Let's start right away with the main takeway: Yes, if the pregnancy is proceeding normally, without risks and complications, then you can have sex.
What if I don't want sex?
This is the norm. Studies show that for most women in the last trimester, all indicators of sexuality (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, general satisfaction) are almost halved compared to the first and second trimesters. At this time sex occurs mainly on the initiative of husbands [1], although dad’s sex drive also usually sharply decreases by the third trimester [2].
What makes the desire disappear?
There are objective reasons for this: with a big, heavy belly it is simply more difficult to move. In addition, changes in hormonal levels lead to increased fatigue — and a woman gets tired faster than she can reach orgasm [1].
In addition, men are pressed by another serious psychological factor: they begin to perceive a woman as a mother [2]. Also, both men and women lose libido due to fears they may hold — fear that sex will harm the baby, mama, or provoke premature birth [1].
Can sex provoke childbirth?
With a normal pregnancy — no. But almost everyone has a risk factor of some kind. Usually, both doctors and expectant mothers are worried about premature birth if it occurred in earlier pregnancy or there are signs of a weak cervix, previa or placental abruption. A review of studies [3] on risk factors indicates that there are situations where caution is indeed necessary.
Risks in which you can have sex:
a history of premature birth (if there are no other obstetric risks);
a shortened cervix, if the opening has not begun and there is no bloody discharge;
You can have sex without penetration (oral, petting) with:
cerclage (stitches on the cervix);
Sex is best avoided if
placental abruption;
long training contractions associated with orgasm;
soreness with arousal and orgasm (especially if mama had a C-section with another pregnancy).
