Is it possible to satisfy yourself during pregnancy?

Is it possible to masturbate during pregnancy?

There is only one contraindication for masturbation during pregnancy - the threat of miscarriage. In all other cases it is not prohibited. Almost every person has used this method of obtaining sexual satisfaction at least once in their life. You can often come across the opinion that masturbation is something shameful and forbidden. It is surrounded by many myths and rumors, sometimes equating this natural process with a mental disorder. However, doctors do not agree with this point of view.

It is recognized that masturbation helps relieve stress, relax and guarantee sexual satisfaction. Therefore, if a desire arises, you should not resist it.

But still, pregnancy is a special period in a woman’s life. Many expectant mothers doubt whether it is possible to masturbate during pregnancy. This question is especially relevant, since it is during the period of bearing a child that a woman may experience increased sexual desire due to hormonal changes that occur.

It is not always possible to satisfy it in a standard way. Unfortunately, a common situation is when a man, observing physical changes in his wife (abdominal growth, weight gain, etc.), ceases to have sexual interest in her.

Also, many future fathers, having learned about the imminent addition to the family, refuse intimacy for fear of harming the baby. According to doctors, these fears are not justified if the woman is healthy and the pregnancy is progressing well. Thus, you can masturbate during pregnancy and have sex if there are no medical contraindications. In the second case, you need to choose only safe sex positions.

Orgasm during pregnancy - good or bad?

Some pregnant women have very strong doubts about whether they can have an orgasm. Patients are very often embarrassed by their body or uncomfortable positions, as a result of which they refuse sex or cease to feel satisfaction during sexual intercourse.

In fact, orgasm is synonymous with pleasure. Accordingly, a pregnant woman should not deny herself this. There are more advantages from it than disadvantages. There are many reasons for sexual satisfaction during pregnancy.

Reasons not to refuse orgasm during pregnancy:

• production of the hormone of joy - endorphin;
• release of accumulated sexual energy;
• stimulation of labor at 39–40 weeks;
• stress reduction;
• improved blood circulation against the background of increased blood flow;
• removal of muscle tone.

Despite the above positive aspects of orgasm, it can pose a threat to pregnant patients. Its main disadvantage is the high risk of fetal rejection.

How is masturbation beneficial for pregnant women?

The first and obvious benefit of masturbation is that it provides an outlet for sexual energy. If, despite the desire, a woman constantly restrains herself, this can result in neurosis and worsen her psychological state. A sign that the expectant mother needs sexual release are erotic dreams.

The second reason not to deny yourself pleasure is the improvement of blood circulation in the pelvis that occurs during orgasm. Due to this, masturbation during pregnancy activates blood flow to the uterus, which has a positive effect on the development of the child, who receives maximum nutrients and oxygen.

Another reason why self-pleasure can be useful is that in some situations it is preferable to sex for pregnant women. The most common ones are:

• one of the partners has a sexually transmitted disease;
• sexual intercourse has become painful for the woman;
• a growing belly and weight gain make traditional types of sex uncomfortable for the expectant mother.

In addition, during orgasm, which is easier to achieve during masturbation, endorphins (pleasure hormones) enter a woman’s blood, which have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. The child also receives some of them. It has been noted that expectant mothers who regularly receive sexual release are less likely to experience loss of strength, insomnia and depression. Read more about the causes and signs of depression in pregnant women→

How does orgasm affect the fetus?

The influence of orgasm on the baby's condition worries most pregnant women. Many patients wonder whether it can cause a miscarriage or stimulate labor due to involuntary contractions of the uterus.

In fact, the uterus contracts and must do so throughout life. Otherwise, it loses its elasticity. Many women today enter the maternity hospital at 40–41 weeks with a post-term pregnancy. Half of these patients experience the problem of weak contractions even after stimulation.

After orgasm, the uterus remains in moderate tone. She will not be able to push the baby out if it is not yet ripe or the uterus is not fully prepared for the start of labor.

