Unfortunately, those looking to find the ideal sexual positions that increase chances of pregnancy won’t find any studies that prove certain positions are better than others for conceiving. It is possible for women to get pregnant in almost any sexual position and this is even possible if you aren’t trying to conceive. If you do want to increase your chances, however, consider making the following adjustments that could make you more likely to get pregnant.
Are There Really Sex Positions That Increase Chances of Pregnancy?
There hasn’t been any evidence that shows that a particular sex position will increase your chances of pregnancy. Some people say that the ideal position is one that allows the sperm to be deposited as close to the cervix as possible (like the missionary position), but in reality there hasn’t been any scientific research to support this theory.
Instead of the position, the most important factor is timing. Most women will be fertile for five or six days of each of their cycles and this is known as the fertility window. This window opens up five days before you ovulate and closes when you ovulate. To increase your chances of conceiving, try having sex one or two days before you think you will ovulate and once again on the day that you ovulate.
What Particular Sex Positions Can I Try to Increase Chances of Pregnancy?
1. Missionary
Despite the lack of research, experts and parents believe that the chances of conceiving increase if the man is on top. This increases the degree of penetration as well as places the woman in a prone position and these factors combine to allow the sperm to be deposited close to the cervical opening. As a bonus this position lets you more easily communicate with your partner during sex including by orally stimulating or touching each other’s nipples.
2. Doggy Style
Doggy style, or from behind, is when the woman kneels facing away from her partner and then he penetrates her from behind. This position allows for deeper penetration, so he deposits the sperm near to the cervix. It can also increase the intensity of the man’s orgasms. You can even reach between each to fondle your partner while in this position to make it more interesting.
3. Spooning
For this position, the woman will lay down facing away from her partner and he penetrates her from behind. Despite penetration not being as deep, the increase in relaxation can increase your chances of conceiving. In addition, the woman can move against the male and he can manually stimulate her clitoris and breasts. You can also increase pressure with touches or kisses.
4. Living on the Edge
The female lays on the edge of the couch or bed and then the man enters from the front by kneeling or standing. This position is on the list because of the deep penetration and as an added bonus, it is unusual, so it can be more exciting. As with all other positions, you can increase intensity and pleasure with manual stimulation.
5. Scissors
The woman will lay down on her side with her bottom leg between her partner’s legs. Her top leg can straddle or lift over his side. The man will lay perpendicular with the bottom leg underneath his partner’s and the top leg between hers.
Dos and Don’ts of Increasing Chances of Pregnancy
1. Get a Checkup
You should always get a checkup before starting trying to conceive. Talk to your doctor concerning prenatal vitamins with folic acid as this protects against spina bifida and other birth defects. It is important to get enough folic acid right away as it works early on in your pregnancy. Visiting the doctor also allows you to get any medical conditions under control so they won’t interfere with conceiving.
2. Know Your Menstrual Cycle
To increase your chances of conceiving, you need to get to know your menstrual cycle, specifically at what point you ovulate. Usually when you ovulate, your cervical mucus will thin and become slippery and some women will feel a bit of pain. You can always use an ovulation prediction kit to help you figure out when you are ovulating. Luckily, you don’t even have to wait a certain amount of time after stopping birth control to try to conceive.
3. Live a Healthy Life
Exercising is a crucial habit for any lifestyle, particularly when it helps you stay at a healthy weight. Never exercise too much as it may stop you from ovulating. You should also stop smoking. In addition to harming your unborn fetus, smoking will also decrease fertility by affecting estrogen levels as well as ovulation.
4. Seek Professional Help
In some cases when there are risk factors at play or any infertility symptoms, you don’t need to wait to seek professional help conceiving. If, for example, either of you have had sexually transmitted diseases or the woman has PCOS, endometriosis or irregular periods, you can talk to an expert right away.
Additionally, you should talk to a fertility specialist if you have tried to conceive for more than a year (or for six months and your age is over 35).
Watch this video to learn more tips on increasing your chances of getting pregnant:
5. Don’t Overdo Sex During Ovulation
Despite popular belief, having sex every day while ovulating won’t increase your chances of getting pregnant. Instead try to have sex every other night close to ovulation. Keep in mind that sperm may live for 72 hours after you have sex. Instead, experts recommend regularly having sex whether or not you are ovulating.
What the man does will also affect his sperm count, so avoid tight-fitting clothes, keep the cell phone away from your testicles and avoid soy foods.
6. Don’t Get Too Much Stress
Stress can decrease your chances of getting pregnant by interfering with ovulation. Instead of worrying about getting pregnant, simply relax. Pick the method of de-stressing that works best for you as long as it is safe.
