How Sex Can Help Induce Labor

Have you heard the saying “What gets the baby in there (sex) may help get the baby out?” 

Or maybe your doctor or midwife told you to have sex to help get labor started? 

You might be wondering what in the world this is all about. How does sex help get the baby out exactly? 

Dads are also asking “At this stage of pregnancy is having sex going to hurt the baby?” 

So, let’s dive into this spicy topic and give you the answers to these questions! 

And for those who are not having female to male sex, don’t worry we’ve got some helpful information for you too. 

Get this Baby Out Now!  

As you get closer to the end of your pregnancy you may be feeling exhausted, tired, and simply DONE being pregnant. Perhaps you just want to get this baby out now! 

One survey found that 22% of pregnant people tried to self-induce their labors. The most common methods were walking or physical activity, having sexual intercourse, and nipple stimulation. 

So, why sexual intercourse?

Though research hasn’t found evidence that having sex actually results in the start of labor, theoretically, there are multiple reasons why having sex could induce labor.

Your cervix is the opening to your uterus and it goes through a process called effacement in preparation for labor. This includes the cervix getting softer, thinning out and moving out of the way. 

For pregnant people who have sex with men, there are prostaglandins in semen that might help ripen your cervix. Prostaglandins are compounds in the body that have hormone-like effects. 

Semen contains high levels of prostaglandins that help with the softening of the cervix. Human semen is the biological source that is presumed to contain the highest prostaglandin concentration. Researchers have taken samples of cervical mucus from pregnant people and found that the concentration of prostaglandins was 10 – 50 times higher than normal 2 – 4 hours after having sex. 

This is why sex with semen ejaculated (no condom used) is considered helpful for inducing labor.

Will sex hurt the baby? 

No, your baby is safe and sound inside your uterus surrounded by amniotic fluid. The amniotic sac is made up of two layers that are protecting your baby. Your uterus is resting above your pelvic area, and the cervix is also protecting your baby. 

With all of this protection, sex with penetration will not hurt your baby. So, although we lack solid evidence that sex is an effective way to start labor, there’s no harm in trying. 

No matter how well endowed any male partner believes they may be (giggle) it is safe for most pregnancies and penetration does not harm the baby. 

When is sex contraindicated during pregnancy? 

Sex is contraindicated after the rupture of your membranes due to an increased risk of infection once your water breaks. It may also be advised against if you have a high-risk pregnancy. 

Your healthcare provider might suggest not having sex if:

• You have vaginal bleeding.
• You leak amniotic fluid.
• Your cervix begins to open early, called cervical incompetence. 
• Your placenta covers your cervical opening partly or all the way (placenta previa.)
• You have a history of starting labor early or giving birth early.

Speak to your care provider if you have any concerns.

Orgasm & Nipple Stimulation 

The hormone oxytocin has a couple of functions including causing the uterus to contract. The synthetic version of oxytocin called Pitocin, is used to induce labor in hospitals. So clearly this hormone is key to kick-starting your body into labor. 

Sex sometimes includes nipple or breast stimulation, which leads to higher levels of oxytocin in the body. Nipple stimulation has been found to increase the chances of going into labor in the next 72 hours among people at full term with a favorable or ripened cervix. 

It’s important to know that researchers think that nipple stimulation only helps to induce labor late in pregnancy, once oxytocin receptors are fully present in the uterus. Therefore, some nipple stimulation while having sex earlier in pregnancy should not cause you to go into labor. 

Additionally, having an orgasm releases oxytocin. The skin to skin contact of sexual activity may also affect oxytocin levels. Sex and female orgasm have been linked to an increase in contractions. 

So, all three of these components: semen, nipple stimulation and orgasm can potentially be helpful in inducing your labor. 

It is possible that sex is more effective as a form of induction if it involves all three components. However for those who are not having female to male sex, two out of three options are still possible and can be tried. 

How do I perform nipple stimulation? 

You or your partner may manually stimulate your nipples with your fingers, your partner can use their mouth or you can also try using a breast pump. 

Follow these guidelines to prevent overstimulation:

• Focus on one breast at a time.
• Limit stimulation to just 5 minutes and wait another 15 before trying again.
• Take a break from nipple stimulation during contractions.
• Stop nipple stimulation when contractions are 3-5 minutes apart or less, and 1 minute in length or longer.

When you’re very pregnant, for some of you the thought of having sex might rank somewhere between assembling IKEA furniture and running a marathon in the heat. But if you’re trying to induce labor, it might be just the ticket to get things moving. So, while it might not be your top choice of activities right now, it could be worth a shot. Plus, it’s probably more fun than drinking castor oil, right? If you plan to try this method, good luck and try to enjoy it.

Also check out: 5 Important Questions To Ask About Labor Induction and Sex After Childbirth