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Coital activity and premature delivery

W F Rayburn, E A Wilson

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

|August 15, 1980

Summary

Sexual activity during pregnancy, including coital frequency and orgasm, does not significantly increase the risk of premature labor. Normal coital activity is safe and should not be discouraged unless complications are present.

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Area of Science:

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Reproductive Health
Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

Premature labor is a significant concern in obstetrics, affecting maternal and infant outcomes.
The role of sexual activity, including coital frequency and orgasm, in precipitating premature labor remains a subject of investigation.
Understanding the relationship between coital activity and spontaneous preterm birth is crucial for providing accurate guidance to pregnant individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between coital activities and spontaneous premature labor.
To compare sexual activity patterns in women experiencing premature labor versus those delivering at term.
To determine if coital frequency or orgasm influences the timing of delivery.

Main Methods:

A comparative study involving 111 patients who delivered prematurely after spontaneous labor.
Matching participants with a control group of patients who delivered at term.
Analysis of coital frequency, sexual activity, and orgasm incidence in both groups.

Main Results:

No significant differences were found in sexual activity, coital frequency, or orgasm incidence between groups delivering prematurely and at term.
A statistically significant increase in coital activity was observed in the premature delivery group only when no other cause for preterm labor was identified (p < 0.05).
This association was particularly noted after 32 weeks of gestation.

Conclusions:

Normal coital activity is not a cause of premature delivery.
Sexual activity during pregnancy, in the absence of complications, should not be discouraged.
Further research may explore specific triggers for preterm labor in cases with no apparent cause.

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