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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01907698

Effect of Vaginal Intercourse on Spontaneous Labour at Term

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Spontaneous Labour Onset Behavior Coitus Sexual Behavior Vaginal Intercourse at Term

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Hospital de Santa Maria

Lisbon, Portugal

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

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

Treatment and study plan

Vaginal intercourse

Behavioral

vaginal intercourse at least twice a week

Primary outcomes

  1. Spontaneous labour onset at term

    Time frame: 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 outcomes

  1. Gestational age at delivery

    Time frame: Gestational age at delivery (between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy)

  2. Mode of delivery

    Time frame: Mode of delivery (vaginal or cesarean delivery) up to 42 weeks of pregnancy

    Route of delivery - vaginally or cesarean

  3. Interval between recruitment and delivery

    Time frame: 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)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hospital de Santa Maria, Portugal

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Vaginal Intercourse on Spontaneous Labour at Term- A Randomized Trial

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2011
First posted
Jul 25, 2013
Registry last updated
Jul 25, 2013

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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