A lot of misconceptions exist about orgasm during pregnancy, including being detrimental to the mother and baby’s health.
Contrary to this, having sex during pregnancy is very safe and has been known to cause an improvement in the mother’s physical health, mental health, as well as emotional health.
What is an orgasm?
An orgasm is a feeling of extreme excitement that occurs during sexual activity. It is also called climaxing, or as the urban dictionary would have it “cumin.” During this period, the rate of breathing changes, and the heart may beat faster.
In women, a clitoral or vaginal orgasm causes an intensely pleasurable discharge of sexual tension, usually accompanied by contractions of the genital muscles. Sometimes, ejaculation occurs during vaginal orgasm.
A clear liquid squirts from glands close to the urethra during orgasm or extreme sexual pleasure. The glands are referred to as the Skene’s gland. If continued to be stimulated, a woman may be able to experience more than one orgasm shortly after the first.
In men, however, they usually cannot experience another orgasm until after a while. During orgasm in men, the muscles contract and semen containing sperm squirts out of the penis (ejaculation).
After orgasm, the penis and testicles shrink back to their normal size, this can last for some minutes to a few hours, and it is referred to as “the recovery phase.”
Most times, having orgasm characterizes a healthy sex life. This is not often true as some people still do enjoy sex to the fullest, even without having an orgasm.
For such people, love, intimacy, and feelings aroused are most times more satisfying than having an orgasm. They enjoy all the emotions they share with their partner, not just the orgasm.
They take out time to be sensual. For instance, by:
- Feeling the touch of each other’s skin
- Listening to the breath and heartbeat of each other
- Bathing together
- Kissing
- Massaging
- Paying attention to each other’s like and dislike
- Undressing each other
- Giving oral sex and masturbating together
Although there are lots of ways to enjoy sex without orgasm, the inability to have an orgasm can be a problem for some people and their partners. Some people find it hard to climax through sex but can climax easily through masturbation.
Some people find it hard to climax at all. If it is difficult for you to have an orgasm and it worries you, you could get help by talking to a general practitioner.
A general practitioner helps to find out if there is a physical reason behind not being able to have an orgasm. A per is referred to a sex therapist if the cause is not physical.
This therapy entails exploring the feeling one has about oneself, one’s sex life and one’s relationship, and can help a person overcome sexual problems.
Difficulty or inability to have an orgasm can be as a result of a number of things, such as:
- Inability to relax
- Stress or depression
- Insufficient stimulation or arousal
- Previous traumatic sexual experience
- Problematic relationships
Myths about sex during pregnancy
- Penetration harms the fetus: Penetration does not affect the baby; in fact, the penis doesn’t even come in contact with the baby during penetrative sex. The amniotic sac and the uterine walls shield the baby from any external force.
- A pregnant person’s sex drive disappears: In many people, libido increases during pregnancy. This could be as a result of women experiencing a surge of hormones during this time. Orgasm during pregnancy is quite essential as a woman craves for sexual satisfaction.
- Spotting is cause for concern: It becomes a cause for concern when pregnant a woman bleeds excessively. However, occasionally spotting, especially after sex, is normal and is no cause for alarm.
- Orgasm during pregnancy always induces labor: Some people avoid having sex because of the fear of preterm labor. Labour cannot be forced if the body is not ready, and no matter how often you climax, as long as the body isn’t prepared for labor, labor won’t be induced.
- Contractions from orgasm during pregnancy can cause a miscarriage: Contractions experienced during orgasm and contractions experienced during labor are two different things. Having an orgasm during pregnancy does not cause one to lose a baby prematurely.
- Pregnant people can’t use their vibrators: As long as they are clean and germ-free, vibrators are safe to use during pregnancy. Some people actually do prefer to have self stimulated sex.
- Oral sex is out of the question: A woman’s partner can still go down on her if they are both willing to experiment. Sometimes it is even more comfortable than penetrative sex. However, do not blow air into the vagina as this causes obstruction in the blood vessels.
- The baby will know: The baby is unlikely to know. It doesn’t know what is happening and certainly wouldn’t remember a thing.
- All positions are always safe during pregnancy: As much as it is safe to have sex during pregnancy, some sex positions are not desirable to prevent excessive blood flow to some part of the mother’s body and the baby as well.
