For many women, the decision to have a baby can be the start of a deeply personal journey. And when one starts trying, it can induce feelings of heightened awareness of the body, an attunement to its rhythm, and a new kind of patience as each month becomes a hopeful countdown.
Whether it’s a time filled with joy and connection with a partner, or a pivotal moment and new chapter to be a single mom, the possibility of creating and nurturing a new life is an experience that’s unlike no other.
But, of course, it doesn’t always work on the first occasion. The process of trying to get pregnant can bring uncertainty, disappointment, frustration, and impatience. But it could also teach a woman more about resilience and how to take even greater care of their health and emotional wellbeing.
Whether this journey is your current reality, or if you’re simply researching out of curiosity, we’re going to tackle the question of if there are sex positions that are more likely to get you pregnant (and if so, what are the best sex positions to get pregnant).
We’ll look at what science has to say, ways to increase and decrease the likelihood of pregnancy, when’s best time to have sex in order to conceive, how often you should be having sex to possibly fall pregnant, and when to consult a professional for some assistance.
The Science Behind Sex Positions Likely to Get You Pregnant
This may be good news or bad news, depending on what you were hoping to hear, but there is actually no scientific data that proves certain sex positions are more likely to get you pregnant.
One such research, conducted by Fertility and Sterility, found that there is no such evidence to back up the theory that certain positions increase your chance of getting pregnant, and thus it really does not matter in which position you have sex, as long as sperm are present in the cervical canal.
What may help however, is to put sperm as close to the cervix as possible. You can do this by making sure the penis goes in deep during intercourse. In this case, you could opt for doggy style or the missionary position.
Essentially however, there are no best sex positions to get pregnant. So there is no need to stress over which side to sleep to conceive, how to have intercourse, or which position to do it in.
How to increase the chances of getting pregnant
So while there is no evidence of certain sex positions more likely to get you pregnant, there are other ways to increase the chances of getting pregnant. The most effective one being when you have sex.
Pregnancy is most likely to occur during your fertile window, which is five days before and day of ovulation. The closer you are to ovulation, the higher the chances of getting pregnant.
When is ovulation in your menstrual cycle? In a typical menstrual cycle, ovulation happens about halfway through the cycle, usually around day 14 in a 28-day cycle.
For example: your cycle starts on day 1 when your period begins, and ovulation happens around 14 days later. If you’d like precise results however, there are many over-the-counter ovulation kits to help you during your journey.
During ovulation, your ovary releases a mature egg, which will make its way down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. On this route, the sperm will possibly meet with the fertilised egg, prompting conception.
Note: sperm can live inside of the body for about five days. If you’re trying to conceive, the goal is to have sperm in your fallopian tube when you ovulate.
Then, there are things you can do post-intercourse that may increase the likelihood of pregnancy, such as:
- Stay lying down for 10-15 minutes, which could help semen pool near the cervix rather than have it leak
- Don’t go to the bathroom immediately, even though it is usually recommended to prevent UTIs. In the case of wanting to get pregnant, laying still for 10-15 minutes first can be beneficial, as peeing may cause some semen to leak out.
- Consider tracking your ovulation with an ovulation kit, or using an app/writing down your cycle dates.
How Often Should You Have Sex to Fall Pregnant?
The next thing to consider in hopes of getting pregnant, is how often you should be having sex.
There is research that says sperm have better quality when collected after a 2-3 day period of abstinence. But there is also another study that suggests that people who have intercourse every 1-2 days during one’s fertility window have a higher chance of falling pregnant.
The latter tends to make more sense, and is often recommended by fertility specialists, because of factors such as:
- The sperm lifespan: as healthy sperm lives inside of the female reproductive system for up to 5 days
- The egg lifespan: once released, the egg survives only 12-24 hours
- Best odds: having sex regularly in the days leading up to ovulation ensures that sperm is already present when the egg is released
For practical advice however, having sex more often doesn’t improve chances if it is exhausting or stressful. Consistency is more important than frequency, so try to have sex as much as what feels comfortable for you. If you force yourself, it may lead to unnecessary stress.
8 Things to Avoid if You Want to Get Pregnant
There are a few things you can avoid if you want to get pregnant, which may help you during this journey.
1. Certain lubricants
A study on optimising natural fertility showed that some lubes, such as Astroglide, KY-Brand Jelly (Johnson & Johnson), and K-Y Brand Touch (Johnson & Johnson) reduce sperm mobility and viability.
2. Vaginal douching
The vagina is self-cleaning, so under no circumstances should a woman douche anyway. But, in terms of hoping to get pregnant, when one douches their vagina, it might flush semen out.
3. Smoking
Smoking cigarettes or vaping can damage eggs and affect hormone balance. It can also reduce sperm count and motility.
4. Excessive alcohol, drug intake
The use of these substances can disrupt ovulation, hormone levels, egg quality, and early embryo development.
5. Excessive caffeine
Over 200mg/day (about two cups) could be linked to lower fertility.
6. Excessive stress
Severe or chronic stress can affect ovulation and sperm health.
7. Overheating the body
Hot tubs, saunas, or high temperature environments can lower sperm count.
8. Poor sleep
Sleep affects hormone regulation, which is important for ovulation and implantation.
When to Consult a Professional While Trying to Get Pregnant
There are different factors and conditions that may warrant a visit to a healthcare professional whilst trying to get pregnant, but to no avail.
Some general guidelines for you, if you’re trying to conceive:
- It’s usually recommended for those under 35 to try to conceive naturally for 1 year before seeking professional help
- Adults over 35 are usually recommended to see a professional after 6 months of trying
- Adults over 40 are recommended to seek advice as soon as they’re deciding to try for a baby
- If you have an underlying health condition that might be affecting your ability to fall pregnant, it’s better to book an appointment with a professional sooner rather than later
To go more in-depth on the last point, some underlying health issues for women can include having irregular, very short, or very long cycles, no period at all, history of pelvic infections, endometriosis, PCOS, or pelvic surgery, known uterine abnormalities, more than 2 miscarriages, and painful periods or intercourse.
For men, it could include having a history of low sperm count, testicular injury, hormone issues, certain medications, or erectile/ejaculation issues.
So, you have your answer: there are no best sex positions to get pregnant. But, there are other things that may help such as choosing the best time to have sex and how often, as well as removing certain things from your lifestyle to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Additionally, you may also consult a professional during your journey to help you. Whatever you’re hoping for, we wish only smooth sailing and lots of happiness.
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