Maternal health specialists have cautioned pregnant women to stop engaging in sexual intercourse from the 36th week of pregnancy, citing possible health risks for both mother and child.
Speaking to PUNCH Healthwise, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr. Joseph Akinde, said that although sex during pregnancy is generally safe, it should be discontinued about four weeks before delivery to reduce the chances of infection.
He explained that while semen contains prostaglandins chemicals believed to soften the cervix there is no scientific proof that sexual activity induces labour.
“The evidence is not solid. The main reason for stopping at 36 weeks is to prevent infections that may harm both mother and baby,” Akinde stated.
Similarly, Prof. Oluwarotimi Akinola, a former President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, maintained that although sex during pregnancy can enhance intimacy, couples should exercise caution, particularly early and late in pregnancy.
“It’s not medically required, neither is it forbidden. However, the risks of miscarriage early on and infection close to delivery make caution necessary,” he said.
Akinola debunked widespread beliefs that sperm aids labour, insisting such claims are anecdotal and lack scientific basis.
Conversely, Prof. Ernest Orji, another gynaecologist, offered a differing view, asserting that sexual intercourse could safely continue beyond 36 weeks for most women without complications.
“Sex helps maintain intimacy and can even soften the cervix naturally as delivery approaches,” Orji argued, adding that only women with previous miscarriages or vaginal bleeding should abstain.
He further encouraged couples to adopt comfortable positions to reduce pressure on the abdomen as pregnancy progresses.
Experts collectively emphasized that the decision to engage in sex during pregnancy should depend strictly on the woman’s medical condition and her doctor’s advice.
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