So you like anal sex. And now you’re pregnant and stressing about All Of The Things and you’re left wondering, is anal sex safe during pregnancy? Fair question, since so much of the pleasurable stuff we’re used to doing in our pre-pregnancy life, like eating spicy tuna rolls, slurping margs with the ladies and counting down the days ’til our next Botox appointment – are all under the microscope. So…can I take it in the back door while the bun’s in the oven or whuuut?

“It is absolutely safe,” says Dr. Shiva Ghofrany, an OB-GYN based in Stamford, CT and founder of community healthcare platform Tribe Called V. “Though many women will report that orgasming through anal sex is far more intense, and when one has an orgasm their uterus contracts so it may lead to increased cramping.”

There are a few caveats to the green light, however. If you hemorrhoids, steer clear of anal sex. That can make the experience painful and uncomfortable. Constipation during pregnancy is also common, and can lead to anal fissures that could cause pain during anal sex. If you start having anal sex and you feel pain, stop. 

Also, if you’ve been diagnosed with placenta previa (where the placenta covers all or part of your cevix), anal sex may cause trauma to the placenta. And in terms of cleanliness, don’t ever EVER allow your partner to move from the rectum into the vagina without cleaning up thoroughly first. This may introduce dangerous bacteria into the birth canal, and ultimately harm the baby.

“It is of paramount importance to ensure that your partner does not exit the anus and put their penis into the vagina unless they have used a condom with anal sex that they remove before vaginal sex,” says Dr. Ghofrany.

One benefit of anal sex during pregnancy is that the hormonal changes that affect the vagina don’t affect the anus. This means that some people prefer the feeling of anal sex to the feeling of vaginal sex during pregnancy. So if you want to have anal sex during pregnancy, go ahead and enjoy, unless your doctor tells you not to. If you’re unsure, always check in with your medical provider in advance.