Due to changes in your libido and hormones, pregnancy sex can feel different and maybe even cause worry. During my first pregnancy, I experienced no pain when engaging in a little sexual healing. My second time around, however, was met with the occasional discomfort. That led me to wonder, "does sex hurt when you're pregnant" or at the very least, is it normal if it's uncomfortable?
I was relieved when my OB-GYN told me that discomfort isn't all that uncommon during pregnancy sex. In fact, in an interview with The Bump, OB-GYN Dr. Sarah Prager said that more blood flows to your pelvic region during pregnancy, which causes extreme sensitivity and discomfort for some women during sex. Additionally, your larger-than-normal uterus sits lower in your pelvis and can be another contributor to painful intercourse.
Modern Mom also noted that areas you once considered pleasure zones can become painful during this time as well. Your breasts and nipples, once they become engorged and tender, can go from turn on to turn off. Learning to pay attention to physical discomfort can make it easier to adjust sex intensity or positions and make sex comfortable again.
If you find that sex hurts during your pregnancy, try different sex positions for your stage of pregnancy. Sometimes avoiding positions that allow for deeper penetration or don't give you control is the simplest way to get rid of discomfort. Additionally, if you reach a stage where you don't want to have intercourse whatsoever, that's OK too. There are plenty of other ways to continue intimacy with your partner.
If you are experiencing discomfort during sex, pay attention for a few pain symptoms that warrant a visit to the doctor. According to the aforementioned article from The Bump, you should call your doctor if significant pain continues after sexual intercourse or heavy bleeding occurs. Although spotting during pregnancy is not necessarily uncommon, even after sex, it can also be a reason for concern when it lasts longer than one day.
Pregnancy sex can hurt, but that doesn't mean you should just deal with it. Oftentimes the pain can be remedied by changing up positions or utilizing other intimate sexual activities. The bottom line is to make sure you're comfortable and enjoying sex during pregnancy. If you're not and feel that discomfort continues, consider talking to your doctor to be on the safe side.
