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Robin's Pregnancy & Childbirth Blog

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com Guide to Pregnancy / Birth since 1997

Sex to Induce Labor?

Tuesday July 18, 2006
Okay, so for years we've been told that having sex at the end of pregnancy will help us bring on labor. It's a sure fire way to induce labor. I can't tell you the number of very pregnant women I know who are willing to do anything (and I do mean anything) to bring about labor at that point. Now there is a study about the whole topic that says it's not true. But wait! Another study says it is true. Leave me a comment about your thoughts on whether or not sex in late pregnancy causes labor.

Comments

June 16, 2006 at 7:20 am
(1) Jodie says:

well i was 10 days overdue and since my due date we were going bonkers and it didnt help i still had to be induce went over speed bumps in car. i think if the baby is ready it may work but if the baby is simply not ready then nothing you do will help except drug inducment. he was definatley ready though my placenter was only 1/4 viable. so sex didnt help us…

June 16, 2006 at 6:37 pm
(2) Sara says:

I was at my due date with my second child. I went eight days over with my first and didn’t want to repeat that. My husband had read that if I were to have an orgasm it could help with inducing. We decided to give it a try and the next day I was having contraction 5 minutes apart, all day. When I called my doctor that afternoon, he told me if they got any closer to go to the hospital, otherwise, show up the next morning so he could break my water. I think the orgasm helped urge the baby along but for all I know, he was on his way anyway.

June 18, 2006 at 4:11 am
(3) Jessica says:

I went a week over my due date and we tried the organism trick to induce labor and it didn’t work. It actually left me quite sore. I agree that if the baby is not ready to come out, othing will do it but medical inducement.

June 18, 2006 at 4:13 pm
(4) Heather says:

It totally worked for me! It was a week before my due date and a few people had told us about having sex to induce.Well we had sex on saturday morning and by 10:00 pm I was in labor. I am now 7 months prego again and am going to give it another try. We will see if it works twice!

June 18, 2006 at 8:51 pm
(5) casey says:

I believe it to be true that sex brings labpr on because I am pregnant and three days ago a day after I had sex I went into early labor.

June 18, 2006 at 11:27 pm
(6) STEFANIE says:

I DO BELIEVE HAVING SEX HELPS YOU INDUCE LABOR.I HAVE TWO CHILDREN.WITH BOTH MY PREGNANCIES I WENT INTO LABOR ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER HAVING SEX,AND IT TOOK ME 3 HRS TO HAVE MY CHILDREN SO IM STICKING TO THIS TRICK, I AM 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AGAIN AND IM TRYING IT ONCE AGAIN.

June 19, 2006 at 12:03 am
(7) Sarah says:

I was 2 weeks overdue with my second child and my husband and I tried everything. I moved buckets of water, couches, and had at least 3 orgasms a day/night! The baby comes when it’s good and ready, bottom line.

June 19, 2006 at 7:06 am
(8) Mindy says:

With my first, whenever we had sex in the last 2 months, I ended up with fierce contractions, 2 minutes apart for about an hour, then it would slow down and stop. I thought it was false labor until 3 weeks before my due date when it went on for two hours. By the time I got to the hospital, I was 3 cm dilated. I basically could have “picked” my dued date. Sex definitely induced labor for me! We’ll see what happens with #2 due in January.

June 19, 2006 at 12:08 pm
(9) Jessica says:

I am pregnant with my second baby and am due in 5 weeks. I have a few suggestions for bringing on labor. First use a vibrator it brings on stronger contractions, second my ob suggested nipple stimulation. But i am not trying anything for another 3 weeks. I am not ready for this baby yet!!

June 19, 2006 at 1:52 pm
(10) Karien Wessels says:

I was 40 weeks pregnant Sex did not do the trick At 41 weeks we tried again but no LUCK I was 42 weeks pregnant and we tried again but still no LUCK. I wished that it did work because to be induced was not the way for me.

June 19, 2006 at 10:31 pm
(11) Acacia says:

when i was pregnent with my second child it was like every time i had sex i had contractions i think i was about 35 weeks when i started but it hepled alot because i was all baby.

Now with my first baby i was really young and of that friday i had sex and i had Aunjunae on that sunday so i believe it works. if it doen’t work for you and your man maybe his seaman isn’t strong enuff.

June 20, 2006 at 12:21 am
(12) sunita says:

my brothers wife shares everything with me. during her last month she had sex and after that day she went into labor. i got my nephew.

