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Chapter 18 - Special Pregnancies and Sex

from Section 2 - Specific Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2022

By
Evangelia Vlachodimitropoulou Koumoutsea  and
Cynthia Maxwell
Edited by
Dan Farine  and
Pablo Tobías González
Dan Farine
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Pablo Tobías González
Affiliation:
Hospital Universitario Infanta Cristina de Parla, Madrid
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Summary

Women and their partners frequently enquire whether sexual activity is permitted during pregnancy and its potential consequences. There is limited evidence to provide guidance on sexual activity in higher-risk pregnancies complicated by maternal disease. This chapter outlines the existing recommendations for a range of medical conditions and provides useful recommendations for patients, partners, and physicians. Sex is generally considered safe in pregnancy but may require adaptations for improved safety and pleasure. Several factors need to be taken into consideration in the context of maternal conditions, including physical discomfort and limitations, fear of injury to the individual or the fetus, as well as physical awkwardness with increasing gestation. However, abstinence is very rarely recommended in the context of maternal disease in pregnancy.

Keywords

intercoursepregnancyobesityinflammatory bowel diseasechemotherapypregnancy complications
Type
Chapter
Information
Sex and Pregnancy
From Evidence-Based Medicine to Dr Google
 , pp. 128 - 137
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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