Sex During First Trimester: Is It Safe, What to Expect & When to Avoid It

While pregnancy gives you memories for a lifetime, it also comes with a plethora of doubts, fears, and uncertainties. This is especially true for first-time mothers-to-be. A doubt that may keep surfacing is whether you can continue having sex even during pregnancy. Sex is an essential part of life, and it cannot and should not be neglected. To know if it is safe to have sex in the first trimester of pregnancy and the following ones while keeping your baby and yourself safe, we recommend giving the following post a read. To be on the safer side of your pregnancy, we shall also discuss the dos and don’ts related to sex in the early trimesters for expectant couples.

How Does Your Sex Life Change in the First Trimester?

In the first trimester, your hormones fluctuate, and your appetite and blood flow increase. The oestrogen and progesterone levels also increase, causing increased libido. On the flip side, some hormonal changes, exhaustion, queasiness and breast sensitivity can all contribute to a lowering of your sex drive. Thus, the first trimester and sex may not always be compatible.

However, there are some women for whom pregnancy invokes body positivity. Fuller breasts, rounded hips, and a voluptuous figure can persuade them to initiate sex more often.

Is It Safe to Have Sex During the First Trimester?

Yes, sex in the early stages of pregnancy is safe if the right precautions are taken. This is what makes sex during the first trimester safe (1):

• Your uterus has strong muscles, which reduces the possibility of a miscarriage. During intercourse, the penis does not go beyond the vagina, so your baby is safe. Ensure that your man doesn’t bring his weight down upon your stomach.
• Also, contrary to popular belief, sexual stimulation or orgasm doesn’t induce labour pain. While orgasm may cause mild uterine contractions, these rarely lead to labour.

Why Do Pregnant Women Not Feel Like Making Love in Their First Trimester?

If you are also averted from the idea of lovemaking in your first trimester, then don’t worry; you are not alone. Many women in their early trimesters, especially the first trimester, avoid sex. What’s the reason behind it? Let’s uncover it:

• The fear and anxiety that sex could harm the baby or cause a miscarriage is very common among expecting couples.
• Early pregnancy symptoms, mainly morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting, can leave you feeling close to or even having sex (2).
• With too much hormonal activity and blood flow in the body, you can frequently become exhausted, leaving no desire for sex.
• Hormonal changes can also alter your mood swings and make you cranky, despising the things that you once liked.
• Frequent bathroom visits are enough to leave you with no desire for sex altogether.
• Tender and swollen breasts can affect your sex drive.

Remember, sex is not the only way to feel intimate or loved with your partner. When first-trimester sex is off the charts, you can still move towards other forms of affection, such as cuddling, kissing, massaging each other, going on dinner dates, and more (3). Whatever you feel comfortable doing with your partner to share quality time together can be done apart from sex.

What Are the Benefits of Having Sex During Pregnancy?

What’s more, sex during pregnancy also has benefits. Some of these are (4):

1. Fitness

As sex burns calories, getting cosy with your partner can keep you physically active and fit.

2. Better Orgasms

Pregnancy increases blood flow to a woman’s genitals. So, having sex during the first trimester can give you better orgasms.

3. Happiness

It has psychological benefits, too. The release of endorphins during intimacy can make you feel relaxed, happy and better able to cope with the changes happening to your body.

4. Strong Relationship

Pregnancy can impact your sex life negatively and make your husband think that he won’t get as much sex as before. He may also refuse sex to avoid hurting the baby. But, as we mentioned above, sex during the first trimester is quite safe. So, initiate sex during pregnancy to keep your bond strong.

5. Good Sleep

While pregnancy has a plan to disrupt your sleep, sex can promote happy hormones to induce a relaxing sleep.

6. Reduces Stress

Intimacy with your partner can help you connect on an emotional level and leave tensions at bay. The endorphins released during sex reduce stress and anxiety.

When to Avoid Sex During Early Pregnancy (First Trimester)?

While intercourse in early pregnancy is usually safe for women, it’s not always the case. You should avoid sex during early pregnancy if (5):

• You have a history of miscarriages
• You feel nausea or overwhelming fatigue
• You’re pregnant with twins or multiple babies
• You have a low-lying placenta 
• You have cervical insufficiency (a condition wherein the cervix is not strong enough)
• Your partner has Hepatitis B or genital herpes, which may be transmitted to the baby via your body

Best and Safe Sex Positions for the First Trimester

The first three months of pregnancy are when you can enjoy sex in many different positions, as there are not many physical changes during this time. Most sex positions are safe in the first trimester (3). However, you should try the positions that don’t put undue pressure on the abdomen and avoid strong stimulation. The key is to be “comfortable” in whatever position you try.

