How long does it take for sex to induce labor?

dawn37842002: How long does it take for sex to induce labor?
I have been 2cm dilated for over two weeks now. I am continuously having braxton hicks. My friend told me to have sex or use castor oil. I couldn’t down the castor oil so I am willing to try the sex. I want to know how long after will I go into labor or will I continue to have braxton hicks? Please help.

Answers and Views:

Answer by cant wait to meet Kenleigh! 3/23
sorry, there is no guarantee sex will even work.

unless your body and baby are ready to go into labor/deliver, nothing will work. its smart that you dont try castor oil as its dangerous for you and baby, and it can have nasty side effects. you can try sex, and it might send you into labor that night from your orgasms starting contractions. or it could just not do one thing at all.

Answer by kroos20
there is no guarantee sex will even work, your body and the baby need to be ready.

Answer by ♥ Happy Mummy to ♂&♀
I can’t put a time on it, it’s just meant to kind of get your uterus rocking. I tried it and it didn’t work, but I wasn’t overdue and was jsut fed up with being pregnant.

Answer by CheekyChops
Castor oil just gives you the runs and can actually stress your baby out so I’m glad you’re not doing that!
Sex doesn’t work for everyone so as to how long it’ll take IF it works, that’s just another variable I’m afraid. Try (in this order) a hot curry (no hotter than you can handle, just fairly hot), a hot bath and hot sex. Oh and no condoms (just in case) because it’s a chemical in the sperm that helps start labour, same stuff they use to induce women lol. That’s your best bet!
Other methods can be a brisk walk (up a hill is even better if you can manage it) and drinking rasperry leaf tea. You coudl always try sods law and put on your best knickers and outfit and go to town – it’s sure to be the most inconvenient moment you break your waters!!!
But baby will only come when he/she is good and ready I’m afraid, try to get some serious rest, you’ll need the energy for when you DO go into labour =) Congrats! xx

Answer by ღஜღ Gemini ღஜღ
My sister in law had sex the morning she went into labor. She said she had sex around 7am before he husband left to work and by 10am her water broke and started having contractions so she went to the hospital and 6 hours later the baby popped out. Good luck.

Answer by Julie Ingham
Hi Dawn,

I wouldn’t recommend the castor oil Sure, it can induce labor but the oil can cause extreme cramps and diarrhea which could make delivery more painful. It will also dehydrate the body which is not good when you go into labor.

Regarding sex..
It’s not guaranteed that sex will induce labor but here is what you need to know:
You need to relax your body as it will not into labor if it’s tense. Having your partner rub you and stroke in an erotic way is a great way to help. Then when you are relaxed and aroused you should have sex.

Intercourse and the physical stimulation it provides can be the stimulus required for the you to start contractions. This stimulation of contractions is the results in the body producing oxytocin during intercourse. Oxytocin is the equivalent of pitocin which is at times administered to the expectant mother for purpose of speeding up labor.

There is one other method that I would like to recommend to you that is very popular. It’s called acupressure. It’s both very relaxing and will help with the contractions. You can read all about it at and there are also some great tips in using it here:

Let’s hope you go into labor soon! 🙂

Julie

Answer by Miss America♫®
I did it that night..and i swear the next day i went into labor. It’s not the sex itself that helps..it’s semen that contains a protein that softens the cervix..it’s not an old wives tale..it’s true..doesn’t work immediately for every woman..it did for me.