Talking With Your Doctor About Sexuality During Pregnancy

Written by yvonnethornton on June 13th, 2013

Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience, but it can also provoke a lot of mixed emotions in women. From joy to depression and anxiety, and just about everything in between, women will likely experience a full range of emotions. Their mental state is also not helped by the hormonal shifts that are taking place inside their bodies as they prepare for pregnancy and birth.

One of the most common complaints among pregnant women is the shift they experience in their sexual desire. It is hard to predict the shifts that will occur—some women may experience heightened sexual urges, while others may experience a drop or a complete lack of sexual interesting altogether. Some studies have shown a tendency for sexual practices to drop trimester by trimester, with an overwhelming majority of women not having sex in their last trimesters. Among the reasons for this seem to be concern in both men and women that sex could potentially complicate the pregnancy or cause harm to the unborn child.

It is up to the woman to decide whether or not she has an interest in sex. However, women should not feel as if they have to suppress their sexuality just because they are pregnant. It is imperative for women to open a dialogue with their doctors and to feel comfortable discussing sexual issues with her doctor. This can vastly help improve her understanding of what is and is not harmful during pregnancy, and can do much to reduce her anxieties.

Many women have a healthy and natural sex drive throughout their pregnancies, and some may even report an increase in sexual interest toward their second and third trimesters. They should not avoid sexual intercourse simply because they feel that it might do harm to their pregnancy. By speaking with their doctors, they can learn whether or not there are any real risks related to sexual activity, and in many cases they will realize their anxieties are unwarranted.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

 

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