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If you’re looking to get pregnant, you’ve probably found a plethora of tips online – from having sex more often to tracking ovulation and patterns.
But sex experts told DailyMail.com that your position of choice could play a significant role in boosting the chances of conceiving.
They recommend deeper, more penetrative positions that get the penis as close as possible to a woman’s cervix, which connects the uterus and vagina and is where an egg is fertilized by sperm.
Goody Howard, a sexologist at AskGoody, a sex education platform, said for this reason reverse cowgirl and doggy style are the two best options, followed by missionary.
She also encouraged men to abstain from masturbating because they need to save up their volume of semen, which carries the sperm to the egg.
Sex experts have said that your position of choice could influence how likely you are to get pregnant
And don’t skimp on foreplay, especially when it comes to female satisfaction, as that orgasm could give sperm an easier journey, according to Ms Goody.
‘Reverse cowgirl is the best position for getting pregnant,’ she told DailyMail.com, which involves the woman facing away from her partner and sitting on top of their partner.
‘You’re sitting as close as you can when the ejaculation occurs,’ she said. This also allows the sperm to travel on a straight path.
Ms Goody also noted that penetration from the back, is a close second in terms of getting the penis as close to the cervix as possible.
The ideal position for conceiving has hardly been studied, as it can be difficult to measure and control for, though several fertility charities also endorse this practice.
Fertilization happens when sperm meets an egg. It usually takes place in a fallopian tube that links an ovary to the uterus. If the fertilized egg successfully travels down the fallopian tube and implants in the uterus, an embryo starts growing.
Ms Goody said couples desperate for children should avoid positions like regular cowgirl and standing, as it can be difficult to keep the penis close to the cervix for the whole time.
With cowgirl, ‘you’re relying on your own body weight to control the depth of the penis, and it can be difficult to maintain that stamina,’ she said.
Additionally, Ms Goody pointed toward missionary, as long as the woman is on the bottom. ‘Make sure to spread your knees out as much as you possibly can to deepen that penetration,’ she said. ‘Otherwise, there’s too much space.’
Goody Howard, a sexologist at AskGoody, said that positions that get the penis as close to the cervix as possible are key for increasing the chance of fertilization
Dr Samantha Briguglio, a naturopathic fertility doctor at Inito Fertility, posted on TikTok that female orgasms could increase pregnancy risk
Meanwhile, it turns out that having more sex could lead to pregnancy because practice makes perfect.
A study in Translational Andrology and Urology, for example, found that more frequent sex leads to stronger sperm.
Dr Patti Haebe, a naturopathic doctor specializing in fertility and senior medical advisor for the Premom Fertility App, said in a TikTok video: ‘The more sex you’re having, the more the testes are in sperm production mode.’
However, Ms Goody recommends men cut down on masturbation if they are trying to conceive. ‘They needs as many swimmers as they can for ejaculation during sex,’ she said.
‘Otherwise, you’re just wasting sperm.’
According to the Mayo Clinic, ‘too little sperm in an ejaculation might make it more difficult to get pregnant because there are fewer candidates available to fertilize the egg.’
Women, however, ‘can masturbate as much as they like,’ Ms Goody said.
And don’t forget the foreplay, especially when it comes to female satisfaction.
There is no research linking female orgasm to conception, though one study looked at the connection between a woman’s orgasm and the number of children they have.
The study, published in Animal Behaviour, evaluated 8,000 female twins and siblings who were asked how often they had sex, how often they orgasmed, and if they had difficulty reaching climax. They were also asked how many children they had.
The researchers found that those who orgasmed more often tended to have more children, though they acknowledged that the link was weak.
Dr Samantha Briguglio, a naturopathic fertility doctor at Inito Fertility, posted on TikTok that female orgasms could increase pregnancy risk.
‘Studies have revealed that your body undergoes a series of physiological responses during an orgasm which might increase the likelihood of fertilization,’ she said.
‘One such change is a rhythmic contraction of your pelvic muscles which creates a “pumping” effect that might potentially help sperm move closer to the cervix.’
Ms Goody noted that a woman orgasming thins the mucus membrane lining the cervix and elongates the vaginal canal, ‘which prepares the vagina for sex.’
‘You’re preheating the oven, essentially,’ she said.
‘The important thing is spending enough time with foreplay. I’d say about 10 to 15 minutes, at least.’
And if you’re trying to get pregnant, pick your lube carefully, as some may contain spermicide, which is specially designed to keep sperm from reaching an egg.
‘Sometimes lube can provide an extra layer that the sperm has to get through, which reduces the chance of it getting to the egg,’ Ms Goody said.
She recommends the lubricant Pre-Seed, which is water-based and specifically meant to help sperm fertilize an egg.
And while you can prop your backside against a pillow after sex to get sperm flowing in the right direction, Ms Goody notes it’s not necessary.
‘The sperm will get where it needs to go pretty quickly,’ she said.
