Sex Timing Myths and Fertility: What the Evidence Actually Says
Positions, post-sex rituals, orgasm, lubricants — what fertility advice is folklore and what actually matters for conception.
The internet is full of tips for getting pregnant. Most of them are folklore. This page covers what the evidence actually says — including the one piece of "myth" that turns out to be real.
How often should you have sex when trying to get pregnant?
Every 1–2 days during the fertile window — the 5 days before ovulation and the day of. That's the whole thing. Daily and every-other-day intercourse during this window produce comparable results, so the pressure to hit a single specific day isn't necessary. Frequency and timing matter; ritual and position don't.
Does the position you have sex in affect your chances of conceiving?
No. Positions don't matter for conception. Sperm travel actively, not passively — gravity is not the rate-limiting factor in whether sperm reach an egg. No position has been shown to improve conception rates.
Should you lie down after sex to help conception?
No evidence supports this. Staying horizontal for 15 minutes, pillow under the hips — none of it has been shown to improve pregnancy rates. Sperm reach the cervix within minutes of ejaculation. Get up whenever you want, including to use the bathroom — by the time you're up, the sperm that matter are already well past the vagina.
Does orgasm affect the chances of getting pregnant?
Female orgasm is not required for conception. Orgasmic uterine contractions may slightly help sperm transport in some studies, but the effect is not clinically meaningful — nobody is infertile because they didn't climax during sex. This one shows up often as fertility "advice" and isn't supported by good evidence.
Does lubricant affect sperm?
This is the one that's real. Most lubricants are spermicidal — KY, Astroglide, and many "natural" brands meaningfully reduce sperm motility. If you need lubricant while trying to conceive, use Pre-Seed, mineral oil, or canola oil. These are the sperm-friendly options with actual evidence. Checking labels isn't enough — many products marketed as "natural" are still harmful to sperm.
What are the most common myths about timing sex for pregnancy?
Sex-selection timing methods — adjusting when you have sex to influence whether you conceive a boy or a girl — are not supported by good evidence. Meta-analyses don't find a reliable effect from the Shettles or Whelan methods. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is the only method that reliably identifies chromosomal sex — and in most of the US it's used for medical indications, not preference.