Health
PT Health Watch: Sex during pregnancy is usually safe, but some risks remain
Pregnancy often comes with questions about what women can and cannot safely do, particularly when it comes to sexual activity.
For some couples, pregnancy may create fears that sex could harm the baby or trigger complications. Others may assume that once a woman becomes pregnant, all forms of sexual activity should stop.
But medical guidance suggests that pregnancy itself is not a reason to stop having sex.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) says most sexual activity is safe for women with healthy pregnancies, noting that the amniotic sac and strong muscles of the uterus protect the developing baby.
However, that reassurance does not apply to every pregnancy. Certain complications can make sexual activity unsafe or require a woman to avoid it on the advice of her healthcare provider.
To provide more insight into sexual activity during pregnancy and the precautions women should take, PREMIUM TIMES spoke with Halimat Jimoh, a nurse and midwife, who explained the circumstances that can make sex unsafe, the risks of STIs and why some precautions are necessary even during oral sex.
When sex may not be advisable
Ms Jimoh explained that in an uncomplicated pregnancy, the developing baby is protected inside the uterus by the uterus, amniotic fluid and cervix.
However, she said certain pregnancy complications can change the advice given to a woman.
These may include unexplained vaginal bleeding, placenta previa or other placental problems, leaking of amniotic fluid, some cervical conditions and concerns about preterm labour.
She said this means pregnancy should not be viewed as a blanket reason to stop having sex. Rather, a woman’s individual pregnancy and any complications she may have should determine what is considered safe.
“Pregnancy itself is not a reason to stop having sex; it is certain pregnancy complications or medical concerns that may make avoiding sex necessary,” she explained.
Oral sex is generally safe, but not risk-free
While vaginal intercourse is often the focus of discussions about sex during pregnancy, oral sex is another form of sexual activity that couples may have questions about.
Ms Jimoh said oral sex is generally considered safe during an uncomplicated pregnancy, but certain precautions are necessary.
One of them is that a partner should not blow air directly into the vagina.
Although extremely rare, forcing air into the vagina has been associated with air embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition in which an air bubble enters a blood vessel and interferes with blood flow.
More importantly, oral sex does not eliminate the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
The National Health Service (NHS) states that infections, including herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis, can be transmitted through oral sex. The risk can increase when either partner has sores or cuts around the mouth, genitals or anus.
This means that the absence of vaginal penetration does not automatically make oral sex risk-free.
And for pregnant women, an STI acquired through sexual contact can have implications beyond the mother.
Pregnancy does not protect women from STIs
According to Ms Jimoh, pregnancy does not protect a woman from contracting an STI.
An infection acquired during pregnancy can affect the mother and, depending on the infection, may also affect the developing baby.
Syphilis is one example.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about eight million adults aged 15 to 49 acquired syphilis in 2022.
The organisation says untreated, late-treated or inadequately treated syphilis during pregnancy can result in adverse birth outcomes in an estimated 50 to 80 per cent of cases, depending on the stage of the infection.
The infection can pass from a pregnant woman to her baby through the placenta and may result in stillbirth, neonatal death, premature birth, low birth weight or congenital syphilis.
WHO also stresses that early testing and treatment during pregnancy can prevent these outcomes.
Ms Jimoh said pregnant women should therefore not wait until after delivery before seeking care for a suspected STI.
“Many STIs can be treated or effectively managed, and early testing, diagnosis and appropriate treatment during pregnancy can help protect both the mother and baby,” she said.
Herpes requires particular attention
Among the infections requiring particular attention during pregnancy is genital herpes, particularly because of the risk of transmission to the baby around the time of delivery.
Ms Jimoh explained that genital herpes can be transmitted from a mother to her baby during childbirth.
The risk is particularly concerning when a woman develops genital herpes for the first time towards the end of pregnancy, as she may not yet have developed sufficient antibodies to help protect the baby.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the risk of transmitting herpes to a newborn is between 30 and 50 per cent when a woman acquires genital herpes near the time of delivery.
