Does Sex Induce Labor? What Ob-gyns and Experts Say

If you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy, you’re likely wondering whether there’s anything you can do to naturally induce labor. This begs the question: Does sex induce labor?

While there’s no research directly linking sex to labor induction, anecdotal evidence suggests it can help things move faster. “Literally less than two hours after sex at 38-and-a-half weeks, my water broke,” reports abell77, a community member on The Bump. “Hey, it’s more fun than castor oil, right?”

Others are more mixed on the matter: “When I was pregnant with my first son, I practically jumped my husband and had to basically beg him to have sex to try to induce labor,” recalls shanatait2be, another The Bump community member. “But it never worked. I went nine days over my due date and was induced. It caused contractions and a little spotting, but I went in for my induction with zero progress.”

So, what do the experts say? Does sex get things going—and are there any optimal sex positions to induce labor? Keep reading to get the lowdown from experts on whether or not you can use sex to induce labor—plus what you need to know before giving it a try.

Key Takeaways

• Can sex induce labor? While there isn’t enough solid research to say that sex definitely induces labor, there are theories that it can help move things along.
• Sex is considered safe throughout pregnancy, unless your provider tells you otherwise.
• While there are no specific sex positions to induce labor, good late-pregnancy options include spooning, side-by-side, you on top, rear entry, edge of bed and reverse cowgirl.
• Without medical intervention, your body won’t go into labor until it’s ready.

Does Sex Induce Labor?

So, can sex induce labor? If you’re looking for a black-and-white answer here, it’s no. “There’s limited evidence that sex actually induces labor,” says Dr. Michael Ingber, MD, a urogynecologist in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, and cofounder at LiviWell, adding that it’s generally considered safe to have sex in a low-risk pregnancy.

Rebekah Mustaleski, CPM, a certified professional midwife in Knoxville, Tennessee, and compression director with Motif Medical, adds that, “Unless your body is ready to go into labor, having sex won’t prompt its onset in a healthy pregnancy, even if you’re full-term.”

But there’s no harm in trying—and Dr. Inberg says that having sex toward the end of a low-risk pregnancy remains safe. And while it won’t immediately send you into labor, sex could help move things along. Here’s the deal.

Theories on having sex to induce labor

Sex in late pregnancy has long been touted as an at-home method for bringing on labor contractions—and there’s some sound logic behind it. “Semen contains prostaglandins, which can contribute to cervical softening,” explains Summer Okimoto, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at Pediatrix Medical Group in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Prostaglandins are also released by a woman’s body during sex. These prostaglandins help ripen the cervix, explains Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD, FACOG, an ob-gyn and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon in Dallas, as cervical softening has to happen in order for dilation to begin and labor to progress. (In fact, doctors use synthetic prostaglandins to ripen the cervix when inducing labor.)

What’s more, sex that results in an orgasm may also help move things along. “When a woman has an orgasm, the hormone oxytocin is released, and this can stimulate uterine contractions,” says Okimoto. Similarly, Dr. Ingber notes that nipple stimulation can also increase the release of oxytocin.

Still, even if everything aligns perfectly, your body still has to be ready to go into labor. “Unless your body is already prepared for labor, the oxytocin released during orgasm isn’t going to put you into labor,” Mustaleski explains. “There are several other hormones required to complete the ‘labor cocktail,’ and without all of them, you’ll just have a good time with your partner.”

“At around 39 weeks, I was ready for pregnancy to be over,” recalls Kelli D., a mom of two in Indianapolis. “I remembered that episode of Friends when Rachel’s doctor told her sex was a way to induce labor, and I brought it up to my ob-gyn, hopeful it was true. I was quite disappointed when I learned it wasn’t the miracle induction I wanted.”

Research on having sex to induce labor

There isn’t enough research to support the claim that you can use sex to induce labor, says Casey Selzer, CNM, a certified nurse midwife and senior director of patient programs at Oula, a maternity center in New York City.

A 2012 study looked at 1,100 pregnant women and found no direct relationship between having sex late in pregnancy and inducing labor. A larger, more recent study— using data sets from three trials and close to 1,500 women—also noted that sex didn’t help induce labor at term.

Still, the research on using sex to induce labor isn’t entirely straightforward. A small study found that sex toward the end of pregnancy was linked with a reduced need for induction at 41 weeks, and a 2015 study determined that sex in the last week of pregnancy might be associated with the onset of labor. The key takeaway? While there’s some indication that sex might help bring on labor, there’s no direct cause-and-effect relationship between the two.

When Can You Try Sex to Induce Labor?

Before trying to have sex to induce labor—or using any at-home induction methods, for that matter—check in with your doctor or midwife to get the green light.