June 20, 2006 at 2:41 pm
(13) FELICIA says:

I TRULY BELIEVE NOT SEX, BUT A GOOD ORGASM, SPEEDS UP LABOR AND PROBABLY INDUCES IT TOO. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HOOKED UP TO THE CONTRACTION MONITORING MACHINE & EXPERIENCE AN ORGASM AND IT WAS THE LARGEST STEEPEST CONTRACTION HILL I REGISTERED. SOON AFTER THEY STARTED COMING LIKE THEY GAVE ME PITOCIN!!!!!

June 20, 2006 at 9:49 pm
(14) JULIE says:

I SO BELIEVE SEX HELPS IT.WHEN I WAS A 2 DAYS AWAY FROM MY DUE DATE MY DOCTOR TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO NEED TO INDULCE MY LABOR, I DIDN’T WANT THAT TO HAPPENS. WHEN I A WAS 1 DAYS AWAY FROM MY DUE DATE I HAD IT AND THE FOLLOWING DAY I WENT INTO LABOR.I HAD HER ON MY DUE DATE.

June 21, 2006 at 7:36 pm
(15) Marie says:

It worked for me. I went into labor at 4:00 am after having sex around 11:00 pm.

June 21, 2006 at 7:46 pm
(16) Ellyn says:

tried it A LOT with both pg’s; never worked…went into labor when the baby was good and ready….

June 21, 2006 at 7:57 pm
(17) CerriC says:

Nipple stimulation as part of foreplay has a lot to do with it too. I had sex regularly through all of my pregnancies, but had to stop the last month of each because every orgasm started contractions. With my last one, though, we cut out all breast stimulation and - suddenly - no more contractions!

June 21, 2006 at 8:15 pm
(18) holly says:

im gonna try it hopefully it works
im ready to have this baby

June 21, 2006 at 9:06 pm
(19) Donna says:

I was a week overdue, when my husband and I had sex the only thing that happened was my water broke. I went to the hospital and still had to receive pitocin, since I still had no contractions. I had a c-section 10 hours later.

June 22, 2006 at 2:34 am
(20) anon says:

I was at 38 weeks and they wanted to induce me due to elevated bp. I convinced them to send me home on bedrest since I was not dialated or effaced at all yet. We didn’t have sex, but I did masterbate - a lot (5-6 times a day)! When I went in for a check two days later I was dialated 1-2 cm and 80% effaced. I ended up having the baby a week later and it was a very easy labor and delivery - 3 cm to baby in 4 hours with only 30 minutes of pushing! And this was my first. Orgasms work magic in many ways!!!

June 22, 2006 at 3:43 am
(21) katie says:

When i had my first child ( im now pregnant with second) we heard the same thing an i was getting a bit fed up so we started and he came 2 1/2 weeks early so i will definatly be doing it again.

June 22, 2006 at 8:25 am
(22) jennifer alves says:

The due date arrived and no sign of impending birth. That afternoon I went to my doctor who examined me and told me not for a few more days, to go home and relax. At 6:30pm I went to prenatal classes and the mid wife said the same thing as my baby had not descended yet. By 10:30pm I started to feel labour pains and she was born the next morning at 9:20am. YIP I think it was the sex :-)

June 22, 2006 at 9:13 am
(23) theresa says:

Every time we had sex I had contractions that led to nothing. Finally what we did was we had sex, then when my contractions started to lessen we had sex again and sure enough within 5 hrs of the second time I was in the hospital. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t dilate past 5cm even after they induced me to speed things up, so I had a c-section. So, it worked for me but I don’t know if I’d do it again!

June 22, 2006 at 12:48 pm
(24) overdue says:

I am three days overdue, and have been dialated to a 1 for three weeks now. my mother used castor oil with all her children and claims it works.but from my experience it doesnt I have tried that, i have been walking almost everynight,and not even sex works. I believe if he just isnt ready there is nothing you can do, but let the doctors take over. I am scheduled to be induced the 28th. thank god. Hes finally gonna be here

June 22, 2006 at 4:14 pm
(25) Rose says:

I am due in three weeks with my first baby and am very anxious to deliver. Each time I think of having sex, I hold back because I think I might orgasm too hard and push out the baby. I am not too sure I can hold out much longer though…so I will let you know how it goes.

June 22, 2006 at 4:55 pm
(26) deirdre says:

have 4 weeks to go and have been going at it hell for leather and drinking raspberry leaf so far nothing happening but i did the same for first pregnancy and had a very easy delivery 1cm to delivery in 1 hr 43 mins

June 22, 2006 at 6:35 pm
(27) Allie says:

I think it works. We stayed sexualy active throught both my pregnancies. I had my first baby at 37 weeks and we had had sex the night before. My second baby was born at 38 weeks and we had sex just hours before.

