How Sex May Change Throughout Your Pregnancy

During pregnancy, each trimester brings a different set of changes to your body, your mindset, and your comfort level—and these can affect many things, including your sex life.

The good news is that, assuming you want it, sex is safe for most people during pregnancy (it may even be beneficial in some ways). It’s a good idea, though, to first consult your doctor to be sure you don’t have any complications that could make it off-limits. And it’s also important to know that your sexual appetite and enjoyment may change as your body changes.

“It’s quite common for couples to struggle with sex during pregnancy,” says Candice Hargons, Ph.D., an associate professor of counseling psychology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.