COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 2 (UPI) -- The widely held belief that engaging in sexual intercourse during the final weeks of pregnancy can hasten labor and delivery is false, a U.S. study finds.
In fact, the study of 93 women who were sexually active in the final three weeks of their pregnancies carried their babies an average of 39.9 weeks, compared to average delivery at 39.3 weeks among women who abstained from sexual activity at term.
"Patients may continue to hear the 'old wives' tale' that intercourse will hasten labor, but according to this data, they should not hear it from the medical community," says study author Dr. Jonathan Schaffir, an obstetrician at Ohio State University Medical Center.
However, Schaffir also said the data didn't support a recommendation to engage in sexual activity, either.
The study participants had low-risk single pregnancies enrolled at their doctor's office visit after the 37th week of pregnancy.
The study is published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
