pregnant, while others may feel charged and want to have sex with their partners. If you are looking to get cosy with your partner with a bump, you will have to exercise several restrictions and check with your medical practitioner to get the green flag to continue.

Although sex during pregnancy is considered normal, there are certain precautions to take and risk factors to consider. You may have to adapt to certain changes in your sex life to keep your unborn baby safe and avoid complications. When it comes to having anal sex while pregnant, extra caution is advised. Nevertheless, it is allowed when your pregnancy is progressing smoothly and you do not have any specific health concerns.

Is Anal Sex Safe When Pregnant?

As your pregnancy progresses, there are times when vaginal sex isn’t recommended or safe for you. In such cases, your libido will have to be satisfied in other ways. Anal sex may be considered as an alternative to this option. However, you shouldn’t just assume it is safe in all cases.

If there are no specific medical complications or discomforts that you suffer from, anal sex shouldn’t be an issue for you during pregnancy. However, this is definitely not the right time to try it for the first time. Do not try this variety of sex during pregnancy, unless you have attempted it before since it comes with a fair share of risks.

However, if you have previously enjoyed anal sex, there shouldn’t be any harm in continuing it during pregnancy as long as yours is a low-risk pregnancy. However, you should avoid it altogether if you have any impeding medical conditions like haemorrhoids and fissures. Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal region that can bleed when disturbed. Fissures mean small cracks in the anal region, that also bleed and sting when aggravated. Both these conditions can be aggravated by anal sex.

It is also unsafe if you have any medical complications like a low-lying placenta. If your medical practitioner has advised you to take rest and restrict activity during pregnancy, this type of sex is best avoided.

What Precautions Should You Take While Having Anal Sex?

As with any other type of sex, you should be comfortable when attempting anal sex in pregnancy. Both partners should be comfortable in trying this method, and you should not be struggling from any physical discomfort at the time.

Stop if you experience any discomfort or pain during anal sex. It is also advisable to use a safe lubricant to make it easier.

Switching from anal to vaginal sex without washing the genitalia or changing the condom is very dangerous. This can cause transmission of certain dangerous bacteria in certain cases and hence isn’t recommended.

It is best to avoid anal sex if either of you have any type of disease that may be transmitted sexually. The chances of passing it to either partner are greater through anal sex than the vaginal sex.

If you are to indulge in anal sex during pregnancy, make sure that you exercise caution. Your partner should be understanding and extra gentle with you. Ensure that he stops if you feel even the slightest discomfort. This is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. Don’t ignore any signs of discomfort. Instead, choose another method or abstain from it till you are sure you are comfortable with it.

Risks of Anal Sex While Pregnant

Anal sex is often considered riskier than other sexual methods for a variety of reasons.

• Firstly, it can quickly cause unnecessary aggravation of haemorrhoids, fissures and other bodily condition.
• If you are suffering from piles, this method can cause heavy bleeding that will impact the smooth progress of the rest of your pregnancy.
• Be careful to not be too rash and cause tears in the rectum or anal region. This can be very uncomfortable and affect your overall health for the rest of your pregnancy.
• Constipation is a common problem in pregnant women. Irrespective of the trimester that you are in, if you are constipated, anal sex can cause the condition to worsen. Hence it is best avoided in such cases.
• Switching from anal sex to vaginal sex without due care is very dangerous. There are several bacteria that reside in the anus, that do not enter the vagina normally. Anal sex increases the possibility of transmission of such pathogens that cause diseases like bacterial vaginosis. This condition is known to be very risky and can even cause a miscarriage. To avoid such risk, both partners should exercise suitable hygiene steps between the switch from one method to the other.
• Anal sex may also trigger strong contractions in the uterine area. This may not be safe depending on the stage of pregnancy you are in. If you do experience any such strong contractions, promptly contact your doctor to ensure it isn’t of any concern.
• Anal sex is also unsafe if there are any risk factors associated with your pregnancy. It is best avoided if you are suffering from placenta previa or any such pregnancy-related conditions.

When to Avoid Anal Sex in Pregnancy

If you suffer from fissures, haemorrhoids, or constipation during your pregnancy, it is best to avoid anal sex. This method can intensify the symptoms of these conditions and result in heavy bleeding or discomfort that will impact the rest of your pregnancy significantly.

It is also of utmost importance that you are physically and emotionally comfortable to indulge in anal sex. Since your body is more sensitive during pregnancy, it isn’t safe to attempt it if you find it disturbing in any way. Anal sex is definitely off the table, if either of you suffers from an STD, that can easily be transmitted through this method. This can cause unnecessary complications in your pregnancy.

Also Read: Sex During The First Trimester: Making love In Early Pregnancy