Trying to conceive and wondering how oft you should have sex? Read our detailed guide and decide when you lot are most fertile.

By Dr. Mare Mbaye

At this point, you're well acquainted with the basics of heterosexual sex: the homo ejaculates, then his sperm swim upwardly through the woman's vagina and neck with the hopes of making it all the manner to the fallopian tubes. Then, perhaps, one triumphant little sperm unites with an egg. The newly fertilized egg burrows into the uterine wall and develops into an embryo. 9 months later on, y'all've got a baby. And that's that, right? Well, it'south unfortunately not quite that simple, but a fiddling light reading might simply help yous nail your understanding of exactly what's going on, so y'all can fourth dimension sex to your advantage.

It seems like having lots of unprotected sex should pb straight to pregnancy and a infant. But, for many women, the road to formulation is much more complicated. From agreement your wheel and tracking ovulation to sexual health and intercourse , there's a lot that can impact pregnancy . But don't worry, this guide should be able to help you empathise most of information technology.

Know your cycle

Permit's begin with the nuts of menstruation because you tin't time sex if you're non tracking your menstrual cycle accurately (and that's an easy matter to stumble over). The end game here is to effigy out your fertile window-the days of the calendar month when you lot're virtually likely to conceive, think of information technology like your superlative fertility. After years of suffering through clamorous cravings, painful cramps, and feeling swollen, you can finally capeesh your bicycle for its innate purpose: to make a baby.

How the wheel generally works

Bicycle length varies from woman to adult female, and information technology does and so pretty widely with the normal range being anywhere from 21-34 days and the average duration existence about 28-32 days . Your menstrual wheel is a two-human action evidence: you first have the follicular stage followed past the luteal phase. Twenty-four hours 1, the outset day of the follicular phase, is when you lot get your menstrual period and start bleeding. The odds of getting pregnant on your period are very unlikely. Either way, during ovulation and your fertile window is when the chances are stronger.

About midway through your wheel, a hormone in the brain called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) signals to your ovaries that it'due south fourth dimension to fix an egg for fertilization.  Y'all're born with a lifetime inventory of eggs— effectually 2 million!  Just virtually of them will never be feasible for fertilization, and then although this is an awe-inspiring number, it'due south not the same as having two million chances to become meaning. All of your eggs are stored in modest, fluid-filled sacs in your ovaries called follicles. Several of these follicles are recruited each month to prepare an egg; still, just one of those follicles will make it to maturity— this follicle promotes its own growth and suppresses the maturation of the other ovarian follicles thus becoming the dominant follicle .  I bet you lot didn't know your ovaries are a battlefield each month, right?

What if there's a mature egg?

For the egg that does mature: this happens effectually mean solar day eight of your cycle when your trunk's estrogen levels skyrocket. This signals the outset of your "fertile window"—a six-day period before you ovulate .

For a couple planning for a pregnancy, experts recommend having sex daily or every other day during the fertile window, but especially the three days (sperm lifespan) correct before you ovulate .This is when your chances of conceiving are at their highest. And while it's definitely all the same possible to get pregnant in the 1-ii days after ovulation (that'south the egg's lifespan), the chances of success refuse steadily from the day of ovulation onwards .

A quick rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) is what prompts your ovaries to release an egg every month. This is called the LH surge and usually occurs in the 12-36 hours leading up to ovulation .

What happens later ovulation?

The intrepid egg then ventures down the fallopian tube and into the uterus, where it awaits fertilization by sperm.

Sperm can also be impressively resilient and can survive for up to five days within the woman'due south reproductive tract—that's why, even though ovulation lasts only almost 12-24 hours, the fertile window is usually about vi days .

Lastly, beginning correct after ovulation ends, the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle lasts nigh two weeks for nearly women. Progesterone and estrogen levels in your trunk increase. The uterine lining thickens to prepare to support a possible pregnancy.

Although ovulation can become all the attending, your luteal phase is of import for conception, as well! Some research shows that a shortened luteal stage can make it tougher to conceive.

If no pregnancy occurs this time effectually, then the uterine lining sheds, leading to the oh-so-fun process of menstrual haemorrhage . Then, the cycle begins afresh.

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How long does it have to get pregnant after having sex?

The bodily biological procedure of conception is pretty miraculous when you think about it, but let'southward clear up one misconception: pregnancy does non happen instantaneously — it can often take a few days after sex for the egg and sperm to run into up.

Even afterward these cells unite, the newly fertilized egg must take root in the uterine wall — this is called implantation. This can be a tricky process . Research shows that about 2 thirds of lost pregnancies happen due to implantation failure.

Normal implantation can exist an asymptomatic process or it tin be accompanied by light bleeding (for more information on that, check out our article Is this Spotting My Period or am I Pregnant? ).

After the embryo is comfortably situated, certain hormones are released that signal the offset of your pregnancy. When it comes to testing for pregnancy, a pregnancy test is most accurate when taken up to iii days before you expect your menses to start. With our at-abode early on pregnancy tests , you can exam upward to five days before your expected flow.

