Q: Can having an orgasm induce labor?

A: The topic of orgasm during pregnancy is actually quite controversial and in the past, it was thought that orgasms could trigger preterm labor. This is not true anymore. Many studies have shown that an orgasm does not induce labor, either preterm or term.

There are many different myths and theories about orgasms during pregnancy, so you may be worried about whether or not it is safe to orgasm at all.

Orgasms cause the uterus to contract. This led many health care providers to advise against orgasms during pregnancy. Today we know that the uterine contractions caused by orgasm are entirely normal and they are not related to uterine contractions leading to labor and making the cervix open up.

Uterine contractions associated with an orgasm are unlikely to lead to preterm labor in women who are experiencing healthy pregnancies, and they cannot cause your cervix to dilate or efface.