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How Many Times a Day Should You Have Sex to Get Pregnant?

Team AckoDec 3, 2024

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Planning to have a baby? To have a better chance of getting pregnant, you and your spouse must be in the best of health. Physical and mental well-being is crucial as you try to conceive. Another important factor is to aim at having sex at the right time to ensure the pregnancy happens. No doubt, having sex during a fertile period boosts your chance of getting pregnant. However, it is also true that having sex many times during a month can also lead to pregnancy. So, which option to go for and how many times to have sex to get pregnant?

Contents

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It would be ideal to do what works best for both of you. Below are a few facts that can maximise your chances of getting pregnant by knowing when to have sex:

Fertile Window

Knowing the pattern of your menstrual cycle will help you understand when the best chance of getting pregnant is. This period, known as the fertile window, occurs 2-3 days before ovulation. Therefore, it's best to have sex before ovulation.

Ovulation and Fertilisation

In general, the fertile window can be as early as day 8 or 9 or as late as days 19 and 20. This again varies from woman to woman. There are certain dos and don'ts after ovulation to get pregnant to consider. Once the egg is released from the ovary, it can fertilise for 12 to 24 hours, while the sperm can live up to five days in the female reproductive tract. It is due to this reason that you should have sex before ovulation for the pregnancy to happen.

Keep Track of Your Ovulating Time

Now, how do you know you are going to ovulate? There are various ways to find out if your body is trying to trigger the egg release from the ovary. Once you are aware, it is your best time to ensure the pregnancy happens and the best day to get pregnant.

What Tests/Indicators Are Available?

Ovulation predictor tests work like pregnancy tests, but the inference is when you are ovulating. Just before ovulation, the LH hormone surges in the urine. Dip the test strip in a cup containing your urine. If the test reads positive, ovulation is going to happen.

Charting of basal body temperature: Basal body temperature is the body’s temperature at complete rest. After ovulation, the hormone progesterone raises the body temperature. You can keep track/record of the temperature before you get up in the morning. If you see an increase in the temperature, it means ovulation has happened the previous day.

Cervical mucus: In case the vaginal discharge is mucus-like , resembles raw egg whites, and is stretchy, it indicates your optimal fertile time. During this period, sperm mobility and survival improve. When the number of sperm that survive is higher, the chance of fertilisation with the egg becomes greater.

As mentioned in the beginning, more than deciding on the number of times to have sex per day, it is important to do what works best for both of you while trying to get pregnant. Avoid being anxious to get pregnant soon or stressed out. If you are over 35 and don’t get pregnant after trying for 6 months or 1 year, consult your doctor. There can be some medical conditions that, when treated, can help you conceive.

Signs Of Ovulation To Watch For

You should be alert for ovulation symptoms if you are attempting to conceive. About midway through their menstrual cycle, most women ovulate. Given a 28-day cycle, you should thus anticipate ovulation on about day 14. It can be more difficult, though, if your periods vary. You should also be aware of the ovulation symptoms. Two primary indicators to be on alert are:

Variations in cervical mucus

  • You will find that you create more thin, slippery mucus just before ovulation—often described as egg-white consistency. It thickens and then declines right after ovulation. When you find the thin and slippery cervical mucus, have sex at least every other day if you wish to become pregnant.

A rise in your Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

  • A rise in your BBT and your basal body temperature. Your BBT is the body temperature at rest. It rises half a degree to a degree during ovulation and stays there until your next period. Your most fertile days fall two to three days before the temperature rises. Taking your temperature every morning before you get up will help you monitor your BBT. Although this temperature surge comes too late to affect a fetus, this knowledge will help you time sex going forward.

  • Using an over-the-counter ovulation prediction kit is another, simpler way to monitor this, as it can be a lot to handle. These are up to 99 percent accurate in spotting your approaching ovulation. They monitor your body's luteinising hormone, which rises 24 to 48 hours before ovulation. This allows you several days to have intercourse before the egg release.

Is it Possible to Have too Much Sex if You're Trying to Conceive?

Studies suggest that a woman's immune system may be more attuned to the optimal time for conception the more frequently she has sex. Women who are quite sexually active have more modifications in their helper T cells, which are cells that stop your body from seeing sperm as an alien and destroying it, according to one 2015 study that was written in the journal Fertility & Sterility. This theory should help you to conceive more easily.

The only drawback of too much sex is the tension it causes. That itself can influence your cycle. If you find two daily sex for pregnancy sessions during ovulation excessive, scale back.

Other Factors To Consider When You Are Trying To Conceive

While time is crucial when attempting to conceive (TTC), other factors can influence things.