Experts say that orgasm brings much more benefit than harm to the child in the womb. During the peak of pleasure, a woman produces a special hormone. It is called the hormone of joy. Once in the blood, it has a positive effect on the general emotional state of the child.

Orgasm promotes improved blood circulation, which allows the baby to receive more nutrients and oxygen. Accordingly, it is a kind of prevention of fetal hypoxia.

In what cases is masturbation contraindicated?

The fact of pregnancy in itself is not a reason to give up intimate life, including self-satisfaction. But there are still restrictions and contraindications. The greatest danger is posed by masturbation in the early stages of pregnancy if a woman is diagnosed with a threatened miscarriage, especially accompanied by spotting.

In this case, orgasm can lead to fetal rejection. Also, in the first trimester, it is recommended to abstain from any types of sex and masturbation on the days when a woman was supposed to have her next menstruation. During this period, the risk of spontaneous abortion increases significantly.

In the second and third trimester, negative consequences from self-gratification are unlikely. But, if after this a woman feels tension and stiffness in her stomach, it is better to give up masturbation.

In pregnant women with increased uterine tone, orgasm, especially clitoral orgasm, which is more intense than vaginal orgasm, can provoke premature birth. The greatest likelihood of early onset of labor occurs from the 36th week of pregnancy. Therefore, starting from this period and up to the 39-40th week, you should not engage in self-satisfaction.

The benefits of sex for a pregnant woman

During pregnancy, many women experience increased desire, become easily excitable, and experience multiple and intense orgasms. Others, on the contrary, note a decline in desire. Hormonal levels are responsible for sexuality, which is unstable during the 9 months of waiting for a baby. During the growth of the uterus, blood circulation in the pelvic organs increases, which causes an enlargement of the clitoris and increased sensitivity of the vulva. Doctors say that sex while expecting a child has many positive aspects:

• Getting rid of accumulated negative energy. Excitement after sexual intercourse affects a woman’s mood - the expectant mother feels desired, attractive and loved.
• Favorable effect on the fetus. When excited, the blood is saturated with oxygen, due to which the risk of developing hypoxia is reduced to zero.
• Preparing the cervix for the onset of labor. Gentle stimulation during intimacy is prenatal training.
• Natural stimulation. Orgasm is a natural way to trigger labor. Obstetricians and gynecologists recommend making love regularly from the beginning of the 41st week of pregnancy to speed up contractions.

How to masturbate correctly during pregnancy?

There are rules for masturbation during pregnancy, which should not be violated. Let's take a closer look at them.

In the early stages

Although it is best to avoid stimulation of the genitals and nipples in the first trimester, if the pregnancy is normal, masturbation is allowed. But at the same time, you need to limit the frequency of self-satisfaction and listen carefully to your body.

In addition, it is important to remember that clitoral stimulation is not recommended for pregnant women. Although it is easier to achieve orgasm in this way and the sensations will be brighter, the risk of uterine hypertonicity increases. You can replace caresses of the clitoris with stimulation of the labia.

If the gynecologist prescribed sexual rest, then this prohibition also applies to masturbation. In this case, you should limit yourself to hugs and kisses with your partner, waiting out the moment that is dangerous for the child.

In the later stages

Self-satisfaction in the second and third trimester, when the belly has already noticeably increased, has its own characteristics. The best position during this period is considered to be lying on your side. You should not lie on your back, as this leads to compression of the vena cava and a deterioration in the child’s blood supply.

Masturbation in late pregnancy is often accompanied by short-term uterine tone, called a post-orgasm attack. It occurs after receiving a discharge and is manifested by light pulling sensations in the lower abdomen.

To overcome unwanted tension in the uterus, you should lie on your right side and try to relax as much as possible. Calm deep breathing for 15-20 minutes promotes this.

At 39 and 40 weeks

Masturbation at the 39th week of pregnancy and later not only brings pleasure to the woman, but can also serve as a means of preparing the body for labor. At this stage, if it is necessary to stimulate labor, many obstetricians recommend expectant mothers to have sex with their husband. If this is not possible, you can replace sex with self-satisfaction. This helps prepare the cervix and makes it easier to dilate during contractions.

