Sexual intercourse during pregnancy and its association with spontaneous preterm birth

Laura E Janssen; Rubin J T Verduin; Christianne J M de Groot; Martijn A Oudijk; Marjon A de Boer

doi:10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100849

Sexual intercourse during pregnancy and its association with spontaneous preterm birth

Sex Reprod Healthc. 2023 Jun:36:100849. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100849. Epub 2023 Apr 23.

Authors

Laura E Janssen¹, Rubin J T Verduin², Christianne J M de Groot², Martijn A Oudijk², Marjon A de Boer²

Affiliations

¹ Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Obstetrics. De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute. Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: l.janssen2@amsterdamumc.nl.
² Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Obstetrics. De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute. Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

PMID: 37099844
DOI: 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100849

Abstract

This study investigated whether sexual intercourse during pregnancy is associated with spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). We included 77 women with SPTB and 145 women with a term birth. A total of 195 (87.8%) women had sexual intercourse during pregnancy, which was comparable between the groups. Primiparas with SPTB tended to report more often having sexual intercourse 3 - 4 times a week compared to primiparas with a term birth (8.8% vs. 0%, p =.082). We advise not to completely discourage sexual intercourse among pregnant women. Yet, high sexual intercourse frequency could be associated with SPTB.

Keywords: Patient Counseling; Pregnancy; Sexual intercourse; Spontaneous preterm birth.

MeSH terms

Coitus
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Pregnancy
Premature Birth*
Term Birth