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Sometimes it feels like the chance of getting pregnant is way too high when you’re not wanting a baby, and way too low when you’re trying to conceive! The truth is that an egg can only be fertilized in a fairly narrow window around ovulation (typically up to five days before and 12-24 hours after the egg drops), and then the fertilized egg has to implant successfully.
With that in mind, folks who are trying for a baby want to maximize every opportunity. Getting the sperm as close to the cervix as possible is optimal. And while there is no hard evidence, it only makes sense that a good strong orgasm can help draw the sperm up where it needs to be. These eight sex positions should help with both!
Table Of Contents
1. Missionary Position
A whole lot of folks around the world were conceived in this position! It’s a comfortable classic, and it can allow for deep penetration. Additionally, when the partner with a uterus stays on their back with hips elevated after sex, it helps the sperm make their way to the cervix and beyond.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on their back with legs spread. A pillow under the hips is good for both pleasure and positioning.
- The penetrating partner lies on top facing the receiving partner and enters gently.
- Try to ensure that the penetrating partner is as deep as possible during ejaculation, and that the receiving partner keeps their hips elevated for at least a few minutes after sex.
2. Doggy
Doggy is another familiar, comfortable sex position that also works well for couples who are trying to conceive. (Our top two positions in this list are also the two most popular sex positions in a recent poll; it’s almost like our bodies and brains are programmed to repopulate.)
Doggy facilitates deep penetration, and if the receiving partner stays on their hands and knees after sex, the sperm will be headed in the right direction. Like with missionary, putting a firm pillow under the receiving partner’s hips will help with positioning both before and after sex. It may also help angle the receiving partner so that the penetrating partner can hit the G-spot.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner positions themself on hands and knees, face down. A pillow under the hips helps with positioning and support.
- The penetrating partner kneels behind the receiving partner and enters from behind. The penetrating partner can grip the receiving partner’s hips or waist to brace themself.
- The penetrating partner should try to ejaculate deep inside the receiving partner’s vagina, and the receiving partner should stay face down, butt up to provide the best path forward for the sperm.
3. Missionary, With Legs Over Shoulders
This position requires some flexibility but offers all the benefits — intimacy, pleasure, and possible conception — as the classic missionary position; additionally, the angle here facilitates even deeper penetration. If the receiving partner is able to hold the position for even a few minutes after the penetrating partner ejaculates, this can help the sperm on their mission.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on their back on the bed with legs spread slightly.
- The penetrating partner kneels between the receiving partner’s legs.
- The receiving partner lifts their legs (the penetrating partner can help with this) and positions them over the penetrating partner’s shoulders. This should give the penetrating partner a good angle for entry.
4. Missionary With CAT
Doggy and cat, oh my! In this case, “cat” is the Coital Alignment Technique. Penetration is not as deep, but this position offers a lot of clitoral stimulation, which makes it more likely that the receiving partner will orgasm (and some researchers believe that this can help conception). The full-body contact also releases happy hormones and endorphins, which can’t be a bad thing when trying to conceive.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on the bed with legs straight and slightly spread.
- The penetrating partner lies on top, face to face, and slightly higher up than they would for the classic missionary position.
- The penetrating partner inserts just the tip of their erection. Instead of the usual thrusting, both partners should grind together to create (pleasant) friction. If possible, the penetrating partner can move down and thrust deeply at the moment of ejaculation.
5. Reverse Cowgirl
This is a good position for couples who are trying to conceive because the receiving partner can control the depth and angle of penetration and therefore aim the sperm where they need to go. It also allows either partner to stimulate the clitoris and encourage the receiving partner to orgasm, which of course has benefits beyond possibly aiding in conception.
What We’re Doing
- The penetrating partner lies on their back on the bed.
- The receiving partner kneels or squats over the receiving partner’s erection, facing away from them.
- The receiving partner carefully lowers themself onto the penetrating partner’s penis (the penetrating partner can brace their penis with their hand).
- The receiving partner should dismount and roll onto their back after ejaculation so that the sperm will be heading in the right direction.
6. Wheelbarrow
Like some other standing sex positions, this is a difficult position to hold but it offers several advantages for people who are trying to get pregnant. The penetrating partner can get very deep, and the receiving partner is in an ideal position for the sperm to find the egg. Partners can either agree in advance that this will be a quickie, or they can start out in a more relaxed position and move into this one as the finish line approaches.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner starts out on hands and knees, facing down.
- The penetrating partner stands between the receiving partner’s legs and lifts their feet and legs off the bed.
- The receiving partner wraps their legs around the penetrating partner’s waist.
- The penetrating partner enters from the rear.
7. Lying Doggy (Prone)
This is another position where the receiving partner is in a very good position to receive the sperm, although penetration here is not as deep as it is in the classic doggy position. This sex position may work best, especially in terms of optimizing for conception, when the receiving partner’s lower half is on the smaller side.
What We’re Doing
- The receiving partner lies on the bed, face down, with legs slightly spread. A pillow under the hips can help with access and positioning.
- The penetrating partner lies on top of the receiving partner, also face down.
- The penetrating partner enters from the rear. The receiving partner should stay prone and face down for a few minutes after ejaculation.
8. Scissors
The scissor position is very intimate and requires a fair bit of communication and cooperation, which is a good thing for would-be parents to practice! When bodies line up correctly (and to be perfectly honest, not all sets of bodies are going to be able to do this), deep penetration is possible and the receiving partner is in a good position after ejaculation.
What We’re Doing
- Partners lie on their sides, opposite each other.
- The receiving partner lifts one leg and the penetrating partner puts one of their legs between the receiving partner’s legs and the other leg underneath the receiving partner’s legs.
- This should put the genitals in alignment and the penetrating partner can enter.
Final Thoughts
Most pregnancies start with sex, but there are plenty of other factors to consider when you’re trying to conceive. As we said in the beginning of this article, there are only a few days in each menstrual cycle when conception is even possible, so folks who want to get pregnant may want to learn more about cycles and how to track fertility signs.
It’s also a good idea for both partners to look after their own health, both reproductive and otherwise. Eat nutritionally dense and well-balanced meals, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep (if you’re successful, you will be sleep-deprived after baby arrives!). The receiving partner should start on prenatal vitamins, which are high in iron and folic acid.
Most importantly, enjoy this journey. Trying to conceive can be tense and occasionally disappointing. Remember that you’re wanting to make a baby together because you love each other, and don’t let the stress overshadow that. Having sex on the right day and in the right position can sometimes feel less than romantic, so also remember that making love is first and foremost about loving your partner.
Good luck!
Maggie
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