It’s a common old wives tale, that if you want to induce labour then you should have sex. This widespread belief that sex in the later stages of a pregnancy can kick start the labour process has been found to be false, according to a new study carried out in Malaysia. Researchers found that there were no differences at all in the timing of delivery between women who abstained from sex and those who had sex near term. Dr Tan Peng Chiong, obstetrics and gynaecology professor at the University of Malaya, said that they were disappointed to find no association, claiming that it would have been nice for couples to have a safe and effective way to induce labour if they wanted. Researchers have suggested that many women believe sex can induce labour, but there are some scientific explanations of why it may help. For one, semen does actually contain a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin, which is used in synthetic form to induce labour. Breast stimulation has also been thought to hasten the labour process, and orgasm can trigger uterine contractions. There are many myths and legends about ways to jumpstart labour, from sex to eating spicy foods, but what actually works? This study may have found the answer.
Few studies have really investigated the link between sex and labour, and the small amount of evidence found was inconclusive. Labour induction for prolonged pregnancy is a common practice, and many women are tempted to do this for a variety of reasons to trigger the labour. The study involved over 1100 women, all of whom were 35 to 38 weeks pregnant and none of whom had had sex in the last six weeks. Around half of the women who took part were advised to have sex frequently as a means of safely inducing labour. The other half were told that the effects on labour were unknown even though it is safe. These women were then tracked to determine how long their pregnancies lasted for. It was discovered that around 85 per cent of women who were encouraged to have sex followed the GPs advice, while 80 per cent of the other group also had sex.
However, the rates of induced labour were very similar – 22 per cent of those who were advised to have sex, and 20.8 in the other group. The difference between each group was so small that it was likely to be down to chance rather than a real change in the activity. Earlier research has relied on surveys from women about their sexual experiences during pregnancy, but this was the first study that really attempted to randomise the experience and that’s quite a difficult thing to do. Experts recommend that patients don’t use sex for the express reason of going into labour, but that there aren’t any hazards in having sex when you’re pregnant. It’s perfectly safe to carry on having sex during your pregnancy, but the studies have shown that there is no proof that it can help you begin the labour process. The study showed that pregnancy evolved to be resistant to disruption where labour was concerned, but that human pregnancy has to be robust to such adventures like intercourse. However, where sex as a pregnancy induction is concerned, it seems that it’s a little too robust. If you’re worried about having sex during your pregnancy, or have any concerns surrounding the issue, you should speak to your GP or midwife who can advise you further.
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