Timed Intercourse

If you and your partner are having difficulty conceiving, trying timed intercourse could be a great strategy.

Conceiving a child can be one of the most exciting and wonderful times in a couple’s life. But for some couples, it can be difficult to conceive. There are many reasons why a couple may have difficulty conceiving, but there are also many things that can be done to help.

What is timed intercourse?

Timed intercourse is a method of fertility treatment in which couples have sex at specific times during the woman’s menstrual cycle in order to increase the chances of conception.

The timing of intercourse is based on the woman’s ovulation cycle, which is the time when she produces an egg that can be fertilized by sperm.

Ovulation usually occurs about midway through the menstrual cycle, but it can vary from woman to woman and even from month to month

Who can benefit from timed intercourse?

Timed intercourse can be beneficial for couples who have been trying to conceive for a year or longer without success.

It may also be recommended for women who have irregular menstrual cycles or whose ovulation is unpredictable.

Women over age 35 or who have other risk factors for infertility may be advised to try timed intercourse sooner.

How does timed intercourse work?

The first step in using this method is to track the woman’s ovulation cycle.

There are a few different ways to do this, including tracking changes in her body temperature or cervical mucus. Talk to one of our fertility nurses about a natural approach to pinpointing the best time in your cycle to try to conceive

Timed intercourse is a simple treatment to help couples pinpoint their most fertile window. It’s a completely natural approach, and often the starting point of a couple’s fertility journey.

Your fertility specialist will usually do some blood tests, maybe a urine test, and an ultrasound to confirm when you’re due to ovulate.

Once ovulation has been predicted, couples can then plan to have intercourse within a certain window of time around the ovulation date.

There are a few different ways to increase the chances of timed intercourse leading to conception.

One is to ensure that there is fresh sperm available when the egg is released. This can be done by abstaining from sex for a few days before ovulation and then having intercourse multiple times during the fertile window.
Another method is to use intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which sperm is directly inserted into the uterus around the time of ovulation. This can be done with or without fertility drugs. Consult with us about IUI and whether it’s the right treatment for you.

When does a woman ovulate?

A woman’s ovulation cycle can vary in length but is usually between 24 and 36 days long. The first day of bleeding is considered day one of the cycle. Ovulation usually occurs around day 14, but it can occur anywhere from days 12 to 18.
The timing of intercourse is crucial if you want to conceive. The egg released during ovulation only survives for a maximum of 24 hours, and sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for 2-3 days. This means that you need to have intercourse within this window of time to give the sperm a chance to fertilise the egg.
For the best chances of conception, your fertility specialist might recommend you don’t have sex for 2-3 days before your fertile window.

If you’re not sure when you ovulate or just need someone to speak to about your ovulation cycle, or if you have irregular cycles, your specialist, gynaecologist or fertility specialist can help by prescribing medication to induce ovulation. They can also give you advice on the best time to have intercourse based on your individual circumstances.

Is timed intercourse effective?

There is no one answer to the question of how effective timed intercourse is, as it depends on a number of factors. One important factor is whether or not the couple is using any other fertility treatments in addition to timed intercourse.

Another important factor is the age of the woman. Women who are younger and have regular ovulation cycles tend to be more successful with timed intercourse than older women or those with irregular cycles.

Couples who are trying to conceive using timed intercourse should be aware that it may take several months or longer before they are successful. It is important to remain patient and keep trying if timed intercourse does not result in pregnancy immediately.