Masturbation During Pregnancy: Is it Okay?

Dec 01, 2023

masturbation while pregnant

Masturbation, as we all know, is a natural sexual activity that can give us happy hormones and can help our physical and mental well-being. But is it okay if you’re pregnant and you want to masturbate? As a first-time mom, of course, you want you and your unborn child to be safe so in this article, we will deep dive into the effects of pregnancy on you and your unborn baby!

Is it OK to Masturbate while Pregnant?

The answer is: YES! You can masturbate while pregnant.

When a woman is pregnant, their libido is through the roof because as progesterone and estrogen increase, their sexual cravings increase too.

But some cases are different though. Sometimes, pregnant women don’t have sexual urges and they have zero interest in sex and masturbation due to hormonal change and their utmost priority is to keep their vomiting, nausea, exhaustion, and changes in their body at bay.

If you still want to masturbate while you’re pregnant and you’re scared of complications, you can try gentle masturbation to fulfill your sexual appetite!

If you feel like after you masturbate and you have contractions, don’t overthink it. It is most likely Braxton-Hicks Contractions. Sometimes called “false labor”, this contraction has a tightening feeling that comes and goes and it is not painful! In addition, Braxton-Hicks contractions have no regular intervals and it usually lasts from 30 seconds up to 2 minutes.

Please note that masturbating while pregnant is applicable to low-risk pregnancies only. If you are high-risk and you still want to masturbate, it is best to ask your gynecologist if it’s okay! If they have the go signal for you to masturbate, then do it!

Does Masturbation Affect the Baby?

If you feel like your hormones are doing the work to make you extra horny, then go, masturbate! It is completely safe for the mom and the unborn baby! Don’t worry, moms and first-time moms, your unborn baby will not feel ANYTHING because the baby will not understand what is happening. Moreover, the fetus is inside the amniotic sac inside the uterus so it will not have direct contact with the outside environment. Also, masturbation while pregnant can soothe your unborn child because of the rhythmic uterine contractions that happen when you orgasm after masturbating.

When to Avoid Masturbation for Pregnant Women

May Trigger Premature Delivery for High-risk Women

Just like what we said, if you have a high-risk pregnancy, you might want to consult your doctor if it’s okay to masturbate so that you and your baby will be safe and that it will not trigger premature delivery. The safety of your baby and yourself is ALWAYS the priority.

Suffering from Maternal Gestational Diabetes

Maternal Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that is present in high-risk pregnant women that affects the function of the insulin that can make the sugar level rise. If you have MGB, it is advised to ask your doctor if it is okay to masturbate or not.

Experiencing Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is when you have high blood pressure, high levels of protein in your urine, or other sign of organ damage. This is fatal for you and the baby so if you have preeclampsia, it is best to stop masturbating for a while.

Diagnosed with Placenta Previa or an Incompetent Cervix

Placenta Previa is a condition where the placenta lies low and covers the cervix of the uterus. It can cause bleeding and other pregnancy complications. If your doctor tells you that you have Placenta Previa, you should avoid masturbation to avoid any problems during your pregnancy.

Experience Vaginal Bleeding

If you’re experiencing vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, you might want to avoid masturbating especially if your doctor advised you not to because it may lead to serious complications.

Have Uterine Infection

Avoid masturbating if you have uterine infection because it can lead to miscarriage or any complications for you and your child.

Ruptured Membranes

Ruptured Membranes happen when there is an infection in the uterus, cervix, and vagina, when you are smoking during pregnancy, when the amniotic sac is stretched too much, when you have had surgeries or biopsies to your cervix, and when you were previously pregnant and experienced ruptured membranes. It is best not to masturbate as it can put you and your baby in an unsafe position.

Intrauterine Growth Infections

Intrauterine Growth Infections happen when you have had preterm labor and miscarriage. Avoid masturbation at all cause because it may lead to premature delivery or preterm labor.

History of Preterm Labor

If you have a history of preterm labor or premature delivery, avoid masturbation because it might trigger your pregnancy.

Long Nails

If you have long nails, might as well avoid masturbation while you’re pregnant because they can tear your internal and external genitalia and might cause problems during your pregnancy! Pro-tip: Trim your nails before masturbating so you can enjoy your “me time”! *winks*

Do’s and Don’ts When Using Sex Toys

Want to use sex toys when you’re pregnant? That’s okay as long as your sex toys are clean to prevent bacteria from entering your vagina. If you have high-risk preterm labor, don’t masturbate and use sex toys especially if your doctor advised against it. Might as well be safe than sorry, moms!

Since it’s totally okay to masturbate while you’re pregnant, there might still be a problem with your pregnancy too, most especially if you are experiencing high-risk pregnancy. If you are experiencing any of what is listed in this section, consult your doctor and ask if it’s safe to masturbate.

Benefits of Masturbation for Pregnant Women

If you’re still not sold that masturbation is not okay for pregnant women, here are the benefits of having a sexy me time to yourself:

Lowers Stress levels
Improves sleep
Eases pregnancy-related discomfort and pain
Increases the release of endorphins
Brings intense pleasure
Explores your ever-changing body
Keeps your uterus exercised

With these benefits, we are 100% that a happy mother will lead to a happy baby when masturbating!

Talking to the best OB-GYN for Advice

Still have reservations if you will masturbate or not when you’re pregnant? Talk to your most trusted and experienced OB-GYN for advice because they will give you the best recommendations on what to do and what not to do when you’re pregnant and you want to masturbate. Remember ladies, your OB-GYN wants what’s best for you and your pregnancy experience so don’t be scared to ask questions about your pregnancy and masturbation while you’re pregnant!

Conclusion

Masturbation is a fun and healthy thing to do especially if you’re pregnant because of its benefits to you and your baby. If you have a low-risk and healthy pregnancy, it is best to masturbate because it is perfectly safe. To ensure your and your baby’s safety, consult your doctor to assure yourself about masturbating while pregnant.

Always remember, Happy Mommy = Happy Baby! Enjoy masturbating!