Abstract

Introduction: The expectant mother’s natural body changes will lead the couple to redefine their emotional and sexual life throughout pregnancy.
Objective: Study the influence of sexuality on full term expectant mothers’ labor induction in Parakou.
Methods: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted from 15th April to 15th August 2017 in Parakou public maternity wards. Prospective data collection was carried out, along with a comprehensive census of full term expectant mothers with no fetal anomaly incompatible with life and able to deliver vaginally.
Outcomes: Globally, 141 expectant mothers were enrolled in the study, including 47 practicing sexual abstinence (group A) and 94 sexually active (group B). The frequency of weekly sexual activities ranged from 1 to 7 with 2.4 ± 1.5 as mean value. According to group B expectant mothers practicing intra-vaginal ejaculation, sexual intercourse would facilitate delivery (80.00%, p=0.0006). Group B expectant mothers (87, 92.55%) engaged in sexual fondling, including 82 (94.25%) who practiced nipple stimulation. 23 (28.75%) regularly reached orgasm. Nipple stimulation and orgasm influenced significantly spontaneous labor with p=0.0001 and 0.0006 respectively. Among Group A expectant mothers, there were 9 or 19.15% prolonged pregnancy against 0% for Group B, 15 or 31.91% spontaneous delivery against 05.32% for Group B and 9 or 19.15% cesarean section against 4.25% for group B. There is a statistically significant link between sexuality and the mode of delivery (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: Nipple stimulation and orgasm during full term pregnancy facilitate spontaneous labor in childbirth process.

Keywords: Sexuality; Induction; Delivery; Parakou