The survey conducted by psychologists involved more than 140 families.  Parents and their children aged 13 to 17 were asked a range of sex-related questions. The questionnaire included such questions as “How does a woman get pregnant?”, “What are the changes that occur in a body during adolescence period?”, “How are condoms used?” and the like. Several questions concerned sexual orientation.

Parents and children were interviewed separately and asked about when sex was first discussed in the family and how children responded. It was discovered over 50 percent of parents never talked with their children on 14 of the 24 sex-related questions from the questionnaire.

42 percent of girls (compared to 70 percent of boys) reported that contraception issues were never touched in their family. 40 percent admitted they never talked with their parents about when and how it is healthy to start a sex life. Paradoxically, only half of parents of boys were honest about they didn’t talk with their sons about contraception methods. Psychologists believe this difference exemplifies and highlights the difficulty of the parent-child dialogue about sex.

The study authors emphasize that sex talks with children should happen long before children start investigating into the topic themselves. Experts advise parents bring up sex issues not just once but keep a discussion going to ensure unceasing dialogue with a child about all awkward topics. The appropriate period to “reveal the secret” is the age between 10 and 13.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/lusi.

However, many women feel sex after pregnancy as more of a psychological than physiological problem. And it is particularly hard on those who had a c-section.

‘I Can’t Have Sex Because of the Ugly Post C-Section Scar’

Here is what a woman with such problem says in her letter:

Two months ago, I had a c-section and now I have this ugly scar across my belly. I can’t even imagine myself putting clothes off with my husband looking. Sex is out of question! How can I fight this thought my body looks repulsive?

Both young mothers and those who haven’t yet had a baby have some kind of physical imperfections like cellulites, sensitive skin, thin hair… So what? If it’d been essential to have a perfect body to have sex, mankind would have perished long ago.

Don’t Hide Your Body because of the Post Cesarean Scar

Your doctor must have told you that cesarean scars would grow pale and flatten eventually. Until that happens, think what made you sexy in your husband’s eyes before. While you see nothing but your fresh scar, your husband surely enjoys other things in you. Remember him saying how he loves your hair, your legs, your skin smell, the line of your back. Whatever he admires in you, it didn’t go away because of the scar. So why hide from your husband what he admires in your body.

Try to Love Your New Body Step by Step

Adapting to your new body is like learning to swim or entering a room full of strangers and striking a conversation with somebody. It comes down to practicing it. If you repeatedly do something that seems odd at first, it will soon become natural, especially if you don’t rush things.

In your situation, it means choosing lingerie which would accentuate your advantages. For example, try a short negligee that opens up your legs or a sexy bodice to raise your bust line and cover your torso (this kind of lingerie makes men so excited). Gradually cut down on “disguise outfit” and find opportunities to make naked appearances in front of your husband outside your bedroom. If you – charming and naked – ran across your husband on your way out of shower, do you think he’d focus on that infamous scar? So, step by step you will learn it over again to lose yourself in lovemaking and will forget about your small imperfection which, by the way, gave you someone who is very important to you.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/Brierley.

Someone Else’s Presence

Some men feel uncomfortable knowing that his child is in the room, which is understandable.

The Baby Might Get Hurt

A surprisingly huge number of men believe that they might be knocking the baby on the head. It’s impossible. Explain it to him.

Girl Problem

Many men who know that their pregnant wife is carrying a girl feel very uneasy being intimate with their daughter so near.

Afraid of Hurting You

Communication is of the utmost importance at this stage. You should clarify what is acceptable and what’s not. For example, tell him not to apply pressure on your stomach or that a cushion should be around just in case. It’s your job to convince him that you won’t get hurt if he uses the right position and the right amount of pressure.

Positioning

You have to accept it; it’s very difficult to find the right position and angle while having sex with a pregnant wife, but you can try to work out something.

Scared that His Semen Might Bring on Premature Birth

This is true to some extent. Semen does contain something called prostaglandins which trigger the coming of the baby. But this works only near the due date, so you should comfort him that pregnancy sex won’t be a trouble maker.

He’s Overlooking the Fact that Intimacy Is not All about Sex

There are many, many ways to have fun without engaging in intercourse. Maybe you should remind him passionately.

He Isn’t Aware that Pregnant Women Experience the Most Intense Orgasms

With some tender persuasion that females experience earth shattering orgasms in late stage pregnancy due to the increased blood flow to the related regions, he might become very interested in finding it out.

Half of all men actually have problems engaging in sex with a pregnant woman, especially women in the late stages of pregnancy. So if you find that your man is not able to perform, blame one of the above reasons and don’t worry about the fact that your man doesn’t find you beautiful.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/omar_franc.

Sex Drive of Pregnant Women

The fact that woman becomes indifferent to sex at the first stage of pregnancy is quite natural as female body is experiencing a real hormone boom. Smells and sounds are perceived sharper than before, and the scents that excited earlier can now cause negative emotions. Increased emotionality and physiological changes influence the behavior of woman. Many women feel sick at earlier stages because of toxicosis. They feel dizzy and sick and suffer from painful sensations in breast. Rather than passionate sex, women need care and fellow feeling from their partner at the earlier stage of pregnancy.

When Pregnant Women Want Sex Again

Toward the midpregnancy (second trimester), stronger desire for sex arouses in the half of women. By that time, the blood flow to sexual organs is increased. Besides, belly is not that big to hinder love-making. It is also the time when spouses don’t have to worry about contraception, which helps them feel more librated. So, if pregnancy is going well and your doctor can’t see any contradictions, “pregnant” sex can be the brightest period of your sex life. It might be the best sex you ever had in your life.

Sex during Last Pregnancy Months

During lasts months of pregnancy women become less active. They feel drawing pain in the loins and have a big belly. It is the time the couple can seek for new forms of sexual satisfaction.

Take a Break

2-3 weeks before estimated birthdate, it would be reasonable to abstain from sex because sexual intercourse at later stages can cause birth contractions. When woman gets excited, oxytocin (the hormone stimulating the womb contractions) is released into the blood; prostaglandin (the hormone in male seminal fluid) has the same effect.

Can Sex Harm the Baby?

Many couples are hesitating during this period. On the one hand, they want to make love, but on the other hand, they are afraid of harming their baby. You can’t hurt your baby that way because the baby is protected inside the firm bubble and in your womb. Amniotic fluid cushions more or less hard kicks very well. Mucous plug in the womb protects your baby from harmful bacteria. That’s why you have no reason to abstain from sex if your pregnancy is going well.