June 23, 2006 at 5:01 am
(28) nollie says:

as an OB nurse…Yes, the sex works but,not only is it the nipple stimuli and orgasm, but the sperm need to sit on the cervix to help soften it and allow you to dialate…castor oil just gives you diarrhea in labor…ughhh just be careful not to attempt this too early as it could cause premature babies….

June 23, 2006 at 2:10 pm
(29) Nina says:

I know the orgasms help. I must agree with the OB nurse (Comment by nollie — June 23, 2006 @ 5:01 am). I maintained a healthy sex life, and assisted my self at times near the end. Both my children came early. 1 was a week, and the other was 10 days.

June 24, 2006 at 5:22 pm
(30) Brandy says:

Well I didn’t try sex to induce, I was already having strong contractions and just got in the mood. I do believe that because I was already in labor that it caused things to go faster, by allowing me to dialate faster. Even though I don’t have any proof that the sex caused anything, it was worth it.

July 19, 2006 at 1:33 am
(31) Erin says:

I believe that regular orgasms throughout pregnancy help to stimulate contractions. While pregnant with my daughter I maintained a healthy sex life with orgasm, I had many instances when I had braxton-hicks contractions after, and 17 days before my due date I had my daughter. Like other women have said in one way or another, it is the orgasm, not the act of intercourse that induces contractions.

July 19, 2006 at 1:52 pm
(32) Brandy says:

Well alot of you are very far off, it’s not the actual act of sex that induces labor, it’s the semen, it has a component in it that softens and thins the lining blocking the way to the cervix, so yes in some cases sex does help induce labor, but no it’s not a definite.

July 19, 2006 at 10:46 pm
(33) kelly says:

For my 1st pregnancy, my husband and I went for a walk, went home and had sex, and sure enough, when I woke up the next morning I was calling my husband home from work.
I just hope it works the 2nd time around too!

July 20, 2006 at 12:50 pm
(34) veriag says:

If you combine sperm with orgasm you will have labor. I tried it with my daughter and it worked. Sex at 8 am and she was born by 1 pm. Although you should be doing it more than just one time to go into labor. Something in the man’s sperm helps soften the cervix at least that is what the doctor told me

July 20, 2006 at 8:19 pm
(35) Amy says:

I believe sex at the end of pregnancy really does speed up labor, because at the end of my pregnancy, i had sex, then my baby boy was born and i was only in labor for 6 hours, maybe it was luck…maybe the sex really did help, we may never truly know, but i believe it helped

July 21, 2006 at 1:38 pm
(36) Brittany says:

I also believe that sex helps. I had my son in Nov. of 2005, I went into the hospital twice, two weeks in a row, coinsidentally both on Monday’s…but both times, the night before my husband and I had sex, and sure enough I would be woken up in the wee hours of the morning/very late at night with contractions. My mother in law worked at the OB’s office and she said that they were probably just braxton hicks. Well the first time I went in and the hooked me up and decided that they weren’t strong enough anymore to keep me so they sent me home to rest, the next time I went in, that next Monday morning at around 4am I was 5 cm already. I had a very easy delivery. Although, I would suggest being careful. I was only 36 weeks, which is a difficult age to be sure everything will be ok or not. My son ended up having to be in the NICU with underdeveloped heart and lungs for 12 days…..I would have rather waited. But we’re gonna try that again with the next one due in April 07′

July 22, 2006 at 2:57 pm
(37) Heather says:

I was 34 1/2 weeks along and my baby was measuring @ 8lbs. My husband and I had sex and that night the baby was on his way.
Sex REALLY works!

July 23, 2006 at 3:40 pm
(38) Angela says:

It worked for us - 3 times out of 3. And as some other women mentioned, I could have picked my due date with my 3rd; actually I did pick my date. The key is relaxation & enjoyment, and that’s not that easy when you’re 9 mos pregnant & uncomfortable!

July 23, 2006 at 7:04 pm
(39) Erin says:

I went two weeks passed my due date with my first baby.Sex didn’t seem to work for us.I have read that its the semen that helps put you into labor and it can even cause miscarriage (if you are already a bit predisposed) early in pregnancy.We’re expecting baby #2 in Dec. I’m definately going to try sex to induce labor and keep my fingers crossed!

July 26, 2006 at 8:35 pm
(40) dianna says:

yes i think sex can start labor.i just started my 39th week and two days before my ob/gyn said my cervix was softening.on saturday evening my hubby and i had sex one last time we figured and i went to the hospital a few hours later.i wasnt having contractions at all til after later on.i had a natural birth because she came so fast.i went from 2cm to 8 in about 15 min.when i got to hospital she was born after an hour.so yea sex can do it.

