Masturbation and Sex Toys During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is such a glorious time! Everything is new, and each day is an opportunity to experience some novelty. Oh, wait, that actually sounds quite scary, right?

Yup, because pregnancy, although a miracle, is essentially a wild ride into the unknown. Sure, you can read all the books you can get your hands on and listen to the wisdom other women bestow upon you. But, at the end of the day, your pregnancy will be a uniquely singular experience.

Thus, it’s entirely logical for you to be somewhat scared. It’s also sensible to have many questions. For example, many women have a lot of questions about pregnancy sex and masturbation during pregnancy. Is it perfectly safe? Will it cause preterm labor? Will it cause vaginal bleeding?

Is It Safe to Have Sex While Pregnant?

The good news is that any and all sexual activity is fine as long as you don’t have a high-risk pregnancy. Of course, to maintain a healthy pregnancy, you should check in with your doctor about satisfying your sex drive. You need to ask both about penetration and orgasms — will they pose a risk for your pregnancy?

If you have a typical, healthy pregnancy, there’s really no reason not to have sex. That’s especially true if you have a high interest in sex and an increased sexual appetite. Sexual activity is a potent stress reliever, and it comes with quite a few health benefits for both the mother and the baby. It can stabilize blood pressure, exercise the pelvic muscles to make the labor, birth, and after-birth easier, and it can make you feel better.

What About Sex Toys?

Many pregnant women find that their window of opportunity for sexual activity during pregnancy comes at weird times. That’s why some of them have trouble “scratching that itch.” They might be in the mood to have an orgasm or a few at all the wrong times (while their partners are at work, for example).

This issue is a massive one for many women who find that their sexual desire is at its peak at mid-day, for example, and aren’t really that interested in having sex in the evenings due to exhaustion. That’s perfectly reasonable, given that gestating a baby is no easy task.

So to satisfy their urges and desires, some pregnant women would turn to sex toys but are scared they might be harmful. Well, rest assured, they aren’t.

If your doctor signed off on sexual activity, you can rest (masturbate) easily and use all your favorite toys. Using dildos, vibrators, clitoral stimulators, and other sex toys is just like having sex with the “flesh-and-blood” thing. In other words, there’s no added risk.

Sex Toy Tips (Safety First)

When using sex toys, you must stay safe. Just because they don’t pose a risk to your baby doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind.

For example, it’s imperative you clean the toys adequately before and after each use. Pregnant women are more prone to vaginal and uterine infections. So you’ll want to do everything in your power to avoid contaminating the pelvic area in general.

Your safest bet is to pick toys made out of non-porous body-safe materials. Pair up silicone toys with a water-based lubricant and throw in a potent toy cleaning agent as an extra precaution. That’s the perfect recipe for a pregnancy sex-toy kit.

Keep in mind not to use toys for multiple purposes, especially not during one masturbation session. Your anal toys are for anal play, and you shouldn’t insert them in your vagina. That isn’t a mix-and-match situation due to the risk of infection we already mentioned.

It’s also vital to note that you should refrain from using sex toys if you already have an infection. The same goes for women who have a weak cervix, uterine contractions, or are at risk of premature labor. A low-lying placenta is also a condition that doesn’t mix well with sex toys. Of course, if you have any of these issues or have had them during any of your previous pregnancies, your doctor will warn you of sex and masturbation.

Know more about low-lying placenta in this Health Line Article.

Any Alternatives?

If your doctor was adamant that you shouldn’t have penetrative sex, don’t worry — there are plenty of alternatives. Vaginal penetration isn’t the only way to reach orgasm. What’s more, due to the increased blood flow to the pelvic area during pregnancy, your vagina will be more sensitive than usual, which might make vaginal penetration uncomfortable.

If that’s the case, you can always fulfill your needs with masturbation, oral, and anal sex. Using clitoral toys or anal sex toys or having your partner go down on you will give you what you’re craving without exposing you to any additional risk.

However, having mind-blowing orgasms isn’t just a good idea because it will make you feel better or take that edge off; it will also help you relax. During and after orgasm, our brains release specific chemicals into our systems. These are known as happy chemicals. Dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin all flood our brains during and after orgasm and relax our central and peripheral nervous systems, sending relieving signals to our bodies. They also diminish or remove stress hormones.

That’s particularly cricoač for the baby’s health. The mom and the baby are two separate entities. Still, they share a body. That means that the mom’s stress also affects the baby. What’s more, mom’s happy hormones will also have a positive effect on the baby. Because stress can hinder the baby’s development, maintaining an active sex life (if permitted) is actually a double whammy — excellent both for the mom and the baby.

A Few Parting Words

Overall, there’s no reason you couldn’t use sex toys, masturbate, or have sex during pregnancy. It’s natural, safe, and quite satisfactory. But, if you experience any excessive vaginal bleeding, symptoms of infections, persistent pain, or anything else that might seem off to you, stop immediately and consult your doctor. After all, better safe than sorry, right?