Healthier Scotland. Scottish Government

Sexual health and pregnancy

Existing STIs and pregnancy

If you know or suspect you have an STI, tell your GP doctor or midwife. Depending on what kind of infection you have, you may still be able to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child.

Some infections lessen your chances of becoming pregnant.

For infections that can't be cured completely, such as Herpes and HIV, steps can be taken to lessen the chances of the virus passing from mother to child.

After birth, parents and carers may need to take extra care to make sure they don't pass any STIs to the child.

Before trying for a child, both partners should consider getting tested.

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Catching an STI during pregnancy

Catching and STI during pregnancy can cause problems for both mother and child. The infection may be passed to the child during pregnancy, labour, or during childhood.

If you are pregnant and suspect you may have caught an STI, tell your midwife or doctor immediately.

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Sex during pregnancy

Yes, you can enjoy sex during pregnancy. Some women find that pregnancy increases their sex drive for a time and both men and women often find pregnancy quite sexy!

However, if you have a history of miscarriage or early labour, speak to your midwife or doctor about when it might be safest to avoid sex.

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Benefits of sex during pregnancy

It can be a good idea for partners to enjoy each other sexually before baby arrives. Loving sex could help keep your relationship strong.

After childbirth, having normal sex will not be possible for a while. Most new parents find the energy and time for sex is in short supply.

Sex can also help your body prepare for labour by keeping the same muscles used to push baby out in tone.

If baby is ready to be born, having sex can help get labour started. Substances in semen called prostaglandins help soften the woman's cervix and hormones released by nipple stimulation encourage the womb to contract.

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Tips for better, safer sex during pregnancy

The main rule is that, unless you're both 100% sure you're free of STIs, use a condom or practice safer sex alternatives.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• babies are well protected in the womb
• be gentle and don't penetrate the vagina to deeply
• baby won't mind – it has no clue what's happening.

Later in pregnancy:

• be prepared to try different positions to get comfy
• haemorrhoids are common so avoid anal sex
• unprotected sex can help start labour if baby's overdue

Pregnant women might experience contractions during and after sex but these won't be strong enough to start labour if you're not ready to give birth.

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