How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Libido

The body begins producing sex hormones at the onset of puberty. The pituitary gland sends signals to our bodies to begin the production of hormones. The hormones that are produced assist our bodies in ovulation, menstruation, and have a significant impact on the sex drive. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones in women that incite sexual desire. In addition, a woman’s health and self-esteem are directly related to her sex drive.

Pregnancy makes the body go through many physiological changes including fluctuations in the sex drive. This is a perfectly normal occurrence in pregnancy and it should not be cause for concern. So if one day you feel as if your desire for sex has been kicked into overdrive and then the very next day the thought of being touched disgusts you, you can breathe a sigh of relief; it is perfectly normal.

According to numerous women, their sex drive increased histrionically while they were pregnant. During pregnancy, the hormones are changing, which causes an increase in the sex drive. This change in hormones is necessary to accommodate a developing fetus. The progesterone and estrogen produced in the body significantly increases, thus an increase in the desire to have sex. In addition to elevating the sex drive, this increase in hormones causes an increase in: vaginal lubrication, sensitivity of the breasts, and blood flow to the pelvic area. The positive and sometimes welcomed physical changes that your body goes through during pregnancy as a result of an increase in hormones are the added curves to the right places. This makes some women feel sexier at a time when everything is swelling and growing, and can intensify the sex drive.

In contrast to the intensification of the sex drive that you may experience during pregnancy, you may also feel a deceleration of sexual desire. Which ever you feel, it is all perfectly normal. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the increased hormones cause such symptoms as fatigue and morning sickness. Just having to cope with pregnancy symptoms can hinder sexual desire. Weight gain and bodily changes are inevitable during pregnancy and can cause a woman to be dissatisfied with her new body image. In addition, these changes can make positioning for sexual intercourse very uncomfortable. The baby’s safety during intercourse is cause for concern among pregnant women, and this concern can inhibit the sex drive.

There is no set schedule or map that can chart the sex drives during pregnancy. It varies depending on the woman and the pregnancy, and even that does not have set standards that determines whose sex drive will increase or decrease during a certain phase of the pregnancy. During pregnancy, the sex drive is synonymous with a roller coaster ride with three different tracks. In the first trimester of pregnancy, women tend to be more tired and their sex drive decreases. In contrast, their sex drive increases during the second trimester. This increase is attributed to revitalization and the relief of many pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness. During the last trimester, the third trimester, the sex drive takes a dive. During this phase of the pregnancy an increase in fatigue can occur as the body prepares for the birth of the baby.

We have all heard about the sympathy pounds that a partner gains during the woman’s pregnancy. Well your partner’s sex drive can mirror yours; when yours increases, so will theirs. Their increase in sexual drive can be in response to the new curvaceous body that you have. In addition, you and your partner may experience a rejuvenation of emotions and sentiment during the pregnancy.