Should i stay lying down afterward

You may have heard lying on your back after sex gives sperm a better shot at reaching the egg. But the latest research has picked apart this myth. You may have heard that contractions from an orgasm can help sperm successfully travel to the egg. So no need to stress if you orgasm before or after your partner does or if reaching an orgasm during intercourse is difficult for you to do.

Instead, these uterine contractions — which are believed to be regulated by your hormones — happen continually throughout the follicular phase of your menstrual cycle. The contractions even increase right before ovulation to give sperm an extra push in the right direction. We explain In , a Canadian research team evaluated the potential fertility-boosting effects of lying down by randomly assigned 95 women with unexplained infertility to one of two groups: The first group rested in bed for 10 minutes after their IUI procedure, while the second group moved around normally immediately after insemination.

Resting appeared to make a dramatic difference. A larger randomized study in also showed higher pregnancy rates among the women who remained on their backs for 15 minutes after IUI, compared to women who got up and moved around right away. A study published in Human Reproduction found no benefit in resting after sex. Although the results contradict previous findings, they make sense. For example, it is known that sperm can survive in the uterus for several days — there is no reason why bed rest would affect this, says van Rijswijk, who presented the findings this week at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Endocrinology annual meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

Our crude understanding of female anatomy is partly to blame for the theory, says Adam Balen , chair of the British Fertility Society. Anatomical illustrations often depict the uterus and vagina as directly aligned, with a straight-line passage from uterus to vagina to the outside world.

The study was not designed to give a reason to explain the findings, so we are left to surmise on our own why immobilization may have been a non-factor. Theories have been put forth that immobilization may cause undue stress to patients, which might affect success rates. Studies looking at bed rest after embryo transfer had suggested similar findings.

If you are trying to conceive naturally at home, the study is not applicable. By tracking your BBT, you might be able to save yourself the cost of a home pregnancy test. If your period ends up being late, you will simply need to note whether your luteal phase—the number of days since you ovulated—is longer than normal.

Try to book the last appointment of the day for your preconception checkup. Use rooms other than the bedroom or schedule your babymaking rendezvous for an odd time of day. Make love often during your fertile period the five days leading up to ovulation.

Keep in mind that babymaking is a numbers game. Note the date when your period starts, the number of days it lasts, and anything else your doctor might want to know about. This information could prove helpful if you experience problems in conceiving. It can also prove invaluable in pinpointing the date of conception—and consequently your due date. You are also more fresh, and therefore can put your heart into making sex as pleasurable and romantic as possible.

Ask friends to pass along the names of doctors and midwives who provided them with excellent care during their own pregnancies. An orgasm could be just what the doctor ordered! Studies have shown that an orgasm is 22 times as relaxing as the average tranquilizer.

Your body begins to produce hCG about a week after conception. The production of hCG combined with rising progesterone levels causes blood flow to the pelvic area to increase—something that could have you running to the bathroom at frequent intervals as your pregnancy progresses. Some women experience implantation bleeding about a week after conception—the point in pregnancy when the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall.

Many women mistake this light amount of bleeding for a menstrual period—something that can wreak havoc on their ability to calculate their due dates. Spotting and cramping are common early signs of pregnancy. Although pregnancy is the most common explanation for missing a period, you can miss a period for many other reasons: jet lag, severe illness, surgery, shock, bereavement, or other causes of stress.

If you purchase a pregnancy test that requires that you collect a urine sample rather than testing your urine while you urinate, make sure that you have a clean, soap-free container on hand.