Orgasm During Pregnancy
It could feel like pregnancy alters everything. In most ways, however, it does. You stop taking all those chocolates and soda you love so much and settle for a not so tasty plate of veggies.
Your body feels heavy, odd, and you no longer fit into those dresses you love so much. You don’t drink when you want to, and you don’t club when you want to.
Everything smells different, and everything tastes different. Even the tiniest odor makes you want to throw up and, of course, the paranoia that lingers every now and then.
Amongst all these, in most situations, a pregnant woman often feels a little uncomfortable bringing up the big O. You ask if it is okay to have an orgasm during pregnancy and if yes, how can one achieve that.
The answer is yes, it is perfectly okay to have an orgasm during pregnancy. Some women even claimed that orgasm felt better when they were pregnant than when they were not. It is, in fact, very great for emotional and mental well-being.
When it comes to sex during pregnancy, there are many causes of hesitation. You may feel not up to it, thanks to the morning sickness and hormones.
Your partner may be skeptical about jabbing the baby, which might hurt it or even hurt you. You might both have concerns about uterine contractions and orgasm.
If you are having doubts about having sex while you are pregnant, you should probably check in with your medical doctor whether you are fit enough to have sex. Generally, it is entirely safe to have safe when you are pregnant.
Nevertheless, if you have any of the following, your doctor might tell you to abstain from sexual activity.
- Bleeding or spotting
- Placenta previa
- Incompetent cervix
- Vasa Previa
- It is also not advisable to have sex if your water has already broken because you are more at risk of infection.
What is pelvic rest?
Pelvic rest means no vaginal sex because your pregnancy is considered high risk. This, however, does not mean that the woman is banned from all sexual activity and cannot have an orgasm during pregnancy.
The woman can still achieve orgasm without penetrative sex. High-risk pregnancy could be as a result of multiple births, previous pregnancy complications, etc.
What a pregnancy orgasm feels like by trimester
First trimester
In the first trimester, sex may be great, or it may suffer from false starts. This minute a woman feels like having sex, and in the next, she is all irritated and nauseous.
On the other hand, the body becomes more tender and responsive to every slightest touch. For instance, your breast may be more delicate to the touch and, therefore, more easily aroused by yourself or your partner.
Most times, libido increases too, along with the natural lubrication in the vagina. These things can lead to a quicker and more satisfying orgasm during pregnancy.
Sometimes the discomfort of the first trimester symptoms makes it impossible for a pregnant woman to enjoy sex, and she has to let it pass to resume a healthy sex life.
Second trimester
When the discomfort of the first trimester is over and the complications with the third trimester are yet to come, sex during the second trimester may be the most enjoyable and the most satisfying.
Few things you might experience
- A more pleasurable orgasm: The main reason for this may be the increased blood flow during pregnancy. The uterus and vaginal area become more stuffed, and this can increase the level of sensitivity. For most people, this means more pleasure and more natural orgasm, although, for some people, it is not so.
- You may feel cramps or post-orgasm uterine contractions: These are not out of place, and they can even occur when you are not pregnant. These contractions aren’t labor, and they do not induce labor. These cramps usually go away with the right amount of sleep or rest.
- The stomach may feel hard: Whether you are pregnant or not, the hard stomach is a normal experience during orgasm. But with your more extended belly and stretched skin, you are more likely to notice this sensation.
- The release of hormones may increase: Your body produces more oxytocin during pregnancy and in orgasm during pregnancy, even more, are released. And that is going to feel more exciting.
Third trimester
During this period, sex may be more difficult. For one thing, you feel very heavy and look very heavy, and your baby bump may be awkward to carry, and it’s complicated to figure out which position should work.
Also, you may have a harder time reaching orgasm. With the baby occupying more space in the uterus, the muscles may not be able to contract fully as they need in other to climax.
Note: Whether it involves one person two or more, an orgasm is still an orgasm. So self-stimulation and masturbation are completely safe during pregnancy.
The use of sex toys is also safe of you so desire unless you have been advised by your doctor to abstain or to observe pelvic rest. Remember to practice good hygiene and keep any toys you use safe and clean.
