omg...is it true?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20060707/hl_hsn/sexinlatepregnancywontbringonlabor;_ylt=As7cWrSWk1bdJfXVRMQ1XqfgcbYF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

Answer 1

Well sex was what kick-started my labor so it worked for me. And my baby came 9 days early, so my hubby and I thought for sure that it was the sex that did it.

Besides, in the article it said that they had about 93 women that they reviewed for it. That's not enough to make it into a real study. And there's also no control factor - unless if all of the 93 women were really similar with their gestations in every way, then they can make a more reliable conclusion. But every woman is different, it is too hard to make a study when there is too much variation with the "subjects".

Answer 2

Interesting article - thanks for sharing it! I don't put a lot of faith in it, however, because (a) it doesn't match my experience, and (b) there are too many variables that were not or could not be controlled by the researcher.

(a) I'm going to skip the details of my personal experience, LOL, and just give you the bottom line, which is that while I don't think it is dangerous & would induce labor prematurely in a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, I do think that, in a mom who's approaching time to go into labor anyway, the prostaglandin in semen can *speed up* changes in the cervix & *speed up* the onset of labor...not bring them out of nowhere, but just speed up the onset.

(b) The title of the article makes it sound like it's conclusive, it's a done deal, give up hope, sex won't induce labor...but that title is misleading. With a sample size of only 93 women, the results can't be taken too seriously. The article itself admits the results are not conclusive, and that a randomized study is nearly impossible -- and the article states only that the women had "single, low risk pregnancies." It doesn't mention whether they had any previous pregnancies (which can change how labor comes on & progresses) or other factors: family history (i.e. a tendency toward very short or very long labor can be hereditary, as can delivering well before or well after the projected due date ... also: high blood pressure, pregnancy diabetes, and other conditions), the size of the baby, individual hormonal, anatomical, and even cultural differences from one mother to another can all impact the onset of labor...even the amount of prostaglandin in semen varies not only from one man to another, but from one ejaculate to another from each individual. It doesn't even say whether the ... how do I say this delicately? ... whether the prostaglandin was actually deposited, if you know what I mean, on the cervix. There's also the little problem of human nature -- The doctor asked his patients how often they were having sex -- even with a good, trusted physician as the researcher, any study based on subjective account, where the subject has to be relied on to tell the researcher the truth about something as personal as sexual activity, can't possibly be taken as an objective, conclusive study. The mother might omit information she didn't realize was significant, such as answering "Yes" to the question of whether she'd had sex recently, when a more complete answer might be "Yes we had sex, but he didn't ... finish." That's significant to the question of whether the prostaglandin in the semen would even reach the cervix, let alone whether it would change the cervix and/or induce labor. That's not to put down the doctor or his patients, that's just a fact of human nature and common wisdom of research design.

I guess I'm not really saying the article is wrong, I'm just saying the article is right to admit that there just isn't enough evidence in the results of this study to overcome generations of personal experience & old folk wisdom. :-) Besides...labor inducing or not, as long as it doesn't hurt the baby, it's a fun way for bored but loving expectant parents to pass the time! :-)

Answer 3

Some people swear by the sex method but it's not scientifically proven. Never has been. It is true that the hormone progesterone (spelling?) in sperm can cause mild contractions but in your typical pregnancy those won't be strong enough to kick off a full-blown labor. The labor process begins with the baby who for whatever reason suddenly decides IT'S TIME!

Answer 4

at the end of my pregnancy i was desperate to find a way to trigger labor and my midwife told me that the sperm has something in it i cant remember what it is that makes you start dialating and having contractions, but she said you'd have to do it like a gazillion times because it wasn't enough to actually do anything, but i dont think that it really makes a difference the baby will come out when ready

Answer 5

i dont think its true. I went into labor having sex. They say that sex triggers labor because everytime you have a orgasm your uterus rocks gently. that is why in the 3-6 months of pregnancy sex is good because the rocking of the uterus is good for baby developement, it is stimulating it. Also mens sperm has stuff in it that thins out the cervix so you will start to dialate faster.

Answer 6

I'm sure it varies from person to person. I know it worked for several people I know. Remember, they said fiber wasn't as important to the diet and body as they originally thought. I don't know about you, but if I don't have enough fiber in my diet, I get constipated.

Answer 7

Who knows, my doctor told me to have sex to help enduce labor...I went all the way to my due date...I had her the day after my due date and I was still having sex the last 3 weeks of pregnancy...

Answer 8

it certainly helped me i tried allsorts as my 1st was 4 days overdue...the only thing that set my labour off was a good bit of sex lol

Answer 9

I'm not sure, but if I were you, I'd keep it in my pants until the baby comes out.

Answer 10

Not for me!! Mine was early after that.