If you or your sexual partner are having sex with other people during your pregnancy, it's important you use a barrier form of contraception, such as a condom, to protect you and your baby from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). you're having twins, or have previously had early labours, and are in the later stages of pregnancy.there are any problems with the entrance to your womb (cervix) – you may be at a higher risk of going into early labour or having a miscarriage.your waters have broken – it can increase the risk of infection (ask your midwife or doctor if you're not sure whether your waters have broken).

Sex may increase the risk of further bleeding if the placenta is low or there's a collection of blood (haematoma). Your midwife or doctor will probably advise you to avoid sex if you've had any heavy bleeding in this pregnancy. You might want to try some relaxation techniques or just lie down until the contractions pass.

These are known as Braxton Hicks contractions and can be uncomfortable, but they're perfectly normal and there's no need for alarm. If this happens, you'll feel the muscles of your womb go hard. Later in pregnancy, an orgasm or even sex itself can set off mild contractions. If your pregnancy is normal and you have no complications, having sex and orgasms won't increase your risk of going into labour early or cause a miscarriage. The most important thing is to talk about your feelings with your partner. You can find other ways of being loving or making love. You may find having sex very enjoyable during pregnancy, or simply feel you don't want to. This isn't something to worry about, but it's helpful to talk about it with your sexual partner. However, it's normal for your sex drive to change during pregnancy. A penis or penetrative sex toy cannot penetrate beyond your vagina, and the baby cannot tell what's going on. It's perfectly safe to have sex during pregnancy unless your doctor or midwife has told you not to.

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