CYNICS HEALTH INFO

Archive for December, 2006

Pregnancy is a period during which the sexuality are often changing. The majority of pregnant women say they have changed in this regard, compared to before pregnancy. It must be said that, in pregnant women, there are several realities: certainly, it can always be a sexuality erotic, but are reflected also a sexuality woman-mom (and elsewhere as well partner-papa) with their experiences emotional different, and their concerns for the good health of the child.

In the past, in some civilizations sexual intercourse should be more frequent (it was thought that the semen fed the fetus). Our days the pregnancy is placed under medical supervision and sexual intercourse have long been considered by doctors before all, as a potential source of complications of pregnancy. The fear which has resulted has played an important role in the amendments of sexual behavior of couples. Over 60 studies have been carried out during the fifty years on this theme of sexuality during pregnancy. They have explored on the one hand the components of the sexuality of pregnant women (desire, fun, orgasm…) and of the other hand, the consequences of the reports on the pregnancy and the fetus, thus enabling us to have today of objective data.

EVOLUTION OF THE DESIRE
It reduces often during the first quarter. The fatigue, nausea, somnolence do not favor the interest sexual ! In addition, emotionally,  a woman lives very strongly this new experience of the presence of the child in it. The couple is still under the effect of the announcement of pregnancy. During the second quarter, desire is variable of a woman to the other. If the feeling of well-being and the demise unpleasant symptoms of the beginning of the pregnancy promote its awakening, the amendments injury, weight, the fear of affect the child, the image socio-familial of the pregnant woman, particularly for the man the image of women-mom, are factors which may on the contrary inhibit the desire.

In addition, a certain degree of drought vaginal can be observed. The penetration can then be less pleasant and painful, increasing the fear of harm the baby and reducing the desire. Ultimately, many women have a desire and a sexual activity more important than before pregnancy. But in others, the decline of desire observed during the first quarter continues during the second. The third quarter is often associated with a lack of interest sex. The changes are more tangible net. The reports may become uncomfortable. A can trigger orgasme uterine contractions assimilated, in women, at the risk of premature delivery and the incentive to avoid want to renew this experience.

In the month prior childbirth sexual activity is often reduced: the reasons physical already cited are compounded increased fear to trigger the birth. In reality, in the majority of cases, the reports may be prosecuted without damage until the last days of pregnancy. Of course the frequencies of the activity and sex is changing in parallel to the desire. As regards the sexuality of fathers, very few objective data exist. One imagines easily of the psychological difficulties linked to this new situation to which they are to adapt with the presence of the child to the interior of the woman. Many men cite the fear of him harm on the occasion of the reports.
DEVELOPMENTS OF PLEASURE, OF ORGASM, AND THE SEXUAL SATISFACTION
They are very variable of a woman to the other and cannot therefore be summarized.
Some women consider weaker during pregnancy. Other related of stronger sensations. Some say they have had their first orgasm during the pregnancy (especially during the third quarter). Some are experiencing a orgasm during childbirth. It is important to understand that it is variants natural, revealed by the replies to questionnaires, the experience of doctors … there is no standards in this field. If it is rather recommended to continue the sexual relations in the course of a normal pregnancy, there has not to blame themselves for a decline in the desire or pleasure.
SEXUAL INTERCOURSE EXPOSED TO RISKS DURING PREGNANCY?
Meadows of 50 per cent of women fear that the reports are harmful to the pregnancy. In a recent Canadian study the majority of pairs that had been faced with a problem during their pregnancy believed that their sex could be the case. What is it really?

The results of different objective studies allow the following conclusions:
- The duration of the pregnancy is not correlated to the frequency of sexual intercourse. These are not can therefore not be shortened.
- There has not significant association between sexual activity and the risk of premature birth.

One can thus consider that, when pregnancy is progressing smoothly, sexual activity can be continued “normally”. If a problem occurs, we must take the opinion of a specialist and ask him questions as to the risks to the continuation of reports (in particular in the event of placenta praevia and of the threat of premature birth).

