Reasons to Avoid Sex in Pregnancy 

Pregnant women should also be aware that if their partner has an STD, they still need to use a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom, to protect themselves.

“Most people think, ‘I am pregnant, I don’t need contraception,‘ but you still need a barrier method for protection against STDs,” says Manju Monga, MD, the Berel Held Professor and the division director of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston.

Let’s Talk About Sex During Pregnancy

“We discuss intercourse in the general prenatal discussion because a lot of women feel uncomfortable bringing into up,” Foreman says. “We tell them what is and isn’t OK.”

“I do bring up sex during pregnancy when it is contraindicated,” says Monga, who sees mainly high-risk patients. “Physicians who see low-risk pregnant patients on a day-to-day basis discuss sex at the first prenatal visit, but I tend to see women later in their pregnancy, when they develop complications.”

The bottom line when it comes to sex during pregnancy is “to have fun, listen to your body, and be open with your partner,” Salache says.