Being pregnant can mean changing a lot about your lifestyle for you and your growing bb’s health. Suddenly, caffeine and sushi come with way more limitations, and, more generally, you’re probably Googling a ton of otherwise everyday activities to make sure they’re safe during pregnancy. It makes sense that you’d wanna be as careful with your body as possible! After all, you are growing a whole new human being inside you.
Being careful about otherwise normal activities also applies to – you guessed it – sex. Plenty of women report that their partners try to be more gentle with them during sex, but what about masturbation? Is it safe to use a vibrator or dildo while pregnant? Here are some things you should know about using a vibrator if you’re expecting.
1. Clear it with your doctor first to make sure you’re not at risk of any potential complications
Don’t be embarrassed, that’s what they’re there for! The best thing to do is to always ask your doctor, says Kecia Gaither, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, and the director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. If you’re at risk for any potential complications like placenta previa or rupture of membranes (more on some of these below), vibrators are a no-no. The best way to determine this? Talk to your doctor and make sure.
2. Generally speaking, if you’re free from any complications, it’s safe
Unless your doctor has put you on pelvic rest (which means nothing going into your vagina, whether that’s a penis or a vibrator) for a medical reason (like vasa previa, placenta previa, preterm labor, or cervical incompetence), you should be fine to vibe along, explains Tamika K. Cross, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Serenity Women’s Health & Med Spa in Texas.
3. Using external clitoral vibrators is not “more safe” than internal vibrators or vice versa
Both kinds of vibes are fine, says Cross. What you use is up to your own preference, she explains, adding that you can use whichever you like, as “there’s no specific pregnancy [vibrator]” to look for.
4. While there’s no one specific pregnancy vibe you should buy, there may be certain features in sex toys that prove to be more useful during pregnancy
Design details like offset handles for a better grip, remote controls, tethered toys, and toys that can go hands-free can make navigating around your bump easier.
Tethered vibe: Lovelife Rev by OhMiBod
SHOP NOW Rev, OhMiBod, Sinful, £64.99
If you just want a simple vibe, this one is waterproof, rechargeable, has a simple one-button control, and five patterns. What makes it a great choice for pregnancy is the finger tether, which means you don’t have to worry so much about positioning as long as you can get your hands somewhat in the vicinity of your clitoris.
Offset grip: Smart Wand 2 by LELO
SHOP NOW Smart Wand 2, LELO, £179
The curved angle of the handle here can really only help you clear your pregnancy bump without any awkward angles. As a bonus, it also works as a body massager which will probs come in handy at some point in your pregnancy.
Hands-free play: Vibration Pad by Vibepad
SHOP NOW Vibepad, Amazon, £61.99
Slap this rechargeable, waterproof vibrating pad on the floor and ride to your heart’s content if you find being on top more comfy for you during pregnancy. There are two vibration points (a small one and a large one) that can be controlled independently with the remote. Each nub has three speeds and four patterns so you def won’t be bored playing with this toy.
Remote or app-controlled panty vibe: WeVibe Moxie+
SHOP NOW Moxie+, We-Vibe, £119
While most panty vibes are limited to a specific pair of panties, the Moxie+ has a cool magnetic attachment that lets you use it with any set of undies, meaning you can also use it with maternity pants. It’s waterproof, rechargeable, and features We-Vibe’s signature rumbly, deep vibrations (as opposed to more surface-level light buzzy vibrations that might not get you off as quickly or as efficiently). You can also control the vibrator with your phone using We-Vibe’s app or the included remote, for even more convenience.
5. Don’t worry, using a vibrator shouldn‘t disturb your baby!
Lest you worry that vibration might wake your foetus up or bother them, don’t worry! Cross explains that the baby is fine if you use a vibrator. “The baby is surrounded by fluid and myometrium muscle, which is your uterus,” she says, adding that there are “so many layers, I wouldn’t be worried about that”. The only time anything could disturb your baby, she adds, is in instances like preterm labor where your cervix has already opened up, but if you’ve been cleared for that (per #1 above), you and your baby should otherwise be totally fine.
6. Using a vibrator isn’t that different from having sex while pregnant
Michael Ingber, a urogynecologist at the Center for Specialised Women’s Health and Garden State Urology, says: “In general, we tell patients that sexual activity, foreplay, and orgasms are all very healthy and encouraged throughout pregnancy. The mechanical actions of a dildo going in and out of the vagina, hitting the cervix, are no different than a penis doing the same thing.”
