A news study has suggested that, engaging in sex during the final weeks of pregnancy is not a trigger for labour, as it is widely thought to be. Clearing the popular myth, that has deterred many couples enjoy physical pleasure during the last lap of pregnancy, this news has come as quiet a relief.
A study was conducted among 93 women, with 50% of them confirming sexual activity in the last lap of their pregnancy. The finding revealed that women, who enjoyed the pleasure of sex in the last week of pregnancy, delivered their babies after 39.9 weeks while those who were sexually inactive, delivered babies after 39.3 weeks. Examinations conducted on the cervix of women in late pregnancy who engaged in sex, did not reveal any untoward effect on the cervix that is likely to incite labour.The researchers could not find any relationship between the frequency of sex and alterations in the cervix. The study's author, Dr Jonathan Schaffir of Ohio State University Medical Centre, concluded that the result showed no change in the cervix and in the delivery dates, because of sex in the last weeks of pregnancy.
Dr Schaffir said 'Patients may continue to hear the old wives' tale that intercourse will hasten labour, but according to this data, they should not hear it from the medical community.'
Details of the study are published in the journal, Obstetrics & Gynecology