This compares with a risk of less than one per cent among women with recurrent herpes or those who acquired the infection during the first half of pregnancy.
The CDC recommends that pregnant women with genital herpes inform their healthcare providers. Antiviral medication may be prescribed towards the end of pregnancy to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak around delivery, while a caesarean delivery may be recommended when genital lesions or symptoms are present at the onset of labour.
READ ALSO: Pregnant woman allegedly dies at Ondo fake medical facility
But herpes is not always accompanied by visible symptoms.
Ms Jimoh noted that the infection can sometimes be transmitted even when there are no obvious sores or other symptoms.
She, therefore, advised pregnant women and their partners not to dismiss unexplained sores, blisters or lesions around the mouth or genitals.
This is particularly relevant to oral sex because oral herpes, commonly associated with cold sores, can be transmitted through oral sexual contact.
When should sexual activity be avoided?
The presence of sores is not the only reason a pregnant woman may need to pause sexual activity.
According to Ms Jimoh, women experiencing unexplained vaginal bleeding, leaking of amniotic fluid, known or suspected STI exposure, unexplained sores or lesions, unusual discharge, pain or fever should seek medical advice.
Women who have already been advised to avoid sex because of a pregnancy complication should also not assume that oral sex is automatically safe.
Instead, Ms Jimoh said they should ask their healthcare provider which forms of sexual activity are appropriate for their specific condition.
Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, in particular, should not simply be dismissed as a normal consequence of sex.
For pregnant women, regular antenatal care, early testing where necessary and prompt medical attention when unusual symptoms occur can help identify and manage potential risks early.
The message, Ms Jimoh stressed, is therefore not that pregnant women must stop being sexually active, but that they should understand their individual circumstances and seek professional advice whenever complications, warning signs or concerns about infection arise.
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A total of 10,494 Nigerians are listed among staff in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), according to data shared by NHS Million, a UK campaign organisation focused on NHS staff.
Nigeria ranked sixth overall on the list, behind the UK/British, India, the Philippines, Ireland and Poland, making Nigeria the largest African nationality represented in the breakdown.
The data shared by NHS Million showed that more than 1.1 million NHS workers identified as British or UK nationals, while Indians accounted for 32,117 staff and Filipinos 25,423.
It also showed that Zimbabwe had the second-highest number of African nationals working in the NHS, with 4,780, followed by Ghana with 3,395, Egypt with 2,895 and South Africa with 1,829.
The figures highlight the significant contribution of Nigerian professionals to the UK health system, but also come amid persistent concerns over the shortage of health workers in the country.
Nigeria loses thousands of health workers
The 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, showed that over 20,000 Nigerian health workers relocated abroad within one year.
The figure included 3,919 doctors, 7,487 nurses and midwives, 6,861 medical laboratory professionals, 702 pharmacists, 658 physiotherapists and 274 dentists, among other health professionals. The report also showed that Nigeria has 95,456 registered doctors, but only 60,551 currently hold active practising licences.
The workforce shortage is further worsened by the uneven distribution of health professionals across the country, with several northern states recording particularly low doctor densities.
UK remains major destination
The United Kingdom is one of the major destinations for Nigerian health professionals.
Data from the UK’s General Medical Council showed that 4,691 Nigerian-trained doctors joined the UK medical register between May 2023 and April 2026, according to a Punch report.
The data also showed that 15,896 Nigerian-trained doctors were licensed to practise in the UK.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: How laboratory tests can help detect colorectal cancer early – Expert
The 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report identified external migration as one of the factors affecting the availability of health professionals in Nigeria.
Migration policy yet to be fully implemented
The federal government has introduced several measures aimed at increasing the health workforce and addressing migration.
Nigeria also approved a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration in August 2024, aimed at managing health worker migration, improving retention and strengthening workforce planning.
However, the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report said that although the implementation plan had been finalised, full implementation had not commenced.
