Can You Have Sex After Losing the Mucus Plug?
Your provider will give you lots of information about the signs of labor and when to head to the hospital as you get close to your due date. But with all of the excitement swirling around baby’s impending arrival, it’s understandable if you forget to ask certain questions. That’s especially true when it comes to really specific ones, like “Can you have sex after losing your mucus plug?”
Doctors generally agree that you’re just fine to have sex after losing your mucus plug, but there are a few things to consider when it comes to this. Here’s what ob-gyns want you to know about the mucus plug, plus what is and isn’t considered OK after losing it.
The mucus plug is a thick clump of mucus that forms at the cervix during pregnancy, explains Lisa Masterson, MD, an ob-gyn in Santa Monica, California. “The mucus plug is a barrier that covers the entire length of the cervix,” adds G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, lead ob-gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. “It keeps the outside world from getting in the uterus and causing an infection.”
The experience of losing the mucus plug can be different for everyone. It’ll often come out as you’re approaching labor, says Jennifer Leighdon Wu, MD, an ob-gyn at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She describes the mucus plug as a “clump of clear jelly” that may also have a brownish or reddish tint. But the mucus plug can also just seem like a heavier discharge, Masterson says. “You may notice an increase in vaginal discharge that’s clear, or pink and some women may expel an actual clump,” she says.
In general, doctors say you’re okay to have sex after losing your mucus plug. “The biggest thing is your level of comfort,” Ruiz says. Meaning, if you feel good, go for it. “If you don’t have any complications of pregnancy, we don’t really limit sexual activity,” he adds.
Losing your mucus plug is usually a sign that you’re going into labor within three to seven days, Ruiz says. That’s all fine and good if you’re full-term and nearing your due date. However, “if you lose your mucus plug and you’re [not yet at term], that’s a whole different ball of wax,” Ruiz says. In this case, your provider will likely want to measure baby’s activity and see if you’re at risk for preterm labor. They may restrict certain activities, including sex.
Yes, you can lose your mucus plug after sex, but it doesn’t necessarily have to do with the sex itself. “It’s not like sex makes you lose your mucus plug,” Wu says. “It can just happen.” Ruiz agrees. Losing your mucus plug after sex is “more coincidental than anything else,” he says. As a result, you can have sex and then lose the plug—in short, the two aren’t really related.
There are a few factors to consider when it comes to what you can safely do after losing your mucus plug. “It really depends on gestational age and any medical conditions that you might have to determine what’s safe to do if you lose your mucus plug,” Masterson says.
But if you have had an uncomplicated pregnancy, and your doctor hasn’t told you otherwise, you’re fine to go about your regular life after losing the mucus plug. (Just be aware that this is a sign that baby is coming sooner rather than later.)
“If you notice a heavy discharge with a little bit of blood in it, that’s your mucus plug,” Ruiz says. Again, it could come out all at once or gradually, and it means labor is nearing. Either way—generally speaking—there’s no need to contact your doctor after losing your mucus plug. That said, if you suspect you’ve lost it before you’re at least 35-weeks pregnant, contact your doctor or midwife for an evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sex induce labor?
Having sex won’t cause you to go into labor if your body isn’t ready. “In certain situations, sexual activity may stimulate labor,” Ruiz says. Semen contains prostaglandins, which are hormone-like substances that help soften your cervix, he explains. Your cervix has to soften for it to dilate and for labor to progress. Your body also releases oxytocin, a hormone that drives labor contractions, when you orgasm, Ruiz points out. But, again, it won’t push you into labor if your body isn’t ready for it.
Can you have sex while in labor?
Technically, you can have sex while you’re in labor, but you may not feel like it. “If you're in very early labor and your contractions are irregular, sex and semen can increase the contractions and frequency,” Wu says. “But in true, booming labor, most patients are not going to want to have sex.” Moreover, keep in mind that your healthcare professional might advise against having sex if you’re experiencing bleeding, leaking amniotic fluid or if you have other risk factors for pre-term labor, per Mayo Clinic.
Can you have sex after the bloody show?
The bloody show is closely related to the mucus plug. You may notice it when your cervix begins to dilate. The cervix is an organ that’s rich in blood, and can bleed easily, Ruiz explains. So, yes, you may end up seeing some blood mixed with mucus. You can have sex after the bloody show—again, provided you feel up for it.
How to distinguish between the mucus plug vs. discharge?
The mucus plug is different from your standard discharge. “Regular discharge tends to come out at different times of day. You may feel wetness in your underwear,” Wu says. But the mucus plug tends to be more of a solid mass, she says. It may also seem like heavy discharge, Ruiz notes.
You don’t need to see your doctor at the end of your pregnancy other than for check-ups, pregnancy concerns or if you have signs of labor. “If you break your water, go in,” Ruiz says. “If you start having hard contractions five minutes apart, with the contractions lasting a minute for an hour, go in to get checked.” Losing your mucus plug is par for the course, but it doesn’t really change anything. You can most likely feel free to carry on with your usual activities.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Lisa Masterson, MD, is an ob-gyn in Santa Monica, California. She earned her medical degree from the University of Southern California.
G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, is lead ob-gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. He earned his medical degree from the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Jennifer Wu, MD, is an ob-gyn at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She earned her medical degree from the University of South Carolina at Charleston.
Mayo Clinic, Sex During Pregnancy
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