Sex tips for when you’re trying to conceive
Read Time: 3 minutes
Trying to conceive should be an exciting milestone, but when it takes longer than expected, it can quickly become stressful, anxiety-inducing, and way less fun than it should be.
Enter OVA's Medical Advisor, Dr. Anand Patel, sexual function expert, with his top "Baby Dancing" tips to boost your chances of conception while keeping things fun, fresh, and, dare we say, egg-citing...
TIMING IS KEY
Timing is key and it’s important to keep track of your cycle so you know when you’re most likely to be fertile. There are small windows within a our cycle when you are at your most fertile and this is around the time when they’re ovulating. For most of us, this happens around 10 to 16 days before your next period.
THE RIGHT LUBE
Some lubricants have been shown to negatively affect the sperm's movement (motility) when trying to conceive, so if you are using lube during sex it’s important to use fertility-friendly ones that have less of an impact on sperm compared to regular lubes. If you can, focus on foreplay for natural lubrication; however if you reach for the lube, use the minimum amount that keeps sex comfortable.
MISSIONARY, WHEELBARROW AND MORE
There’s a reason why missionary is the most popular sex position - it offers great angling for the sperm to make its way down to the cervix for conception, however pretty much any position works as sperm were designed to swim! Sex positions such as the wheelbarrow that creates deep penetration is also fantastic, but it’s worth noting that everyone has different preferences, so do whatever feels comfortable and enjoyable for you both.
AFTER SEX CUDDLES
There’s no evidence that lying down after sex makes any difference to conception, however a cuddle afterwards will help you relax and enjoy the flush of oxytocin, a bonding hormone released during sex and orgasm.
CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH SEX?
Sperm goes off after a few days' storage so relatively frequent ejaculation can help maximise sperm quality - aim for sex every other day or every day around ovulation.
SPERM AND EGG HEALTH OPTIMISATION
Both egg and sperm health are equally as important when baby-making, so keep them as healthy as possible via a healthy lifestyle and a broad, balanced diet. Choline and Folate are brilliant nutrients for women and men, and the additional CoQ10 and zinc are great for reproductive health. Whilst good nutrition is key, prenatal vitamins and supplements like OVAHim can help support male sperm production and quality, and female egg health ahead of conception.
TRY NOT TO STRESS
Most importantly don’t forget to have fun and play around to see what works best for you when having sex. It can be a stressful time if you’re struggling to conceive, and this added stress can impact fertility further in the form of hormonal disruption, decreased libido, and irregular periods which makes it difficult for tracking your cycle, so try to alleviate this stress by talking with your partner and exploring different positions together.
