Re: Another Myth Busted
From: Bernard Cristalli (bcrist@club-internet.fr)
Wed Jul 5 00:57:04 2006
This had been published a lot earlier (15 years I think), with exactly
the same conclusions.
BC
Anna Meenan, MD a écrit :
>Sexual intercourse at term does not hasten labor
>
>The objective of this study by a researcher from Columbus, Ohio was to
>determine whether sexual intercourse at term hastens the onset of labor
>and to observe its effect on cervical status. Women with low-risk
>pregnancies at term were asked at each of their term prenatal visits
>whether they had engaged in penile-vaginal intercourse during the
>previous week. Delivery outcomes were compared between those women who
>were sexually active at term and those who were not. A Bishop score was
>assigned to each cervical examination at term, and the weekly results of
>the cervical examination were compared between women who were sexually
>active in the previous week and those who were not.
>
>The researcher found that 47 (50.5%) of 93 women reported having had
>sexual intercourse at term. The gestational age at delivery of those
>women who were sexually active at term was greater than those who were
>not (39.9 weeks versus 39.3 weeks; P = 0.001). There was no difference
>in Bishop score between women who had sex in the previous week and those
>who had not. After adjusting for the effect of time, those who were
>sexually active the previous week had Bishop scores that were, on
>average, lower by 0.26 compared with those who abstained.
>
>The researcher concluded: “Sexual intercourse at term is not associated
>with ripening of the cervix and does not hasten labor.”
>
>This is important information for GPs re this oft-enquired-about area
>(that sex during the final weeks of pregnancy will not bring on a baby’s
>birth), although women whose pregnancies are ‘travelling’ better may
>feel more inclined towards sexual activity and there is an issue re the
>accuracy of responses. The findings of this study should not be used as
>an example of the potential misapplication of EBM by partners: the study
>does not recommend all pregnant women engage in sexual activity in the
>last few weeks of pregnancy.
>
>Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006;107:1310-1314. © 2006 by The American
>College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
>Sexual Intercourse at Term and Onset of Labor, Jonathan Schaffir, MD.
>
>Category W. Pregnancy/Childbirth/Family Planning, X. Female Genital
>System, Breast, Y. Male Genital System . Keywords: sexual activity,
>term, onset, labor, cohort study
>Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne. Posted on Global
>Family Doctor 5 July 2006
>
>Anna Meenan, MD
>
|
|