1. Woman on Top

When the woman is on top, there’s no pressure on the belly. This early pregnancy sex position ensures that neither you nor your baby is affected. You can also control the depth of penetration.

2. On the Side of the Bed

You can lie on the edge of the bed with your knees bent while your husband stands facing you. This is similar to the classic missionary position. You don’t have to worry about him resting his body weight on you.

3. On the Couch

Kneel on a couch with your belly facing its back and allow him to penetrate from behind (6).

4. Spooning

Lying side-by-side in a spooning position allows shallow penetration (6).

Sex Positions You Should Avoid During the First Trimester

Not all sex positions are safe during pregnancy. Sex during the 1st trimester should be done wisely with proper knowledge. Here are a few sex positions that are best avoided during early pregnancy:

1. Standing Position

The couple stands facing each other. The husband lifts his wife up, and she wraps her arms and legs around his body. This is a sex position you should avoid as it can exert pressure on the belly.

2. Missionary Position

If you want to do it in the missionary position, make sure you place a pillow under your belly.

Note: A lot of people use scented lubricants to make sex better. It is best to avoid these during the first trimester as they may cause harm to the lining of the vagina.

Things to Remember While Having Sex in the First Trimester

There are a few things you need to keep in mind before having intercourse during the first trimester. These are (7):

1. Oral sex is safe as long as you and your partner don’t have a herpes lesion on the mouth or genitals.
2. Ensure your partner doesn’t blow air around your genital area, as this may cause an air embolism (blockage of the blood vessels by an air bubble).
3. Anal sex is also safe. Make sure not to to spread bacteria from the rectum to the vagina.
4. Bleeding after sex is not normal. Consult a gynaecologist if this happens.
5. Cramps or spotting after penetrative sex and orgasm are normal, but if you have severe and continuous cramping, or if you bleed heavily, contact your doctor (2).
6. Avoid vigorous or rough sex to avoid any harm.
7. If you have a history of pregnancy complications, it is best to consult a doctor first before having sex in the first trimester.

FAQs

1. How much sex is safe to have in the first trimester?

There is no fixed limit on how much sex is safe in the first trimester as long as there are no signs of pregnancy complications, the woman feels comfortable, and there is no pain. Since every pregnancy is unique and comes with its own set of challenges, it is best to talk to your doctor and get a go-ahead before having sex in the first trimester.

2. Can I get pregnant again after having sex during pregnancy?

Once pregnancy has occurred, the process of ovulation temporarily freezes, and the body focuses on the embryo growing inside. Although it is not common to get pregnant while being pregnant, it is not impossible either – but extremely rare.

3. Can having sex in the first trimester impact the growing baby?

No, having sex in the first trimester of pregnancy does not harm the baby, as the embryo is protected by the uterus and amniotic fluid in a healthy pregnancy (8).

4. Is it safe to have sperm inside the vagina during pregnancy?

Generally, it is safe to release sperm while having sex in a normal pregnancy. In case of a high-risk pregnancy or if you have any pregnancy complications, your doctor may advise you to avoid having sex.

Sex and pregnancy, while being pregnant in the early months, is not to be feared. Sex during pregnancy can be as pleasurable as before. You need to exercise caution when you indulge in sexual intercourse so that both you and the baby are safe from harm. It’s best to consult a gynaecologist to eliminate the chances of complications.

Also Read:

Benefits of Sex during Pregnancy
Sex during Pregnancy 2nd Trimester
Sex during Pregnancy 3rd Trimester
How to Keep Your Sex Drive Alive during Pregnancy?

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Sources References

1. NCT – Sex during pregnancy

2. ACOG – Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

3. Mayo Clinic – Sex during pregnancy: What’s OK, what’s not

4. Cleveland Clinic – Is It OK To Have Sex When You’re Pregnant?

5. Nemours KidsHealth – Sex During Pregnancy

6. UCSF Health – Sex During Pregnancy

7. Wiley Online Library – Sex During Pregnancy

8. March of Dimes – Sex during pregnancy