Vaginal intercourse to promote labour onset is biologically plausible. Oxytocin release during female orgasm, cervix mechanical stimulation and the effect of semen's prostaglandins are possible involved mechanisms. The investigators propose to evaluate the effect of vaginal intercourse on spontaneous labour at term.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
123
vaginal intercourse at least twice a week
Hospital de Santa Maria
Lisbon, Portugal
Spontaneous labour onset at term
Spontaneous labour was considered to be established when there were regular contractions and at least 3cm of cervical dilation.
Time frame: Spontaneous labour onset between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy
Gestational age at delivery
Time frame: Gestational age at delivery (between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy)
Mode of delivery
Route of delivery - vaginally or cesarean
Time frame: Mode of delivery (vaginal or cesarean delivery) up to 42 weeks of pregnancy
Interval between recruitment and delivery
number of days between patients study recruitment and delivery (patients were included in the study at 38 weeks of pregnancy and followed until delivery; if spontaneous labour did not occur labour induction was scheduled during the 41th week of pregnancy)
Time frame: number of days between patients study recruitment and delivery (maximum period of 28 days - between 38 and 41/0-6 weeks/days of pregnancy)
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