August 10, 2006 at 12:04 pm
(41) bekee says:

My dear, I think that sex does work, It did work for me for my first pregnancy, I was in my 39 weeks and had sex about 11pm, by early morning I started having contraction and went straight to hospital, some hours later, my beautiful daughter was born. I’m due in a couple of weeks (15th Oct) and believe me I will try it again, I hope it works again.

August 29, 2006 at 9:18 pm
(42) dawn says:

I totally belive this works! With our first, when I felt small contractions, I thought that we should have sex to bring them on stronger, and a hour or so later we were off to the hospital ready to deliver. With this second baby I intend to do the same. I think its the male sprem that brings it on!

September 21, 2006 at 9:15 pm
(43) Vennessa says:

I don’t know if I believe this works for everybody. I have been having active sex my whole pregnancy,now 35 wks along. But then again, I do get very mild contractions afterwards sometimes. I also go to the bathroom right after sex all the time…lol… because the baby is so low. Anyways, I am going to try not going to the bathroom and see what happens. Maybe when I am 37 wks. Kinda to test this theory myself. I want my daughter to hopefully be fully developed when I try though, so yea I will wait till 37 wks.

September 24, 2006 at 3:17 am
(44) Wendy says:

ok, thats great that sex has worked for SO many of you, but one small detail. . .a little more information on what positions? maybe that would help me. anyone??

October 6, 2006 at 10:17 pm
(45) Apryl says:

Sex put me in pre mature labor at 34&1/2 weeks..but didn’t make me dilate, so they gave me dimeral and sent me home..we tried at 37 weeks and I dilated to 2..I am almost 38 weeks and am still 2..we are going to try again and see what happens..

October 19, 2006 at 11:03 am
(46) michelle says:

My due date is october 21 saturday. i’ll be 40 weeks on saturday and by the looks of it we wont be coming out and my doctor told me that they might have to induce my labor and by this being my first birth, im scared, but my husband and i tried making love but that hurts. i dont know what to do

February 16, 2007 at 10:50 am
(47) Kirsten says:

I am curently 37 weeks pregnant. I am already starting to dialate and eface, in addition my baby is head down. My husband and I have had sex a couple of times and I have started to have contractions with in minutes of finishing. However, it has not induced labor. The baby will come when it is ready.

December 25, 2007 at 6:52 am
(48) amanda says:

i am 37 weeks pregnant and my husband just got back from army basic training. we have been making up for lost time, *wink, and i have had contractions after each time, but nothing strong yet. we are hoping the baby will come before he goes to back to virginia in 8 days!

February 13, 2008 at 5:30 pm
(49) Laura says:

My doctor recommended sex to speed things up, because semen contains a chemical similar to pitocin, but after reading everyones comments, it sounds like as long as the woman orgasms, then the contractions come. Once again, it takes two to have a baby, or one if you masturbate ^_^ - Well, I am trying out sex non stop next week, and i’ll let you all know if it worked

March 5, 2008 at 2:51 pm
(50) Claire says:

It isn’t working for me! My husband and I have had sex 4 times in the last week and all I’ve gotten is a constant cramp that goes across the top of my uterus for the last 72 hours. We have been trying absolutely EVERYTHING to get the baby started, and nothing is working. I guess that I’m one of the believers that the baby will come when she’s ready to come.

March 11, 2008 at 1:05 am
(51) mom to 3 says:

clair…for the last 72 hours across ur upper uterus, your probably starting to have early labour symptoms and it being 5 days after u posted u probably have a baby now in your arms! lol

ne who with my frsit pregnancy i had sex like every day for my entire pregnancy and went 4 days over due the day before i had sex (hubby on top) and the next day my water broke and she was born on the monday (had sex on saturday) i went into labour on the 5th, 19 hour labour, 20 min. pushing, second, she was born at 37 weeks 4 days, 23 hour labour, tunred breech had c-section but 2 days before i had sex (hubby on top again) and went into labour 2 days later, this pregnancy we havent had much sex, expecting my first son next month and he is very low im already 90%, 1cm, short, soft and posterior, but i might try sex a 3rd time (three times a charm) and see what happens.

March 30, 2008 at 10:56 pm
(52) mommy again says:

Ok, what is it about sex that makes u go in labor? Is it the orgasms or his sperm? I heard it was something in the sperm, but I also heard it is the orgasms so help me out!

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