Can Certain Sex Positions Increase Your Chances of Conceiving?

If you and your partner are trying to conceive, then you have probably heard numerous stories and wives’ tales about fertility. It seems people will recommend anything from changing your sex position to standing on your head after intercourse. Can certain sex positions increase your chances of conceiving?

Truth or Myth?

Unfortunately, there are no scientific studies lending to the effectiveness of certain sex positions when it comes to conception. Because of this, you must focus on what you already know. Above all else, sperm have to swim upstream to reach the egg. Certain positions, such as woman-on-top, provide a disadvantage when it comes to gravity. Most experts agree that giving the sperm a little help as far as gravity is concerned certainly will not hurt, and even if certain sex positions do not scientifically increase the likelihood of pregnancy, they will certainly increase the amount of fun you have in the bedroom—and that is important, too. Some people say that women have a better chance of conceiving if they have an orgasm during intercourse, and this chance increases even more if the woman climaxes at the same time as her partner. Is there any truth to this? No one knows for sure, but having orgasms is fun. It gives couples another focus outside of conception and reduces stress, which boosts fertility rates in turn. When couples can take the focus off baby making and put it on making each other feel good, it builds a closer bond. Find a position that helps you both orgasm. It is worth it.

A Few Brave Couples

Although there is no research showing whether certain sex positions increase fertility rates, a few brave couples volunteered to have sex under the scrutinizing eye of an MRI machine so that researchers could see what happened during sex and after ejaculation. This research included two positions: missionary and “doggy style” in which the male penetrates the woman from behind while she is on all fours. These two positions put the tip of the penis close to the cervix, making them common-sense solutions. The MRI scans revealed that the missionary position places the tip of the penis at the recesses at the front of the cervix, while the doggy style position places the tip of the penis at the recesses at the back of the cervix. In either case, deep penetration—and ejaculation, of course—provide the right conditions for baby making. As such, even the woman-on-top position may work, despite the laws of gravity.

After-Sex Tips

Once you have finished making love, refrain from jumping up out of bed right away to use the bathroom, and do not douche under any circumstances. This is a critical point; standing up too quickly causes gravity to do its thing, and the ejaculate will flow out of your vagina rather than through the cervix where it belongs. Staying in bed for up to half an hour following sex may actually help, too, and while placing a pillow under your hips to tilt your pelvis will not hurt, it probably is not necessary to stand on your head. (If you are prone to urinary tract infections and you must urinate after sex to clear your urethra—doctor’s orders—then ignore this tip.) Many women prefer to douche after sex, saying it helps them feel refreshed and clean afterward. However, the flow of cleansing solution washes away all of the sperm, giving it little chance to do its thing. Avoid douching at all while you are trying to conceive, particularly since sperm can live in your vagina and your body for days.

The Conclusion

Concisely, the best sexual position for conception is any sexual position in which both you and your partner feel relaxed and happy. Although the female orgasm is not necessary, it certainly makes things better, and this should be your focus. Missionary and doggy style positions provide the deepest penetration and least gravity resistance, so these should be your go-to. After sex, just relax (unless you have a medical need to do otherwise.) There is no need to rush, and staying in a relaxed, lying-down position for about 30 minutes following your partner’s release may actually boost your conception rate. If nothing else, it gives his sperm the fast-lane through your cervix, into your uterus, and eventually into the fallopian tube, where it will hopefully meet an egg and start a miraculous nine-month journey for you both.