Pregnancy: I Know I'm Pregnant / Question
Published: August 19, 2009
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Is it okay to have unprotected sex while your pregnant? and let the man ejaculate inside?
Signed: Can You Have Unprotected Sex While You Are Pregnant?
Dear Can You Have Unprotected Sex While You Are Pregnant?,
A basic and simple answer to your question is that having unprotected sex when you are pregnant (as well as when you are not pregnant) can put you at risk for the transmission of STIs. As far as possible harm to the pregnant woman or the unborn child, there is no harm in having sex, or in a man ejaculating during penetration, as long as the mother-to-be is not considered to be a high-risk pregnancy and as long as the man is free of any STIs.
For a more detailed explanation, please read the following:
There are basically two reasons that TeenHealthFX wants our readers to practice safer sex if they make the decision to be sexually active:
- To prevent unwanted pregnancies.
- To prevent the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
If a woman is already pregnant, there would be no concern in having unprotected sex in terms of an unwanted pregnancy – she’s already pregnant. However, there is the possibility of the transmission of STIs for a woman if she has unprotected sex whether she is pregnant or not.
FX would like to point out that the only 100% sure way of preventing the transmission of STIs is to refrain from sexual activity. If someone chooses to be sexually active, the best way of preventing the transmission of STIs is to use a new condom each and every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If, as an adult, you are married or are in a long-term committed relationship where both partners are monogamous, neither partner has an STI, and neither partner participates in risky behaviors (such as sharing needles for drug use), unprotected sex can be considered if you are pregnant or wanting to get pregnant. However, FX recommends that all of our teen and young adult readers use a condom each and every time they have vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and that a back up birth control method (such as the pill or patch) be used in addition to condoms as extra protection against unwanted pregnancies.
As for the act of sex, penetration, and ejaculation during penetration during pregnancy, as long as a woman is not considered to be high-risk during her pregnancy, it is safe to be sexually active – there is no cause for concern for the well-being of the woman or the unborn child. There are a few situations where sex during pregnancy should be avoided for the sake of the mother and/or unborn child:
- If there is a risk of miscarriage or a history of miscarriages
- If there is a risk of pre-term labor (contractions before 37 weeks of pregnancy), that puts you at risk for delivering a premature baby
- Vaginal bleeding, discharge or cramping without a known cause
- Ruptured membranes and leakage of fluid from the amniotic sac
- Incompetent cervix (a damaged cervix that has opened too early in pregnancy)
- Placenta previa (the placenta has positioned itself abnormally low in the uterus)
- When a woman is pregnant with twins, triplets, or other multiples
- Again, if your partner has an STI, discuss with your gynecologist whether sexually activity should be avoided during pregnancy or if it is okay as long as safety precautions are used given the fact that certain STIs can be very harmful for fetuses and newborns.
If your doctor advises no sex during pregnancy, that usually includes any kind of penetration or activity that could cause sexual arousal and/or orgasm.
If you are pregnant and have questions or concerns about sexual activity during your pregnancy, please speak with your doctor. If you don't have a doctor and live in northern
If you are looking for specific information or options regarding your pregnancy, you can contact the American Pregnancy Association. If this is an unplanned pregnancy, you can call 1-800-672-2296 for help and information. And if you are pregnant, but have no medical insurance, you can call 1-800-450-0183.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The teenage pregnancy rate in the 