The report said an additional 23,000 frontline health workers were trained in 2025, bringing the number trained between 2024 and 2025 to 78,146, or about 65 per cent of the national target of 120,000.
The policy is intended to improve working conditions, support career progression and establish a more coordinated approach to health worker migration and retention.
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Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon and rectum, is one of the most common cancers globally, yet it can remain unnoticed for a long time because some people have no symptoms in the early stages.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.9 million new cases of colorectal cancer and more than 900,000 deaths occurred globally in 2022.
The agency said symptoms, when they occur, may include blood in the stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
Because some people may not notice any warning signs, screening can provide an opportunity to identify possible abnormalities before the disease becomes advanced.
What happens before a diagnosis is confirmed?
Laboratory investigations are an important part of that process, as medical laboratory scientists examine samples that can provide clues about what is happening in a patient’s body.
Speaking with PT HEALTH WATCH, Adedoye David, a medical laboratory scientist, said laboratory testing contributes to the investigation of colorectal cancer through the examination of biological samples, including stool, blood and tissue.
One of the investigations is the Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), which detects blood in stool that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Another is the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), which uses antibodies to detect human haemoglobin in stool.
These tests can help identify people who may require further assessment, but Mr David stressed that detecting blood in stool is not the same as diagnosing cancer.
“Stool-based tests are very important for detecting hidden blood in stool. It could be reliable if the test investigation is carried out using the right and standard operating procedures.
“But as much as it can be reliable in detecting hidden blood, it might not be totally reliable in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer,”he said.
Where further investigation is necessary, Mr David said a patient may be referred for procedures such as colonoscopy, during which abnormal areas can be identified and tissue samples taken for laboratory examination.
A biopsy can then help determine whether the abnormal tissue is cancerous.
Why symptoms should not be ignored
The distinction between screening and diagnosis is important because colorectal cancer does not always announce itself with obvious symptoms.
A person who feels healthy may therefore not consider testing necessary, while another may receive a negative stool test and conclude that further medical attention is unnecessary.
Mr David said both assumptions could be misleading.
He urged people to seek medical advice when they experience persistent symptoms rather than waiting for them to become severe.
He also advised people with a family history of colorectal cancer or long-term inflammatory bowel disease to discuss their risk with healthcare professionals and determine whether they require earlier or more frequent screening.
WHO identifies family history of colorectal cancer and certain inflammatory bowel diseases among factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.
Although colorectal cancer is more common with increasing age, it is not exclusively a disease of older people. WHO has also reported a rising incidence among younger adults in several countries.
Screening is only useful when people can complete it
The challenge, however, is not simply persuading people to undergo screening. The health system must also be able to support them when a test produces an abnormal result.
Evidence from Nigeria illustrates this point.
A Nigerian community-based study involving more than 2,000 adults found that FIT screening was feasible. However, the researchers also highlighted challenges with follow-up colonoscopy after positive results.
This means that detecting a possible problem is only one part of the process. Patients must be able to access the additional investigations required to establish what the abnormal result means and, where necessary, begin treatment.
Mr David identified limited facilities capable of carrying out some key investigations and the cost of available services as major challenges facing colorectal cancer testing in Nigeria.
For people who may already be hesitant about testing, the cost and availability of diagnostic services can make early detection even more difficult.
READ ALSO: Hot tea, coffee linked to higher risk of oesophageal cancer — Study
Mr David also urged Nigerians to overcome the embarrassment that may come with providing stool samples for laboratory examination.
“There is nothing to be ashamed of producing a stool sample. It is just like any other medical sample and it is needed for us to carry out informed diagnosis,” he said.
Ultimately, a stool test is not a verdict on whether a person has cancer. Rather, it can be one step in a process that helps health professionals decide who may need further investigation.
For Mr David, improving colorectal cancer outcomes therefore requires both public awareness and access to appropriate laboratory and diagnostic services, so that people can seek help early and abnormal findings can be properly investigated.
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