Discomfort During Intercourse While Pregnant

Your body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy and this can come with different aches, pains, and discomfort. For some women, this can largely impact their day-to-day activities, sex being one of them.  

When it comes to pregnancy sex, it can be difficult to know what is a normal part of the pregnancy and what requires medical attention. Let’s take a look at what discomfort may mean during pregnancy sex.

Key Takeaways

• It’s totally safe in most cases to remain sexually active throughout pregnancy, although there will be times when intercourse is uncomfortable or painful while pregnant.
• Things like changing positions and experimenting with new types of foreplay and physical intimacy can help relieve discomfort in many cases.
• If you experience severe pain, bleeding, itching, and burning while urinating, contact a doctor right away to identify the cause and ensure it’s not something that could endanger you or the pregnancy.

Causes Discomfort During Sex While Pregnant

Many women complain of discomfort during sex, so you are not alone. Your body is going through significant changes and sex can be negatively affected. This discomfort can be caused by the following. 

Your Growing Belly

As your belly grows bigger the more uncomfortable you can get during sex. Not only that but some sexual positions can become harder because of your growing belly, making it hard to find a rhythm. While sex is perfectly safe for the baby even in the weeks leading up to delivery, you can avoid positions that put an excessive amount of weight on your stomach. 

Anxiety

Pregnancy can make you anxious for a variety of reasons and this can make it difficult to focus on sex. Studies have shown that the libido can decrease when a partner is extremely anxious. Especially as the third trimester. n This can be more pronounced if the pregnant partner struggled with infertility and conceived through assisted reproductive treatments.

If anxiety during pregnancy is having a serious effect on your life, sexually or otherwise, talk to your healthcare provider about strategies for addressing it. The compassionate healthcare professionals at Dallas IVF will walk with you and guide you on managing it and reducing its impact on your health and your pregnancy.

Increased Sensitivity

During pregnancy, any form of touch can make some women uncomfortable. Sensitivity can be attributed to the rise in blood flow to the breasts and pelvic region. This discomfort can make sex nearly impossible. 

It’s important to maintain open communication with your partner during pregnancy, letting your partner know how you feel every step of the way. 

Hemorrhoids

The National Institute of Health estimates that 25 to 35 percent of pregnant people get hemorrhoids at some point during their pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester. Hemorrhoids, or piles, are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum. They can be extremely painful, making sex uncomfortable or impossible, depending on where they are located. In some cases, you may need to put off sex until they clear up.

Vaginal Dryness

Fluctuating hormones during pregnancy can reduce your vagina’s ability to lubricate itself causing vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness impacts sex life, preventing you from having sex as often as you’d like to. In that case, there are a wide variety of over-the-counter options available for lubricants and vaginal moisturizers, which can reduce discomfort during intercourse as well as in day-to-day life. When choosing a lubricant, go for a water-based lubricant because they are safer to use. 

Infection

Pain during sex when pregnant can also be an indication of an infection. Infections are the cause of more than 10 percent of pregnancy-related deaths worldwide, with nearly 30 percent of these infections originating in the urinary tract.

For this reason, any itching or burning during sex or urination, pain in the lower back or around the kidneys, or urine that is cloudy or has a particularly strong smell, may indicate an infection that needs treatment. Most bladder infections can be cleared with a simple course of antibiotics, so it’s important to contact a healthcare professional swiftly to begin treatment early.

Pregnancy-related infections include:

• Urinary tract infection
• Yeast infections
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Sexually transmitted infections

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy could be the cause of discomfort. This is a condition where a fertilized egg implants itself outside of the womb, typically in one of the fallopian tubes. If left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to rupture.

Signs of an ectopic pregnancy include:

• Pelvic pain
• Unrelenting abdominal pain
• Vaginal bleeding
• Pain in the shoulders and neck in some cases.
• Discomfort when peeing
• Lightheadedness or fainting

If the fallopian tube ruptures, your life can be in danger. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek a healthcare professional immediately.

Managing Painful Sex When Pregnant

Managing discomfort during sex starts with communicating with your partner and letting them know when you’re feeling pain or are uncomfortable in any way. Other ways you can decrease pain and discomfort include:

• Try different positions to reduce pressure on the stomach. Choose positions that can allow you to control the speed and intensity of intercourse. You can also take advantage of pillows to make certain positions easier or more comfortable. 
• Using lubrication can go a long way to relieving discomfort caused by anxiety or vaginal dryness due to hormonal changes. Choose a water-based product and avoid any lubricants with scents to avoid getting a UTI. 
• If sex is still painful, you can still enjoy intimacy with your partner by participating in less uncomfortable activities like a massage or oral sex. 

The Bottom Line

Pregnancy itself can be quite uncomfortable and for some women, this can get worse when sex is added into the mix.. While some forms of discomfort during sex are part of the pregnancy, other aches and pains can signal a serious issue that needs medical attention. 

In healthy pregnancies, sex is perfectly safe. However, when there’s any discomfort or pain during sex that doesn’t die down, it could be a sign of something more serious that needs to be addressed. If the pain is persistent or is accompanied by consistent bleeding, it’s time to talk to a healthcare professional.