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Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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Anal Sex during Pregnancy
QUESTION
Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I am 17 weeks pregnant and was just wondering if it was safe to have anal sex during pregnancy. Are there any risks involved?

— Curious

ANSWER
November 13, 2001
Dear Curious,
The general recommendations about anal sex hold true in pregnancy--it is for mutually consenting partners who enjoy the experience. However, if you are at any risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infection, anal sex is best avoided. This generally requires that you and your partner are in a longstanding mutually monogamous relationship, are HIV negative and do not have any risk factors for HIV (like prior multiple sex partners, intravenous drug use or male sex with men), and are free of any symptoms like genital sores or lesions that could be indicative of an STD. Also if you have hemorrhoids or any rectal bleeding anal sex can lead to more bleeding and pain.

If both partners enjoy it, and none of the above-mentioned factors are an issue, there is no particular increased risk related to pregnancy. I hope that this answers your question. Take care.

— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.

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