Dear Doulas,
Q: “Can you tell me about the benefits of clitoral stimulation and orgasm during labor and childbirth? I’m curious to learn more but am embarrassed to ask around. Thanks!”
Signed, Hands-On Mama
A: Thanks for your amazing question!!
The saying “what gets the baby in gets the baby out” comes to mind with your inquiry. To be clear, there isn’t much evidence on the benefits of clitoral stimulation and orgasm during labor.
Image by Duvet Days
But what we can confirm is the hormonal release and interaction that sex and orgasm has in affect to labor induction and can be a pain reliever during labor. Through orgasm and clitorial stimulation you release the “love hormone” oxytocin. Oxytocin is also the hormone responsible for stimulating contractions in labor. Oxytocin is released during sexual arousal and orgasm, but also during childbirth, skin-to-skin contact with a newborn, and nipple stimulation/breastfeeding. With oxytocin comes a rise of endorphins, which can naturally reduce pain. By releasing this hormone you are releasing the hormone you need to encourage labor.
Women who were reported to have sex and orgasm more regularly starting at 36 weeks, were more likely to not go beyond 41 weeks gestation*. Sex is significantly associated with less post-date pregnancy and less need of medical induction. Another aspect of that study is the release of prostaglandins. This is a hormone that is found in seman that can ripen and soften the cervix. The hormones released in orgasm and sex are almost identical to labor.
What about clitoral stimulation and orgasm during labor?
There is evidence that a handful of women do climax while laboring. Practitioners who work with these women say that the intensity of the feeling isn’t about sexuality — it’s about love related to feelings of relief as well as euphoria at welcoming a baby at long last. Here’s what you need to know about orgasm during childbirth — or “birthgasm,” as it’s called by some.
In a 2013 study in the journal Sexologies, the researchers surveyed a group of over 100 French midwives who’d assisted in the births of 206,000 babies. They concluded that “obstetrical orgasm,” as it’s termed medically, was observed in 0.3 percent of births.
That’s not many, for sure. And there’s evidence that this number misses a lot of women who experience sexual pleasure and even orgasm during labor. More than 85 percent of the midwives in the French study said they believed a sexually pleasurable birth was possible, and more than two thirds — 69 percent — said they’d witnessed at least one instance.
With all this information, some researchers suggest that orgasm and sexual stimulation may be an underused pain reliever for women in labor.
If clitoral stimulation and/or orgasm feels unavailable or uncomfortable to you in your birthing environment…tone it down to kissing, massage, touch and creating a safe, calming environment.
So grab those electric tea lights and dim the lights. As Marvin Gaye says, “Let’s get it on.”
*Study excerpted from Evidence Based Birth: Sex for Natural Labor Induction.
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