Hi All,
There is alot of contradictory research on this topic at the moment but this
confirms what most midwives believe.
Leanne.
Coitus at Term May Be Linked to Earlier Onset of Labor
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
July 21, 2006 -- Coitus at term is associated with an earlier onset of labor
and reduced need for induction at 41 weeks' gestation, according to the
results of a prospective, longitudinal study reported in the July issue of
Obstetrics & Gynecology.
"The effect of coitus on preterm labor is uncertain," write Peng Chiong Tan,
MRCOG, from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and
colleagues. "A decreased risk of preterm birth has been reported to be
associated with having intercourse in later pregnancy and also with having
orgasms. On the contrary, increased risk of preterm births is also linked to
having preterm intercourse."
Of 344 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies and established
gestational age who were approached regarding study participation, 241 were
recruited to keep a diary of coital activity from 36 weeks of gestation
until birth and to answer a short questionnaire. Of these, 200 women
provided complete coital diaries for analysis. End points included coitus,
postdate pregnancy (defined as pregnancy beyond the estimated date of
confinement), gestational length of at least 41 weeks, labor induction at 41
weeks of gestation, and mode of delivery.
The likelihood of reported sexual intercourse at term was affected by a
woman's perception of coital safety, her ethnicity, and her partner's age.
After multivariable logistic regression analysis controlling for these and
other potential confounders, reported coitus at term remained independently
associated with reductions in postdate pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR],
0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13 - 0.58; P = .001), gestational
length of at least 41 weeks (AOR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.04 - 0.28; P < .001), and
requirement for labor induction at 41 weeks of gestation (AOR, 0.08; 95% CI,
0.03 - 0.26; P < .001).
At 39 weeks of gestation, the number of couples needed to have intercourse
to avoid 1 woman having to undergo labor induction at 41 weeks of gestation
was 5 (95% CI, 3.3 - 10.3). Coitus at term did not significantly affect
operative delivery (adjusted P = .15).
"Reported sexual intercourse at term was associated with earlier onset of
labor and reduced requirement for labor induction at 41 weeks," the authors
write. "This finding has important clinical implications because labor
induction at 41 weeks of gestation is a common practice."
The authors recommend that these findings be confirmed by intervention
studies.
"Any intervention based on such a complex issue as sexual intercourse is
likely to be challenging to implement effectively, and the widespread safety
concern of women would have to be allayed before the suggested intervention
could be widely adopted," the authors conclude.
Obstet Gynecol. 2006;108:134-140.
Leanne Wynne
Midwife in charge of "Women's Business"
Mildura Aboriginal Health Service Mob 0418 371862
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