On the Frequency of Intercourse Around Ovulation: Evidence for Biological Influences

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baird DD ; Dunson DB ; Kesner JS ; McConnaughey DR ; Weinberg CR ; Wilcox AJ
• Description:
  Backgreound: Intercourse in mammals is often coordinated with ovulation, for example through fluctuations in libido or by the acceleration of ovulation with intercourse. Such coordination has not been established in humans. We explored this possibility by examining patterns of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation. Methods: Sixty-eight sexually active North Carolina women with either an intrauterine device or tubal ligation provided data for up to three menstrual cycles. These women collected daily urine specimens and kept daily diaries of intercourse and menstrual bleeding. Major estrogen and progesterone metabolites excreted in urine were used to identify the day of ovulation. The fertile days of the cycle were defined as the 6 consecutive days ending with ovulation. Women contributed a total of 171 ovulatory cycles. Menstrual bleeding days were excluded from analysis. Results: The frequency of intercourse rose during the follicular phase, peaking at ovulation and declining abruptly thereafter. The 6 consecutive days with most frequent intercourse corresponded with the 6 fertile days of the menstrual cycle. Intercourse was 24% more frequent during the 6 fertile days than during the remaining non-bleeding days (P < 0.001). Conclusions: There apparently are biological factors that promote intercourse during a woman's 6 fertile days. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Endocrine System Occupational Health Safety Urogenital System Women
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Intercourse Fertility Hormone-activity Hormones Humans Ovulation Reproduction Reproductive-system
• ISSN:
  0268-1161
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20031566
• Citation:
  Hum Reprod 2004 Jul; 19(7):1539-1543
• Contact Point Address:
  AJ Wilcox, NIEHS, Epidemiol Branch, MD A3-05,POB 12233, Res Triangle Pk, NC 27709
• Email:
  wilcox@niehs.nih.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Human Reproduction
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4060f3ebcefd746b9eaaeebeda47f29c52875ff7cc072855f628fbf1ec617f8926bcf3738acf75a59167c64675fd91e7a44c8d0f5a4595702e296778b6a9ccb3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/185816/cdc_185816_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 129.00 KB ]