Effect of Vaginal Intercourse on Spontaneous Labour at Term

Completed

• Conditions: Spontaneous Labour Onset; Vaginal Intercourse at Term
• Interventions: Behavioral: Vaginal intercourse

• Registration Number: NCT01907698
• Lead Sponsor: Hospital de Santa Maria, Portugal

Brief Summary

Vaginal intercourse to promote labour onset is biologically plausible. Oxytocin release during female orgasm, cervix mechanical stimulation and the effect of semen's prostaglandins are possible involved mechanisms. The investigators propose to evaluate the effect of vaginal intercourse on spontaneous labour at term.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-04
• Primary Completion: 2011-06
• Status Verified: 2013-07
• Study First Submitted: 2013-07-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-07-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-07-22
• Study First Posted: 2013-07-25
• Last Update Posted: 2013-07-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 123

Inclusion Criteria

• Term pregnancy
• Singleton pregnancy
• Cephalic presentation
• No previous cesarean section
• Irrelevant obstetric history
• Surveiled pregnancy without complications

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Vaginal coitus group	Vaginal intercourse	Pregnant women assigned to have vaginal coitus at least twice a week

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Spontaneous labour onset at term	Spontaneous labour onset between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy	Spontaneous labour was considered to be established when there were regular contractions and at least 3cm of cervical dilation.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Gestational age at delivery	Gestational age at delivery (between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy)
Mode of delivery	Mode of delivery (vaginal or cesarean delivery) up to 42 weeks of pregnancy	Route of delivery - vaginally or cesarean
Interval between recruitment and delivery	number of days between patients study recruitment and delivery (maximum period of 28 days - between 38 and 41/0-6 weeks/days of pregnancy)	number of days between patients study recruitment and delivery (patients were included in the study at 38 weeks of pregnancy and followed until delivery; if spontaneous labour did not occur labour induction was scheduled during the 41th week of pregnancy)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital de Santa Maria; 🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal