Pregnancy-induced hypertension and duration of sexual cohabitation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible association between duration of sexual cohabitation and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). STUDY DESIGN: A matched case-control design in which each case of PIH was compared with three controls. Information was obtained about use of barrier contraception, duration of intercourse prior to pregnancy and paternity. RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases were included in the study. For primiparous women, a shorter duration of sexual cohabitation without contraception was associated with a small and nonsignificant risk of PIH. For multiparous women, a greater length of time since stopping use of barrier contraception was associated with a greater risk of PIH. CONCLUSION: Advising nulliparous women to prolong the duration of sexual cohabitation prior to conception in an effort to decrease the risk of PIH is not justified, based on the findings of this study.