But in order not to harm your health, to achieve orgasm independently at any time, and especially at a later stage, you should not use various foreign objects and even special toys. The limitation is due to the fact that during pregnancy the vaginal mucosa becomes more vulnerable and is easily injured. This is facilitated by candidiasis, which often occurs in expectant mothers. Read more about the treatment of candidiasis during pregnancy→

Stimulation of the anus is also unacceptable. In the later stages, due to stagnation of blood in the pelvis and frequent constipation, the walls of the rectum in pregnant women lose their elasticity. Moreover, any impact can provoke the appearance of hemorrhoids, even if there were none before.

It is also important not to forget about hygiene. To prevent pregnancy and the upcoming birth from being complicated by infection (staphylococcus, streptococcus and other pathogenic microflora), you need to worry about keeping your hands clean before self-satisfaction.

Harm or benefit?

The amount of female hormone production increases at this time, and - which is natural - sexual fantasies appear and specific desires arise.

In the early stages, the partner can satisfy the needs, but if the pregnancy is not very successful, penetration can cause dangerous problems - causing a miscarriage.

In later stages, men are already afraid of harming the baby and show delicacy. Dissatisfaction can cause psychological problems, so masturbation during pregnancy is the only way out of the situation.

Is it possible to masturbate during pregnancy and will the “procedure” harm the unborn baby?

For a woman’s psychological comfort, sexual satisfaction is extremely important - a state in which sexual energy does not find an outlet, causes tension, and can provoke:

1. insomnia;
2. headache;
3. changeability of mood, which during pregnancy is already extremely unstable.

But you can only masturbate in cases where there are no medical contraindications. This approach makes you smile - women are unlikely to inform the doctor when talking about such activities.

Pregnant women may remain silent, but gynecologists - when pregnancy proceeds with complications - always warn that any sudden movement, stress or increased load can provoke uterine hypertonicity. Since orgasm always causes tone - not only of smooth muscles, but also of blood vessels - a woman should take into account such reactions of the body and give up sensual pleasure, at least for a while, until the condition stabilizes.

The greatest danger awaits a woman in the early stages of pregnancy, until the embryo is “qualitatively” attached to the wall of the uterus. From the 12th week the condition usually stabilizes. If the doctor has prescribed sexual rest, then to the question - is it possible to masturbate in the early stages of pregnancy - the answer is clear: “NO!” emotions - you can give yourself pleasant sensations.

Of course, if the body requires it. Dissatisfaction and desire for sex in its absence leads to congestion in the pelvic area, which impedes blood flow, and accordingly, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus is difficult.

Some women are focused on the child from the first days of pregnancy and no longer think about sensual pleasures. They do not need to force themselves to masturbate - all the undesirable consequences from lack of satisfaction originate in the brain and only then are “carried” by impulses to the corresponding organ. Women who did not want sex did not masturbate during pregnancy, and there were no negative consequences from this.

When is orgasm contraindicated?

There is an opinion that sex is harmful because during sexual intercourse the child experiences fear, and orgasm increases the threat of miscarriage. Despite the absurdity of such judgments, there is still some truth in them. Sometimes gynecologists, after examining the patient, recommend abstaining from intimacy. The risk group includes patients with the following problems: (see also: ICN - what is it?)

• isthmic-cervical insufficiency;
• pathologies of the placenta (low location, placental insufficiency, abruption);
• history of spontaneous abortion;
• leakage of amniotic fluid, spotting;
• multiple pregnancy.

It is worth noting that the benefits of a rich sex life are talked about only if the pregnant woman feels well, has no medical contraindications and wants intimacy with her partner. During pregnancy, a threat to safe development is posed by hard sex, the use of intimate toys, the use of additional stimulants, and intimacy in rivers or swimming pools.

Obstetrician-gynecologist, reproductive specialist, lactation consultant, graduated from ChSU named after. Ulyanova with a specialization in gynecology, mammology Read more »