

By: Robin H. Fogle, MD, ACRM

“Remember when having sex was fun?” You might be surprised to hear someone say this, but for couples trying to conceive, this may be exactly how they feel. Getting pregnant is all about timing. Once the egg ovulates, it remains alive in the woman's fallopian tube for 12 to 24 hours. Once the sperm makes it into the cervical mucous following intercourse, it survives for 48 to 72 hours. If the egg and the sperm don't “cross paths” during that window of time, then pregnancy won't occur. So, for couples trying to conceive, having sex becomes less of a spontaneous, fun activity, and more of a scheduled, well-thought out “means to an end”.

“Timed intercourse” is the terminology we use to indicate when to have sex in order to conceive. There are lots of definitions of timed intercourse - “sex every other day during the fertile window”, “sex every other day from cycle day 12 onwards”, etc, etc. That can result in a lot of sex. . . and a lot of stress for a couple. . . which can lead them to say, “Remember when having sex was fun?”

The best way to take the guess work out of “timed intercourse” is to use ovulation predictor kits. Using these kits, starting around day 10 of a menstrual cycle, will help predict when you are going to ovulate. When the kit turns positive, that indicates that ovulation will occur within the next 14 to 24 hours. That means that having sex on the day of the positive ovulation kit and the next day will cover the “window” when the egg and sperm need to get together. And if you still have the energy for more, you can have sex one more day to make sure plenty of sperm got to the egg.

People are often concerned about having “enough” sperm if you have sex 2 or 3 days in a row. Luckily, in men with normal sperm counts, they can have sex multiple days and still have enough sperm to “do the trick”. One important point, though, is to make sure you don't “save up the sperm”. Sperm that has been sitting in the epididymis for longer than 5 days tends to be a little sluggish. Having sex a few days before you anticipate a positive ovulation kit will keep those sperm swimming well!

For additonal information, check out our Blush page for other questions you may not want to ask your mother or doctor.

So, couples – go have sex for fun. . . just make sure you time it right when trying to conceive!!!

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Fogle please call 678.841.1089 or click here.