SPECIFIC CASES OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND OTHER INFECTIONS AIDS (HIV) :
At a mom positive but dealt with, the risk of transmission of the virus to the child is currently less than 5 %. This means therefore taking over of the pregnancy by a specialised team. Several unknown persist as to the period and the mechanism of the transmission of the virus to child. If the partner has history of HIV infection or a risk to be HIV-positive, it is equally capital to use constantly a condom. It must therefore not to have that reports protected.

HERPES :
In case of genital herpes recent, there is a risk of contamination of the eyes of baby by the virus during childbirth, which could lead to serious complications (keratitis herpetic). This can lead to achieve a cesarean section to avoid any risk of contact eyes with the virus.

OTHER INFECTIONS:
Infections “mundane » urinary or vaginal seem no more frequent in women who have sex during pregnancy. However, the occurrence of symptoms suggestive an infection (abnormal discharge, burns urinary or vaginal …) must lead the woman to consult.

PRACTICAL ADVICE
1 – There is no reason to interrupt sexual relations in the course of a pregnancy which usually takes place.
2 – The need to consult in case of signs abnormal (vaginal discharge, bleeding, burns…) especially in the second half of pregnancy. That there or not sex !
3 – If for any reason (complications of pregnancy, refusal or blocking of one of the two partners,…) reports with penetration should be discontinued, it would be important to pursue a sexual relationship without penetration : Caresses, games sexual, masturbations reciprocal,… . This does nothing night in the fetus while this persistent sexual relationship continues the complicity love, maintains a intimacy and a balanced relationship that will benefit the balance of family after the arrival of the baby and the resumption of the reports after childbirth. Psychologists consider that the continuation of a relationship during pregnancy is important for the establishment of a triangulation of the future adequate family (the family relationship would be less to be unbalanced by hypertrophy of mother-child relationship at the expense of the marriage link).
4 – The positions: with the pregnancy which advance, some might become uncomfortable. It will then avoid all those where the woman would feel ” crushed ” by the weight of the man or those where the woman is flat belly. For example:
- The position classic called the missionary » (man above the woman, itself on the back) may be continued long enough. In reality, as the man may avoid weigh on the belly of its partner in falling within his body by a support on the hands.
- The position woman dominant, astride, becomes one of the less uncomfortable and of the most appreciated, limiting if necessary the depth of the penetration.
- The positions lateral are also more comfortable for women (especially at the end of pregnancy)  : face to face, each on the side, quickly limited by the protrusion of the stomach, woman turning the back to the man, both on the side, with the inconvenience for it to not see its partner. Finally, the woman may lie on the back and him on the side, the more or less perpendicular to it, surrounded by the two legs of its partner (position ” scissors “).

In any case, with the common sense and a bit of curiosity, couples are able to locate the positions more comfortable.

5 – The breasts may become sensitive, even painful, during the pregnancy because under tension. It should, if it was the case, taken into account when caressing or of the choice of positions.
6 – In case of drought vaginal, the penetration risk of becoming less pleasant. The use of a lubricant would suffice to remedy.
7 – In case of history of sexually transmitted disease (or risk of having a), use a condom.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigations indicate that if 76 per cent of pregnant women think they should about their sexuality to a doctor, only 29 % ‘ dare  » address the subject. Meadows of a woman on two considers that it is embarrassing to speak. The sexuality of pregnant women, of our days, remains a taboo subject (this is only recently that certain actresses or top models have for the first time asked naked during pregnancy this which has also much shocked !). Do not hesitate to ask your obstetrician issues which you would come to the spirit.

It is true that the activity and the sexual behavior change during the course of pregnancy. Sexual interest can reduce or, on the contrary, increase, according to its stadium. In any case, the fear of affect the child must no longer be a pretext to restrict the reports, provided to respect some precautions. The abstinence has no reason to be during a normal pregnancy. On the contrary, continue sexual activity during pregnancy (either by penetration, by caresses or any other way) strengthens links of the couple, prepares a home balanced of the child and reduces the risk of sexual problems in the period following childbirth.