There’s no magic number when it comes to how many times you have to sex to get pregnant. However, having sex during the days surrounding your ovulation cycle – called your fertile window – is important.
Having sex every day during this time increases your chances of pregnancy. It also helps to use lubricants that are “sperm-friendly,” such as those made with hydroxyethylcellulose.
1. Every day
When you’re trying to get pregnant, sex every day is important. The quality and quantity of sperm decreases after ejaculation, so having sex daily helps replenish those numbers. However, that doesn’t mean that the sex has to be intense or “good” to improve pregnancy chances. Fertility specialists have analyzed semen and found that orgasm doesn’t increase pregnancy rates, but that the number of healthy sperm does.
The most fertile days in a woman’s cycle are the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation, which are known as her “fertile window.” During this time, sperm can fertilize an egg for up to 24 hours.
Women can have sex as often as they want during these fertile days, but only if the sperm are healthy. Many couples choose to use a fertility monitor and calendar to help them determine when they’re most fertile. This approach can increase their odds of getting pregnant, but it may also lead to stress if they feel they’re “missing” the window when they don’t have enough sex. That’s why it’s important for couples to make their sex routine as enjoyable as possible, regardless of the frequency.
2. Every other day
There are some old wives’ tales that suggest having sex every day or even multiple times a day when you want to get pregnant. But fertility awareness, which helps you recognize when you’re ovulating, is far more important for conception than how many times a month you and your partner are between the sheets.
Experts now recommend that couples who are trying to conceive have sex every other day (as long as his sperm are good) during the 6 days leading up to and including your ovulation window. This is because sperm can live in the fallopian tube for up to 24 hours after ovulation.
You can also maximize your chances of pregnancy by having sex during the 5 days before and after ovulation, but you should avoid having sex more than twice a week, as this can throw off your ovulation cycle. Having too much sex may also cause the body to release antibodies that prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. Plus, it can just make you feel grossed out. So if you find yourself wanting to sex more than you’re able to, try to take some of the pressure off by not making it feel like work.
3. Every three days
When it comes to trying to conceive, we’re often bombarded with old wives’ tales and lucky talismans. One fertility tip that many couples have heard is that having sex every other day during the fertile window improves your chances of getting pregnant. While there’s truth to that, it’s important to remember that the most important thing is having sex when it feels right for both you and your partner.
If you’re not sure when to have sex, consider using an ovulation tracker to help predict when you are most fertile each cycle. But don’t put so much pressure on yourself that sex becomes stressful or unenjoyable.
If you and your partner decide to have sex every other day during the fertile period, that’s fine too. However, it’s important to remember that the more you have sex, the better your odds of conceiving. And there’s no evidence that frequent ejaculation lowers your man’s sperm count or potency. So go ahead and give each other that extra lovin’! Just be sure to use a good lubricant.
4. Every four days
While a few days before and after ovulation is the ideal window of time to conceive, experts don’t think that couples need to be sexy every other day in order to get pregnant. The reason is that sperm degrade over time, so ejaculating more often won’t increase your chances of conception.
You can boost your chances of conceiving by using an app like Flo to track your fertile window, which usually lasts for the 4-5 days preceding ovulation and the day after. Then, if you’re into it, have sex as much as you want during that window.
That said, sex isn’t for everyone, so if you don’t feel comfortable with it that much, it’s okay to go with less. And remember: fertility awareness is far more important than how many times you have sex. It should be fun, not stressful. And it’s also important to remember that your chances of pregnancy increase each time you ovulate. So, if you don’t ovulate for a few cycles, try tracking your ovulation with Flo again to see when your fertile window is.
5. Every five days
If you’re a woman who is trying to get pregnant, you know that timing is everything. While many couples think that more sex during the fertile window is better, fertility experts are actually quite the opposite: having sex too often can decrease your chances of getting pregnant.
The fertile window lasts about six days, encompassing the day before you ovulate and the 4-5 days that follow. This time period is known as the “ovulation window” because this is when there is the greatest likelihood of conception. The quality of sperm starts to decline after five days without an intercourse, so if you’re trying to conceive, it’s best to have sex at least once per day during the ovulation window.
If you’re tracking your cycle, it’s easy to find out when you’re most fertile by using an ovulation tracker like Obie. Just download the app, enter your menstrual data and you’ll receive a notification when you’re in your fertile window. If you’re not tracking your cycle, you can use a basal body temperature monitor to estimate ovulation.
See Also:
- Does Having Sex Every Other Day to Conceive Increase Your Chances of Pregnancy?
- Is Having Sex Everyday Bad When Trying to Conceive?
- Can You Get Pregnant the First Time You Have Sex?
- How Often Should You Have Sex to Get Pregnant?
- What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant If You Have Protected Sex During Ovulation?
