If you’re trying to conceive, choosing the right sexual position can make all the difference. Here’s what fertility specialists recommend for effective sexual positions to conceive.
Like many couples attempting to conceive the traditional way (through penis-in-vagina sex), you’re undoubtedly curious about the optimal sex position for conception. If you can believe it, researchers still lack conclusive evidence to answer this question.
According to the Chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Sheryl A. Kingsberg, Ph.D., who is also a professor of reproductive biology and psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, there is not a great deal of scientific evidence regarding the optimal position for conception.
That could be a matter of logistics rather than anything else. According to Dr. Kingsberg, it is extremely difficult to investigate specific sexual positions that may increase fertility. This is largely because there are so many other significant factors that influence the probability of conception, such as age and the time of the sexual encounter.
Yet, despite the absence of evidence, certain sex positions may offer advantages in the area of childbearing. Learn which sex positions may be optimal for conception and what to do after sexual activity to boost your chances of becoming pregnant.
What Are the Most Effective Sexual Positions to Conceive?
These seven sex positions may boost your chances of having a kid. Keep in mind, though, that the most important thing is to keep a regular schedule so that you can have sex when you’re most fertile.
According to Jani Jensen, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, there was no statistical difference between the pregnancy rates of persons who had intercourse every other day leading up to ovulation and those who did it daily. In addition, attempting to consume it regularly can be an arduous task.
1. Missionary
Several research on coital connections suggest that the missionary position may provide a slight anatomical advantage. Partner-on-top allows the cervix to enter the vaginal semen pool more easily, allowing sperm access to the protecting cervical mucus.
Kelly Pagidas, M.D., a fertility specialist at Women & Infants Center for Reproduction and Infertility in Providence and an associate professor at Brown Alpert Medical School, argues that there are no scientific facts on this topic.
Also, people are not all built the same. “Women who have an anteverted uterus, one that is tilted forward, which accounts for around two-thirds of the population,” Dr. Kingsberg notes. A third of women, however, have a retroverted uterus, one that is inclined backward, so missionary wouldn’t benefit them.
2. Doggy style
Some individuals dislike the missionary style since it can be exhausting for them. Mindy R. Schiffman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, and sex therapist at New York University’s Fertility Center and in private practice in New York City, explains, “The missionary position is more demanding for the top partner because they must use their muscles to keep from putting their full weight on you, which puts extra pressure on them.”
In this instance, couples can experiment with alternative positions, such as doggie style. This classic sex position involves getting on all fours and having your partner enter from behind. It permits deeper penetration, which gives sperm greater access to the cervix opening.
3. Reverse cowgirl
In this sex position, you are on top of your spouse, looking away from their face and toward their feet. The angle allows you to manage the depth of penetration by positioning your cervix as close to the penis tip as possible during ejaculation for maximum efficacy.
4. Side-by-side scissors
In this position, the couple lies on their sides while facing one another. Not only is it romantic (which may help relieve the anxiety associated with childbearing sex), but it also permits deep entrance.
5. Rear entry
Similar to the doggie style, your partner enters this position from behind. Nevertheless, you lie on your stomach while your spouse lowers their body over yours. Reverse entry is a foolproof method for achieving deep penetration.
6. Wheelbarrow
Who says that childbearing sex cannot be adventurous? In this athletic posture, you will support yourself with your hands as your spouse stands behind you, grips your legs, and pulls them over your thighs before entering from behind. Again, this permits deep penetration and proximity to the cervix.
7. Your ideal position.
It is more likely that the optimal sex position to conceive is also your favorite. It doesn’t matter whether you’re twisted like a Bavarian pretzel or resting perfectly motionless as long as your partner’s sperm reaches its destination (in the vagina near the cervix).
And if it gives a spine-chilling conclusion, so much the better! According to Dr. Kingsberg, some study suggests that a woman’s orgasm helps transfer sperm into the uterus. Yet, this does not mean that you need to worry if you do not climax regularly during penis-in-vagina intercourse. Since there is so little scientific evidence, we do not want to put pressure on women to achieve orgasm.
How to Increase the Chances of Conception Following Sexual Activity
The ideal postcoital routine is another debatable component of childbearing sex. The majority of professionals reject the recommendation to rest on your back for 30 minutes after having sex, but some swear by it.
According to research released by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, there is no statistical advantage to remaining immobile following coitus. In fact, it discovered the opposite. Researchers observed 479 couples and discovered that 32.2% of couples who remained still for 15 minutes after sex conceived, whereas 40.3% of couples who were mobile immediately after intercourse also conceived.
“We also know from past research that sperm can reach the fallopian tube five minutes after intravaginal insemination and can survive for several days in the womb,” said Joukje van Rijswijk, Ph.D., lead author of the peer-reviewed study. “Why should bedrest have an effect? There is no biological basis for the favorable result.”
Our opinion is that if you have time to relax, why not enjoy the afterglow? Yet, there is no evidence that propping yourself up on a pillow or putting your legs up the wall makes a difference. “As the ejaculate enters the body, the sperm are already in the cervical mucus, which serves to retain the sperm in place for fertilization,” explains Dr. Schiffman.
Lubricant is an additional element that can affect your chances of conception. Frequent lubrication has been demonstrated to hinder sperm survival. A study published in the journal Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that numerous common lubricants, including Astroglide, KY Jelly, and Replens, impair the motility of sperm, making it more challenging to conceive. In one study, exposure to these popular lubricants rendered sperm immobile in as little as 15 minutes.
Seek “fertility-friendly” or “sperm-friendly” products, which are designed without the use of chemicals that can harm sperm. Most lubricant manufacturers no longer employ spermicides, but you should still watch out for substances such as glycerin, parabens, silicone, Nonoxynol-9 (or N-9), propylene-glycol, and petroleum.
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