First, it’s important to let the pregnancy come to full term whenever possible. Experts define a “term” pregnancy as 37 through 40 weeks and “full term” as 39 to 40 weeks. “Babies tend to do best when born during weeks 39 and 40, with babies born before 39 weeks having a higher risk of breathing problems, developing infections and spending time in the NICU,” says Dr. Shepherd. “A baby’s lungs, liver and brain continue to develop during those last weeks of pregnancy. It also reduces the likelihood of vision and hearing problems, gives baby time to gain sufficient weight and promotes being able to suck, swallow and stay awake after birth long enough to eat.”

Once you’re 39 weeks pregnant, it’s generally safe to deliver, adds midwife Mustaleski. At this point, as long as you have your provider’s approval, “you can start doing natural things to get labor started,” she says.

Good Sex Positions to Try to Induce Labor

Are there specific sex positions to induce labor? “There’s no evidence that one sexual position is better than the other at inducing labor,” explains Dr. Ingber. “Because everyone’s vaginal anatomy is different, and a partner’s penis is different (length, curvature, etc.), what might be comfortable for one couple may be uncomfortable for another.”

If you’re going to give it a try, though, the best thing to do is find a position that you enjoy and that’s comfortable for you. There’s no single best sex position in pregnancy, but you may appreciate the ones that give you more control in how deep penetration goes, that take pressure off your belly and that avoid having you lie flat on your back for extended periods of time.

Some good late-pregnancy options include the spooning position, side-by-side, you on top, rear entry, edge of bed, reverse cowgirl and non-penetrative sex. You can also use pillows as props to help you get comfortable and find the best angles for your changing body.

Tips for Having Sex Later in Pregnancy

Looking to have sex later in pregnancy—whether it’s to induce labor or not? Here are a few suggestions.

• Get into a comfortable position. The key is to find a position that works for you and your body. If spooning or reverse cowgirl don’t “hit the spot,” do whatever works for you—including non-penetrative sex.
• Avoid lying flat on your back for prolonged periods of time. This can compress the vena cava, the largest vein in the human body, and cause decreased blood flow to the uterus.
• Use lube, if it feels good. Pregnancy hormones can cause vaginal dryness, so if you need (or want) lubrication, go for it.
• Listen to your body. If you’re anxious about having sex, then don’t, Mustaleski says. After all, if you’re worried about its effects on your pregnancy, you won’t be able to enjoy it. (Plus, there are plenty of other ways for you and your partner to be intimate.)
• Make sure you’re cleared. If you have a medical complication such as placenta previa or a high risk of preterm labor, your provider will likely warn you against having sex, says nurse midwife Selzer. That said, if you have a low-risk pregnancy, having sex is safe—and won’t push you into preterm labor.

“If I’m being totally honest, I’m glad sex [hasn’t been proven to] induce labor, because the last thing I wanted during pregnancy was to have sex,” says Ally J., a mom of one in Raleigh, North Carolina. “It was uncomfortable, and I was so nauseous all the time that sex was just unappealing. If that had been my only option to get labor going, that would’ve been so rough.”

Other Ways to Naturally Induce Labor

There are all kinds of theories about ways to induce labor naturally. And if you’re uncomfortable, achy and just ready to be done with pregnancy, it’s no wonder that you’d want to try them. Some of the common methods include:

• Movement, such as walking or curb walking
• Nipple stimulation
• Eating dates
• Eating spicy foods
• Drinking red raspberry leaf tea
• Acupuncture
• Acupressure

While there’s actual research to back up some of these methods (such as nipple stimulation), it’s hard to say whether any of them will be the thing that pushes your body into labor. “If only it were that simple—we wouldn’t need all of the labor-inducing medications and methods we’ve developed,” says Mustaleski.

To Sum It Up

There’s limited evidence that having sex could actually induce labor—but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun (provided you don’t have certain pregnancy complications). In any case, Mustaleski recommends not stressing about starting labor. “Remember, there’s a huge mind-body connection. If you obsess about getting labor started, you’re actually less likely to get labor started!” she says. “It’s a great introduction to parenting—[it’s the first time you’ll] learn that kids do things when and how they want to!”

How We Developed This Article

As pregnancy progresses, and your due date approaches (or passes), it’s perfectly normal to want to help move things along—but it’s important to try any natural method to induce labor in a safe way. To help provide guidance on whether sex can induce labor, we spoke to several experts, including certified midwives, ob-gyns and a urogynecologist. We also spoke to real-life moms to learn their takes on using sex to induce labor.

After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our ob-gyn medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Ashley Ziegler is a mom of two preemies who was put on pelvic rest toward the end of her second pregnancy in an attempt to reduce her high risk of having a second premature baby. She’s also an experienced health, pregnancy and parenting writer with work appearing in publications including Scary Mommy, Romper, Pregnancy & Newborn, Everyday Health and more.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.