8 Sex Questions You Might Have When Trying To Conceive

Trying to conceive can be a stressful experience. Internet searches and advice from friends can lead to plenty of contradictory, confusing, and potentially inaccurate information about the baby-making process. In fact, research has found that 40% of information people accessed on the topic was incorrect. This can lead to greater uncertainty, leaving hopeful parents with many questions.

Common questions include: Which sex positions are best for conception? Does lying still after intercourse increase the chances of getting pregnant? Should you have sex at certain times of the day? Does an orgasm help to get pregnant? Here, we spoke with experts to answer these questions and more about how to have sex to get pregnant.

Does Having an Orgasm Help You Get Pregnant?

Some experts believe that uterine contractions during orgasm may help propel sperm into the cervix for people with vulvas. But one thing is certain: The tingles and flood of oxytocin during orgasm make you feel relaxed, which means you've already cleared a key baby-making blocker: Stress.

The better the sex, the better the chances of conception, says reproductive physiologist Joanna Ellington, PhD, in the British documentary The Great Sperm Race. Significantly more ejaculate is produced when a person with testes is fully stimulated, according to research revealed in the program.

Research indicates that orgasm helps to get pregnant because it makes your vagina more receptive to sperm as well. That means having fun while doing the deed could result in a greater likelihood of conception.

Do Certain Sex Positions Help My Chances of Conceiving?

No matter how they get there, sperm are present in the cervical canal just seconds after ejaculation, according to a report by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. That means your favorite position for penis-in-vagina sex is the best position for conceiving, says Shari Brasner, MD, an OB-GYN at New York City's Mount Sinai Hospital. "There is no rationale for sex to be uncomfortable or awkward."

Can Oral Sex Hurt Your Chances of Conceiving?

Technically saliva can interfere with your cervical mucus and alter the pH in your vagina, potentially making it inhospitable to sperm. One study found that using saliva as a lubricant reduced sperm motility (the sperm's ability to move properly). However, it's unlikely that it will negatively impact your chances of conceiving unless your partner already has a low sperm count.

Is Hot Tub Sex a Bad Idea When Trying To Conceive?

It's best to skip the hot tub if you're trying to get pregnant. Hot tubs are typically factory-programmed at 104 F. It takes 10 to 20 minutes at that heat to raise the body temperature, including the testicles, to 102 F or higher. High temperatures like these can temporarily decrease sperm count and motility.

Can Gravity Help You Conceive?

Some people think that lying on their back with their hips elevated for 20 minutes after sex will help ensure that sperm can reach the egg. But the belief has no scientific foundation.

It can't hurt, though, so if you find it a relaxing position, feel free to give it a try, says Melissa M. Goist, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Ohio State University Medical Center. Either way, don't worry if some semen leaks out when you change positions or get up.

Will Lubricants Help Sperm Reach the Egg?

Your cervical mucus moves sperm along very well on its own. That said, a lubricant can make sex more comfortable, which could improve your chances of conceiving overall. Consider choosing a fertility-friendly lubricant though; the regular variety has been shown to impair sperm's movement through the reproductive tract.

Is There an Ideal Time To Have Baby-Making Sex?

According to Dr. Goist, the best time to have baby-making sex is in the morning when you're both rested. While asleep, the body regenerates sperm lost during the day. In actuality, though, the day you have sex is much more important than the time of day, as you can only get pregnant if there's an egg available for the sperm to fertilize.

The menstrual cycle includes a "fertile window" of about a week each cycle, which consists of five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day after. Ovulation typically occurs 12 to 14 days before your period starts, but this varies from person to person depending on the length and regularity of their cycle.

Sperm can live in the uterine reproductive tract for five days, and an egg survives for 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. This means that conception is most likely if you have sex on the day of ovulation or the five days leading up to it, says Rashmi Kudesia, MD, an OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at Houston Methodist and Houston IVF.

People can track this fertile window in the following ways:

• Using ovulation predictor kits
• Keeping a menstrual diary
• Charting their basal body temperature
• Monitoring cervical mucus

Ovulation can also be predicted using ovulation calendars, period-tracking apps, and other methods, such as the ovulation calculator below.

How Often Should You Have Sex To Get Pregnant?

As long as your partner has a normal sperm count, you'll have the best shot of conceiving if you have sex every one to two days during your fertile window. However, busy schedules can make that goal difficult for many people, so don't be discouraged if you're not always on schedule. Having sex every two to three days still gives you a good chance of conception.

And remember that getting pregnant can take time: Younger people (under age 30) only have a 25% chance of conception per month, even with perfect timing and no interfering factors, says Dr. Kudesia. People in their 40s have a less than 5% chance of conception each month.