Maternal health experts have cautioned pregnant women to stop sexual intercourse after 36 weeks of pregnancy, warning that it could increase the risk of infections and complications before delivery.
The gynaecologists told PUNCH Healthwise that although sex during pregnancy is generally safe for most women, couples should exercise caution as delivery approaches. They explained that sexual activity in the final month of pregnancy could expose both the mother and the unborn child to preventable risks.
Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Joseph Akinde, said that while sex can promote bonding, it is best avoided in the last four weeks of pregnancy. He explained that semen contains prostaglandins—substances believed to help soften the cervix—but scientific evidence supporting this is weak.
“From about 36 weeks, it’s best to stop intercourse to minimise the risk of infection. The claim that semen helps the cervix prepare for labour is speculative,” Dr. Akinde said.
Supporting his view, Professor Oluwarotimi Akinola, former president of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, stressed that there is no strict medical ban on sex during pregnancy but warned against it at certain stages.
“There’s no advantage or disadvantage. Sex during pregnancy is mainly for intimacy, not medical necessity,” he said. “However, caution is needed early in pregnancy to avoid miscarriage and late in pregnancy to prevent infections.”
Akinola added that sexual activity close to delivery could expose the woman to vaginal infections, which might complicate childbirth or affect the baby.
He dismissed popular beliefs that sperm can hasten labour, calling them “anecdotal” and unsupported by science. “We don’t prescribe sex to induce labour,” he said, noting that intimacy during pregnancy should focus more on emotional bonding than medical outcomes.
However, Professor Ernest Orji, another consultant gynaecologist, shared a different perspective.
He argued that sex during pregnancy can be safe and even beneficial, provided there are no complications such as vaginal bleeding or a history of miscarriage.
“For most women, sex is safe throughout pregnancy,” Orji said. “It helps strengthen marital relationships, reduces infidelity, and can even help soften the cervix in late pregnancy.”
He added that couples should only modify positions as pregnancy advances to ensure comfort and safety.
“Any position comfortable for the woman is fine. It’s important to maintain intimacy because it strengthens emotional connection,” he said.
According to experts, sexual activity during pregnancy should be guided by medical advice, the woman’s comfort, and the presence or absence of health complications
