Sex During Pregnancy Encouraged 

A study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests sex may actually be beneficial in encouraging pregnancies to go full-term. Sexual activity during late pregnancy has previously been associated with premature deliveries. Premature birth is linked to increased infant death rates and impaired higher brain function. It was thought that female orgasms release oxytocin, a hormone that initiates uterine wall contractions. Also, male seminal fluid has oxytoxin-like properties and is thought to increase the exposure to bacteria that encourages pre-term deliveries.

The study involved more than 1,850 women who received vaginal swabs during scheduled checkups and a telephone interview during their 28th week of pregnancy. Pre-term deliveries were considered as those women who gave birth before 37 complete weeks. Sexual activity during late pregnancy was defined as the period between the 37 weeks and 43 weeks. The interview during week 28 consisted of questions on the frequency of intercourse, position during intercourse, orgasm, most recent date of intercourse, and medical advice received about reducing intercourse. 

Researchers believe there is a small group of women who are at high risk for pre-term delivery that leads to the general misconception that sexual activity is associated with babies born between prematurely. They found the effect of bacteria on the length of pregnancy was negligible, and there were very few cases of infection found among those with high frequency of sexual activity.

Women tended to take advice to stop or limit sexual activity and to feel ill or less interested in sex during late pregnancy. Overall, researchers found continued sexual activity during late pregnancy predicted a full-term pregnancy.