Now is the time you need to worry about sexually transmitted diseases that can be transmitted to your body by a penis, a finger, or a toy.
Can orgasm induce labor?
At a stage towards the end of pregnancy, you become eager to get it done with. Whether you have passed your delivery date or you are nearing it, you might wonder what the things you can do to induce labor are.
You might be ready to do anything to get the baby out, depending on how you are feeling.
In some cases, taking spicey food and taking a walk could help, but in some, they aren’t seemingly effective. Your doctor might suggest that you should have sex with your partner. Orgasm during pregnancy may stimulate labor in several different ways.
In your second and third trimester, the uterus hardens after sex, and you might have noticed this. This is because false labor contractions may set off as a result of the contractions you have after orgasm.
These false labor contractions are not real, and they usually go away with a change in position, water, or rest. You may want to pay more attention to these contractions as your date draw closer.
This is because, at some point, these tightenings can turn out to be actual labor. Although it is yet to be proven, but there are still beliefs that sex may initiate labor.
According to scientists, of all the prostaglandin containing substances in the body, semen contains the most concentrated form.
These prostaglandins are deposited near the cervix during sexual intercourse and can help make it soft to prepare for dilation, and it may even cause uterine contractions.
Beyond that, contractions of the uterus as a result of female orgasm may also bring about labor. Again, tightenings might be experienced in the lower abdomen after sexual intercourse. This might just be false labor, but if it gets stronger and more rhythmic, then it might be the real deal.
Oxytocin, also called “love hormone,” plays a vital role in reproduction, romantic relationship, sex, and even creating a connection between baby and a caregiver. The release of this hormone usually accompanies orgasm.
Oxytocin is a natural form of Pitocin ( a synthetic hormone you may receive in a drip if you have formal induction at a hospital).
Research says that although sex, to an extent, could help to induce labor if the body is not ready, nothing you do would get you going. The uterine contractions and the oxytocin may simply supplement the process that is already at work.
Studies also showed that women who were sexually active while pregnant tend to deliver sooner with little induction than their counterparts who weren’t active sexually.
Having certified that it is entirely safe to have an orgasm during pregnancy provided you aren’t experiencing certain complications such as incompetent cervix, placenta previa, or preterm labor, where you have been placed on pelvic rest.
Couples should endeavor to remain sexually active and consider the following to ensure a spicy, healthy sex life.
- Keep it fresh: It is still safe to enjoy most of the position you like before pregnancy. If it gets uncomfortable, try out new positions that feel good and comfortable.
- Indulge in safe sex: Even though you are heavy, it is still advisable to take precautions to guard against sexually transmitted infections, which one can get from oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
- Don’t allow your partner to blow into your vagina during oral sex: Doing so may cause what is called air embolism. This means that air obstructs the blood vessels, and it is dangerous for both you and your baby.
- Be cautious during anal sex: Since the anus has too many bacteria, any vaginal penetration may spread bacteria into the vagina. A pregnant woman may still develop an infection that can spread to your developing baby even when the mucus plug is put in place to protect the uterus from bacteria.
- Do not have sex if your water is broken: Sex may introduce bacteria into the vaginal canal. Bacterial infection can easily reach your baby when the membranes are ruptured.
- Contact your doctor: Reach out to your doctor or head to the emergency room if you experience anything like a gush of fluid, pain or severe cramping, or heavy bleeding after sex.
Orgasm or sex does not set one into full labor, but you may still experience false labor. It usually does not come in a predictable pattern, and it feels like hardening of the uterus.
During real labor, contractions are regular, lasting between 30 to 70 seconds and do not cease, even after you have rested or changed position.
Conclusion
Orgasm is an intense feeling of excitement every couple wishes to feel each time they have sex. Pregnant women aren’t an exception, this feeling is perfectly normal, and it is advisable for a pregnant woman to get in between the sheets and climax in the best possible kind of way.
Contrary to the popular misconceptions about orgasm during pregnancy, it has been proven to have a tremendously positive effect on the health of mother and child.
Have you ever experienced orgasm during pregnancy? How often do you experience orgasm during pregnancy? Kindly share tips or suggestions that you feel other readers may benefit from in the comments below.
