Is It Safe To Have Oral Sex During Pregnancy?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, sex during pregnancy is perfectly safe — and some women enjoy it even more because the increased blood flow to the vaginal area can also increase their sensitivity. However, as the pregnancy continues, some women may find that oral sex is easier and more comfortable for them and their partner.

Here are some things to keep in mind before engaging in oral sex during pregnancy.

Oral Sex and Air Embolisms

One important thing to remember when engaging in oral sex during pregnancy is that your partner should never blow air into the vaginal area. While this usually isn’t a problem, the gust of air might block a blood vessel, causing an air embolism which can be serious and even life-threatening for mom and baby both if it becomes lodged in the heart or the lungs. Talk to your partner about this ahead of time just to be on the safe side.

Oral Sex and Disease Transmission

Another important thing to remember is that oral sex — whether you are pregnant or not — can cause disease transmission. If you are worried that you or your partner might be infected, be sure to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases before engaging in oral sex or other sexual contact. If you know for sure that you are HIV positive, you might also want to discuss extra precautions to keep you and your partner safe. For instance, some doctors recommend that men wear a dental dam during sex. This help protect against the spread of disease.

Some of the most common forms of STD’s during pregnancy include herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia, all of which can be transmitted through oral sex. They can also lead to serious pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preterm birth and, in the case of gonorrhea, an eye infection which can lead to blindness after birth.

Is not just STD’s that you have to worry about, either! It is also not a good idea to have oral sex if your partner has cold sores. These are caused by a virus and that virus can spread to the vaginal area — and that can be harmful to you and your baby both.

Oral Sex and Semen

Many women wonder if it is ok to perform oral sex on their partners while pregnant — and if so, if it is okay to swallow semen in the course of this act. The answer is that swallowing semen is perfectly safe, as most of it will be broken down in the digestive system anyway. The exception to this is if your partner is positive for an STD, in which case you should discuss guidelines for safe oral sex and other sexual contact with your doctor. This will protect both you and your unborn baby.

Communicate About Oral Sex During Pregnancy

If you have concerns about oral sexing during pregnancy, good communication is really important. Remember to talk to your doctor about this issue if you have any underlying medical conditions that you are concerned about. Also remember that your doctor might recommend that you not have oral sex (or vaginal sex) if you are at a risk for miscarriage: an orgasm can stimulate uterine contractions which can cause preterm later or loss of the pregnancy altogether.

It is also important to talk to your partner about sexual needs and expressions as the pregnancy advances. Every couple is different — so find out what is right for you both. Open, loving communication between the two of you can allow you to experiment with different forms of sexual expression and to enjoy your sexuality throughout the course of your pregnancy.

The takeaway here is that, while oral sex is generally considered to be safe during pregnancy, keeping the possibility of complications like air embolisms and disease transmission in mind will help you make safe decisions that will keep you and your unborn baby healthy!

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