7. In fact, it may even be good for you
Ingber notes that using a vibrator to reach orgasm could also help your relationship. He explained that oxytocin (often called the ‘love hormone’) is released during orgasm and can trigger emotional thoughts, bonding, and maternal instincts. These feelings, he explains, are “essential for maintaining a healthy relationship both during pregnancy and after delivery”. But even if you don’t have a partner, oxytocin still just makes you feel good in general.
8. But there are risks for certain women with placental abnormalities
In a condition called placenta previa, the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus and covers the mother’s cervix. Ingber explains that in the case of placenta previa, it’s not so much the vibrator that’s the issue, but the insertion of anything at all into the vagina, whether it’s a penis, a finger, or a vibrator.
“The placenta in women with this condition either partially or completely covers the cervix, and an inserted object can penetrate it and cause bleeding, abruption, and possibly a miscarriage,” explains Yana Markidan, a New Jersey-based obstetrician and gynaecologist.
In vasa previa, the blood vessels within the placenta or the umbilical cord are trapped between the foetus and the opening to the birth canal. In these instances, explains obstetrician and gynaecologist Kyrin Dunston, “a vibrator use could dislodge the placenta or damage these blood vessels, causing a potentially life threatening situation both mother and baby”.
In instances of placental abnormalities, Markidan adds that “orgasms reached without penetration are less of a concern, unless they cause contractions”, so technically if you were to masturbate with a clitoral vibrator, you should probably be fine.
9. Women predisposed to preterm labor should stay far away from vibrators
If you’re pregnant with multiples, have previously had a premature birth, have certain uterine or cervical abnormalities, or are otherwise at risk for premature labour, you should avoid vibrators all together. Even if you’re using a clitoral vibrator that doesn’t penetrate your vagina, it’s still a no-no as it’s the orgasm itself that causes the problem.
Markidan explains: “The concern is that the orgasm releases chemicals called prostaglandins that can cause the uterine muscle to contract. Women who are predisposed to premature labour, and already had a premature contractions episode, should avoid orgasms regardless of how they are achieved because they might cause further episodes.”
10. If you have issues with cervical incompetence, you should also stay away from vibrators
Conditions like premature cervical dilation or cervical incompetence can, according to Dunston, “cause the cervix to be slightly open”. “The concern with vibrator use would be that it could possibly rupture the membranes or introduce bacteria high into the cervix that could cause infection. The resulting infection can lead to a premature delivery or even cause an infection in the baby.”
11. Make sure your vibrator is clean
Even if you don’t have any of the risks above, if your vibrator is dirty and carries bacteria, the risks are pretty serious. Markidan says that vaginal infections in pregnant women can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria that has been linked to premature labour.
Ingber also notes that UTIs tend to be more common in pregnant women because of hormonal changes and pressure from the uterus on the bladder. He says: “Women with UTIs during pregnancy are at an increased risk of premature labour, and, because of this, even women who are asymptomatic, but have bacteria found in their urine during screening visits are treated with antibiotics.”
To prevent UTIs, make sure to wash your toys well and pee after using a vibrator, just like you’re supposed to after sex.
12. Small amounts of bleeding are normal
Markidan says that it’s normal to have a small amount of bleeding after intercourse or dildo use when pregnant – yes, even if you don’t typically bleed after intercourse or dildo use. She explains that this is because there’s an increase in blood supply to the cervix when pregnant. Combine that increase in blood with the fact that the cervix also becomes more sensitive while pregnant, and your likelihood of bleeding while pregnant from any contact with the cervix increases. “It will usually start as a pink or bright red spotting that progresses to dark brown discharge and is resolved within 48 hours,” adds Markidan. However, if it’s been over 48 hours, and it looks more like a normal period instead of spotting, you should see a doctor.
Carina Hsieh, MPH, is the deputy features editor of Women’s Health. She has more than a decade’s worth of experience working in media and has covered everything from beauty, fashion, travel, lifestyle, pets, to health.
She began her career as an intern in the fashion closet at Cosmopolitan where she worked her way up to Senior Sex & Relationships Editor. While covering women’s health there, she discovered her passion for health service journalism and took a break to get her Masters in Public Health. Post-grad school, she worked as a freelance writer and as The Daily Beast’s first Beauty, Health, and Wellness Reporter.
Carina is an alum of the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Yale School of Public Health. She and her French Bulldog, Bao Bao, split their time between Brooklyn and Connecticut. She enjoys reformer Pilates, (slow) running, and smelling the fancy toiletries in boutique fitness class locker rooms.
