Does having sex in certain sexual positions increase your chances of getting pregnant? What about lifting your legs in the air after sex? What about increasing your chances of one gender over another? Today, I discuss what has been scientifically proven and what has been debunked as myth!
When my wife and I were trying to conceive, we were told by a myriad of well-meaning friends to just tilt the pelvis up using a pillow and raise the legs into the air for at least 30 minutes after sex. Makes sense…keep the sperm from falling out, right? Well, what post-coital rituals naturally improve the odds of conceiving?
The Practice Committee of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine along with the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility published a committee opinion discussing coital practices in order to optimize natural fertility. The practice committee states, “Although many women think that remaining supine for an interval after intercourse facilitates sperm transport and prevents leakage of semen from the vagina, the belief has no scientific foundation.”
What about certain sexual positions? Will having sex in a specific position help the sperm get to the tubes any easier? The practice committee states that, “There is no evidence that coital position [sexual position] affects fecundability [chance of getting pregnant]. Sperm can be found in the cervical canal seconds after ejaculation, regardless of coital position.”
What if the female has an orgasm? Will this help improve the odds of getting pregnant? The practice committee states, “Although female orgasm may promote sperm transport, there is no known relationship between orgasm and fertility.”
What if a couple desires one gender over another? Is there anything that a couple can do to improve their odds of a boy or a girl? The practice committee states, “There also is no convincing evidence to indicate any relationship between specific coital practices and infant gender.”
Unfortunately, there are no post-coital rituals that have been scientifically shown to improve the odds of getting pregnant. Well, what should a couple do to improve their chances of conceiving naturally? The practice committee states, “Reproductive efficiency increases with the frequency of intercourse and is highest when intercourse occurs every 1 to 2 days but be advised that the optimal frequency of intercourse is best defined by their own preference within that context.”
At Dallas IVF, we recommend intercourse every other day beginning with a positive ovulation predictor kit. Talk to your infertility specialist to see how you can optimize your chances of getting pregnant.
Source: Fertility and Sterility, Volume 90, Issue 5, Page S3, November 2008, Authors: Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine with the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Dr. Lowell Ku, M.D. is an award winning and leading Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist at Dallas IVF, one the nation’s premiere infertility centers. Dr. Ku clarifies the many confusing terms used in the world of Infertility using straightforward explanations.
