The later weeks of pregnancy are the ultimate waiting game – the anticipation of your baby’s arrival mixed with the uncertainty of exactly when. Then there’s the pressure of not passing your baby’s due date. It’s no surprise that women want to get the labour underway and the pregnancy over. 

Queue the search for various forms of natural labour induction or encouragement. A quick look on the internet and you’ll find all sorts of methods – from sex to strawberry leaf tea, to acupuncture (*cough* expensive *cough*) and bizarre yoga moves. 

We’re here to talk about the sexual intercourse method, naturally. So yes, sex can help to naturally induce labour, and there’s three main ways or reasons why.  

Sex increases oxytocic 

Sexual activity, and more specifically having an orgasm, releases a hormone called oxytocin, which is the hormone that triggers and creates uterine contractions.

Oxytocin is often known as the hormone of love because it is involved with lovemaking, fertility, contractions during labor and birth and the release of milk in breastfeeding. It helps us feel good, and it triggers nurturing feelings and behaviors.

Receptor cells that allow your body to respond to oxytocin increase gradually in pregnancy and then increase a lot during labour. 

It doesn’t have to be with another person. Masturbation will 100% do the job.

Oxytocin stimulates powerful contractions that help to thin and open (dilate) the cervix, move the baby down and out of the birth canal, push out the placenta, and limit bleeding at the site of the placenta. 

A synthetic version of oxytocin is used in artificial induction also – in a much higher dose!

So it’s believed that by increasing your natural levels of oxytocin you can enter labour by triggering early stage contractions. 

Technically speaking though, it doesn’t have to be with another person. Masturbation will 100% do the job. In fact, it may do a better job.  

Pregnant woman in bath

Semen contains prostaglandin  

Prostaglandins are hormones produced naturally by the body that are important in the onset of labour. These hormones are known to regulate the female reproductive system, and are involved in the control of ovulation, the menstrual cycle and the induction of labour. 

Synthetically manufactured prostaglandins have been used in clinical practice since the 1960s to soften and open the cervix, and induce uterine contractions. They are more frequently used in women when the cervix is unripe (a word we promise not to use again). For reference cervical ripening is a process of softening and opening the cervix before labour starts.  

Prostaglandins promote cervical opening and softening, and encourage the onset of labour by acting on cervical collagen so as to encourage the cervix to soften and stretch in preparation for childbirth. Prostaglandins may also stimulate uterine contractions.

SO, what’s this got to do with sex? 

Well. For pregnant people who have sex with men, there are prostaglandin hormones in semen that might help to get this process moving, as human sperm contains a high amount of prostaglandin. It’s almost like we were made to do this? 😂 

For pregnant people who have sex with men, there are prostaglandin hormones in semen that might help to get this process moving.

Artificial inducing of labour usually starts with taking prostaglandins as pills or applying them inside the vagina near the cervix. Sometimes this is enough to start contractions, alternatively, they move to another method such as synthetic oxytocin. 

Nipple stimulation also releases oxytocin 

Nipple stimulation is also an effective way to induce labour, according to scientific research. 

Rubbing or rolling your nipples, or mimicking breastfeeding, helps the body release oxytocin. Stimulating the breasts may also help bring on full labour by making contractions stronger and longer. 

How to do it? 

Focus on the areola – circle that surrounds your actual nipple. When babies nurse, they massage the areola, not just the nipple itself. Use your fingers or palm to gently rub your nipple and areola through thin clothing or directly on the skin. You can also use an oil or lubricant on your nipple to make it more comfortable.

A few tips: 

  • 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 minutes apart or less, and 1 minute in length or longer.

So yeah, it is indeed believed that sexual intercourse may be an effective means to induce labour. If you’re currently looking to get the process moving, why not give it a red hot crack alongside a cup of strawberry leaf tea? 

Note: Having sex is safe during the final weeks of pregnancy, but you shouldn’t have sex after your water has broken. Doing so can increase your risk of infection.