  • Irregular periods: Ovulation might be difficult if your menstrual cycle differs greatly in length or timing, therefore affecting the odds of pregnancy. See an OB-GYN; there are therapeutic alternatives for people with irregular cycles.

  • Age: Especially after 35, fertility falls with age. See a doctor for advice and possible therapies if you are over forty and beginning TTC or over 35 and have not conceived after six months of trying.

  • Stress: Although it doesn't directly lower libido or fertility, it could prevent menstrual cycles. Learning stress management techniques—such as yoga or outdoor pursuits—may help.

  • Drugs and alcohol: Doctors frequently advise against or reducing alcohol consumption, while TTC might affect fertility for both partners. Moreover, cannabis should be avoided, as it may lower sperm count and harm embryonic development.

  • Exercise: Although keeping active is good, intense exercise could affect ovulation. Try for moderate, balanced exercise to support general health right now.

Knowledge of these elements and, if necessary, medical advice can support a good, positive TTC journey.

Sex and stress

  • If it takes more than intended, trying for a baby can be demanding. Your sex life may suffer, whether it's pressure to perform, feeling as though you're having sex on a schedule, or worrying about not being able to conceive when it becomes all about the children.

  • Try to keep in mind that, while trying for a baby, sex often begins to feel rather mechanical. Many couples experience this, so it doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem in your marriage. 

Tips For Stress-Free Sex

Though there are things you may do to control it, stress cannot always be avoided. It helps to emphasise your relationship and each other instead of stressing about pregnancy.
These are some ideas for bringing the delight back into starting a family.

  • Spend some time renewing the passion. Plan a candle-lit meal at home, ask your partner on a date, or forward sensual notes to one another.

  • Book a breakaway the next time you might ovulate once you have worked out your cycle. It could help you unwind, and you might find sex more enjoyable once more.

  • Apart from baby-making, have sex for enjoyment.

  • Try to work out the few days around ovulation to cut the quantity of sex you have on days least likely to be pregnant if all the sex is proving too much.

  • If conception does not happen immediately, some people could feel as though they failed. Pregnancy takes more time than anticipated; hence, no guilt should be connected to it. Should it arise, infertility is a treatable health disorder like any other and can be either male or female.

Remember also that you and your spouse were a couple first, so make sure to spend time doing other activities that are important to both of you. This could help you put things into perspective and remind you of the original reasons you wanted to start trying for a baby.

Conclusion

There is no specific number of times a couple should have sex to get pregnant. The key is to focus on timing, particularly during the woman’s fertile window. Having regular, unprotected sex every 2 to 3 days throughout the fertile period increases the likelihood of conception. While frequency matters, other factors such as age, overall health, and lifestyle also play significant roles in fertility. It’s important to approach the process with patience and relaxation, as stress can negatively affect fertility. If pregnancy doesn’t occur after a year of trying (or six months for women over 35), consulting a healthcare professional for further guidance may be beneficial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a list of FAQs about How Many Times a Day Should You Have Sex to Get Pregnant?

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What is the best time of day to have sex to get pregnant? 

Usually, around your fertile window, which is the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself, is the ideal period for intercourse for conception. Although no one time of day is ideal, having intercourse in the evening can benefit since sperm can live longer. For the best chances of becoming pregnant, concentrate on timing your sex around ovulation.

Does the frequency of intercourse affect the chances of conception?

Indeed, your odds of becoming pregnant could change depending on how often you have sex. Having sex every two to three days throughout your cycle raises the possibility of sperm presence at ovulation. While regular sex around ovulation maximises your chances, overdoing it without enough rest might reduce sperm count; hence, a balanced approach is most advised.

Should we have sex every day when trying to conceive? 

Although daily intercourse throughout your reproductive window can boost your chances of pregnancy, it is not required. Usually, it is enough every two to three days. This guarantees a healthy sperm count and still provides decent chances of conception. When trying for a baby, quality is equally vital as frequency.

How can we increase our chances of getting pregnant?

Track your ovulation cycle to discover your most fertile days and raise your chances of becoming pregnant. During your fertile window, have regular sex, have a good lifestyle, and steer clear of stress. Additionally beneficial are good eating, keeping active, and getting enough sleep. Should it not happen immediately, avoid discouragement; instead, strive to be patient and give it time.

Are there signs that indicate the best time to conceive?

Indeed, some indications could guide one to decide when to start a family. A common indication is a change in cervical mucus, which turns clear and stretchy around ovulation. A tiny rise in body temperature following ovulation is another indication. A few women also experience minor pelvic discomfort or cramps during ovulation. Monitoring these signals will enable you to identify your most productive period.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

 

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