Finding the fertile window

Having sex within the fertile window certainly boosts your chances of conceiving, but finding these special few days can be tough, especially for those of usa who have erratic cycles.

Here are a few simple means you tin figure out your fertile window:

  1. Cervical Mucus

Look out for "fertile-quality" cervical fungus. This is vaginal discharge that is stretchy and translucent and is often compared to egg whites.

To test your cervical mucus, gently insert a (freshly done) finger into your vagina and try to gauge the consistency and quantity of the discharge. An abundance of the egg white-like fungus is a skilful sign that you're in your fertile window.

Note, your body is always creating cervical mucus to protect against infections and lubricate during sex. You produce the least amount of mucus right after your period. In full general, normal vaginal discharge is yellow or cloudy white and has a sticky texture.

  1. Ovulation Test Kits

There are many ovulation kits on the market nowadays. Many of them piece of work by measuring LH levels in your urine. As previously mentioned, the LH surge is what prompts your ovaries to release an egg.

Once y'all see a positive ovulation exam — indicating the LH surge has taken place — you can time your sex accordingly.

Of class, these commercial tests aren't ever authentic for everyone. Weather condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect LH test results and can also make it harder for you to excogitate.

  1. Trackers and Calendars

There are several trackers and calendars bachelor both online and as apps on your telephone. We've even put together an Ovulation Tracker for you here!

  1. Basal Trunk Temperature

Your basal body temperature (BBT) actually rises a bit afterwards yous ovulate, so you can utilise daily temperature measurements to rails your bicycle. A woman'due south BBT generally stays in the range of 97-98 degrees Fahrenheit . After ovulation, the secretion of progesterone by the corpus luteum leads to a ascent in the BBT of about 0.5-1 caste Fahrenheit .

As a issue, this can be a useful method just only retrospectively — since the temperature rise occurs after ovulation, you need to record your BBT for several cycles. Some women detect it helpful to develop a temperature chart over a few cycles that helps them predict ovulation.

How much time to spend in the bedroom?

You lot're probably wondering if more sexual activity means faster pregnancy, shouldn't we be doing it as often equally possible? At this betoken though, the science isn't totally conclusive well-nigh how oft you should be having sexual activity . When you're having sexual practice seems to exist far more important than how frequently you're doing the deed.

Although having to pencil sex into your calendar might make it feel but like another household chore, research shows that sex during your fertile window significantly increases your likelihood of getting meaning . Therefore, having a keen sense of when your fertile window is should be what really helps you conceive more speedily.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine plant that nearly all of the pregnancies inside their study sample were attributed to sex that ocurred during the fertile window. The frequency of intercourse did non make a meaning difference .

Does sex position thing?

There are no specific sex positions that tin increment your chances of conceiving. Reclining back with your legs elevated might exist a nice relaxation pose, merely it won't do all that much to hurry sperm along unfortunately .

As far as position goes, it's best to become with whatever y'all and your partner are most comfortable with. At the finish of the twenty-four hour period, sexual practice should still be enjoyable for both of yous!

What blazon of lubricant should I use?

An issue that comes up often with couples that are TTC is vaginal dryness. In fact, a survey of 900 TTC couples showed that vaginal dryness was 2 times higher in these couples than in the general population. The survey also revealed that sexual intimacy was negatively impacted because of this.

Sperm-friendly lubricants (also known every bit fertility friendly or TTC lube) are great for couples trying to conceive. Not only do lubricants help reduce friction and brand sexual activity more than pleasurable, simply the right lubricant can brand sure that zippo is in the mode of sperm meeting the egg.

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What about sperm?

For the men out in that location, no need to fear - in that location isn't sound prove that frequent ejaculation decreases fertility or impacts sperm count . A man's ejaculate has hundreds of millions of sperm and only ane of these is necessary for fertilization. If yous're at all concerned though and want to save up your swimmers, you can try staying abstinent during the days leading upwards to the fertile window simply non much longer than that-forbearance intervals of 5 days or more are associated with a drop in sperm counts .

Although these odds seem skilful, a man tin have a tougher time making a infant if he has low sperm motility or concentration, or his sperm cells are misshapen. Going dorsum to nuts, h ealthy sperm come from a salubrious lifestyle! Eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, cut downwardly on the alcohol and eliminating cigarettes from your life all promote sperm health. In fact, all of the above is true for women, too. Simple lifestyle improvements can improve your chances of conceiving.

Our Prenatal for Men supplements can likewise be beneficial in encouraging a healthy lifestyle and trunk.

Conclusion

For the TLDR crowd, what's the have away with all of this? When it comes to sex, timing is key. The research supports having sex daily or every other day during your fertile window, which is the six days preceding ovulation. While there are several ways to detect ovulation, it's of import that yous find the most reliable and comfy method for you.

And as with all things in medicine, you and your partner should brand sure to incorporate salubrious lifestyle practices equally you motion forward including decreasing alcohol use, stopping smoking, eating a well-balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight. Read our V Things to Practise Before Getting Meaning article for more!

Featured Paradigm past Ksenia Chernaya