title: Changes in the pattern of uterine contractility in relationship to coitus during pregnancies at low and high risk for preterm labor.
abstract: This is a preliminary, prospective study of uterine contractility in response to sexual intercourse. The study population consisted of 30 pregnant subjects. Group I included 15 women treated for an episode of preterm labor with intravenous and oral tocolysis in this pregnancy, and group II was a matched control group of low-risk volunteers. The availability of home uterine tocodynamometric systems permitted monitoring of uterine contractility for three 60-minute time periods related to coitus. A significant increase in uterine contractility in the immediate postcoital period was observed for the high-risk women, but not for the controls. This increased uterine activity subsided spontaneously within 2-3 hours, returning to baseline. These initial preliminary observations of uterine response to coitus in a home environment are interesting; however, further research is suggested to establish their clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Brustman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raptoulis
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anyaegbunam
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Merkatz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014590:Uterine Contraction