title: Coitus late in pregnancy: risk of preterm rupture of amniotic sac membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coitus with or without orgasm in late pregnancy is inconsistently associated with preterm rupture of amniotic sac membranes. We tested the hypothesis that during late pregnancy sexual behaviors including sexual positioning relate to the occurrence of premature rupture of membranes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women aged 15 to 45 years having preterm premature rupture of membranes, term premature rupture of membranes, or preterm delivery without premature rupture of membranes were matched singly by age, race, and parity to control women delivered of term infants. Information about six sexual activities, obstetric history, cervical infections, smoking during pregnancy, and sociodemographic information was obtained by face-to-face interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only the male superior position was significantly associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes (odds ratio 2.40, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 4.97) and preterm delivery without premature rupture of membranes (odds ratio 1.82, confidence interval 1.02 to 3.25) after confounding variables were controlled for. No sexual positioning or sexual activities related significantly to term premature rupture of membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most sexual positions and activities during late pregnancy are not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, IL.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ekwo
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gosselink
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woolson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moawad
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009948:Orgasm; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third