Does having sex multiple times a day increase your chances of getting pregnant?

Trying to conceive (TTC) can be a super exciting time for you and your partner. But it’s natural if you’re curious about how to make it happen quickly. One of the most common questions people have about getting pregnant is how best to time conception sex. For instance, does having sex multiple times a day increase the chances of getting pregnant or not? And is having sex twice a day during ovulation a recipe for success? Obstetrician and gynecologist (OB-GYN) Dr. Renita White from Georgia, US, is on hand with the answers. Plus, she shares some tips for getting pregnant if you’re hoping to boost your chances.

Key takeaways

• Your best chance to conceive is during your fertile window, which lasts the five days before plus one day after ovulation (that’s when your ovaries release an egg). An ovulation-tracking app like Flo can help you learn more about your fertile window and ovulation signs. 
• There’s no advice that suggests having sex multiple times a day will increase your chances of getting pregnant. So there’s no need to exhaust yourself if you don’t want to.
• Lots of factors can affect fertility, including irregular periods, stress, cannabis, and alcohol. If you have any worries or questions, schedule an appointment to see your doctor. 
• The sex positions you choose won’t impact your pregnancy chances. So focus on enjoyment and what feels good for both of you.

Does it matter when you have sex if you’re trying for a baby?

The first thing to know if you’re eager to get pregnant is that timing does matter, says Dr. White. Knowing when you’re likely to be most fertile can give you a little bit more control in your TTC journey and help you figure out when to have sex to get pregnant. An ovulation-tracking app like Flo can help you understand your body and learn more about your fertile window. 

Essentially, there are six days to be aware of, says Dr. White. This is called your fertile window. And when does it fall? Your pregnancy chances will be at their best five days before ovulation plus 24 hours after. That’s because an egg can survive for around a day, while sperm can live in the female body for up to five days. That means having sex before and during ovulation can boost your chances of getting pregnant. 

It’s worth noting that it may be possible to conceive outside of your fertile window, but that’s much less likely, says Dr. White. There are still benefits to having sex outside of your fertile days if you want to, says sex therapist Jordan Rullo. “If sex and physical connection are happening throughout the entire month, that takes away the pressure of sex during that window of ovulation. It also reinforces that sex isn’t just for conception; sex is also for connection and pleasure.” Download Flo for Partners for more tips on keeping conception sex fun.

Should you have sex twice a day during ovulation? 

Now that you know that timing sex around ovulation is key if you’re looking to conceive, it makes sense to wonder if having sex multiple times a day during this part of your cycle will boost your chances. Instinctively, you’d probably think the answer would be an obvious yes. But the evidence isn’t clear-cut, says Dr. White. 

A 2018 study of 250 men from 500 couples found that having sex twice within three hours might boost sperm health. However, other research suggests there could be some disadvantages to having sex so frequently. Some studies have found that ejaculating multiple times a day might briefly cause sperm count to drop, which may make it a little harder to get pregnant. 

The bottom line? There’s really no need to up your sex schedule if you don’t want to. If you can avoid it, you don’t want to make trying for a baby feel like a chore. So go with how you’re both feeling rather than sticking to a strict timetable.

When to have sex if you’re trying to conceive 

We know it’s not vital, or even recommended, to have sex multiple times a day if you’re trying to conceive. In fact, you don’t even have to have sex every single day during your fertile window, says Dr. White. 

“Studies show that the ideal way to maximize conception is to have sex every other day during your fertile window,” she adds. “When compared to people who had sex every day or more, the chances of getting pregnant were similar.”

Becoming an expert on your cycle can help you time sex around your fertile window. Ovulation prediction kits can give you a pretty good idea about when you’re most fertile by tracking luteinizing hormone (LH) in your pee. A spike in LH means that you are about to ovulate, usually in the next 36 hours. But if ovulation tests aren’t for you, there are also some body signs to watch for around the time you release an egg, which you can log in a cycle-tracking app like Flo. (Although, remember, Flo’s predictions should not be used as a conception aid.) These ovulation signs include:

Cervical mucus: This changes throughout your cycle. When you’re at your most fertile, you might notice your discharge becomes clear and stretchy (a bit like egg whites).

Body temperature: You can also log your basal body temperature (BBT) in your cycle-tracking app. Take your temperature using a special thermometer as soon as you wake up before you get out of bed. Your body temperature increases very slightly (by around 0.5°F to 1°F) after ovulation, meaning you’re at your most fertile about two to three days before your temperature rises. So, while this method won’t give you advance warning you’re about to ovulate, it can be helpful to spot a pattern emerging if you do it every day for a few months. 

Other symptoms: Everyone is different, but some people notice symptoms like tender breasts, mild pain, or an increased sex drive around ovulation. Using an app like Flo to log your symptoms throughout your cycle can help you spot patterns that are unique to you.

Other factors to consider when you’re trying to conceive

Having sex fairly frequently is obviously very important if you’re TTC, but there are a few other things that might impact your chances of getting pregnant, Dr. White says. They include: 

Irregular periods: Irregular periods can come less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart. A cycle that changes in length month to month by seven to nine days is also considered irregular. If you have irregular periods, it can be difficult to time sex around ovulation because you don’t know when it’s likely to happen. It can be worth chatting with your OB-GYN if you have irregular periods, as there are lots of things that can help you get pregnant. It might help to know that just because you may have irregular cycles, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t get pregnant.

Age: As much as we wish it wasn’t the case, fertility does decrease with age. This decline happens faster once you’re in your mid-30s. So, if you’re over 35, it’s worth seeing your doctor if you’ve been trying to conceive for six months or more. They might be able to recommend treatments that can help if it’s taking longer than you’d hoped. If you’re over 40, the best thing is to see your OB-GYN as soon as you decide you want to get pregnant. 

Stress: TTC can be stressful in itself, especially if getting pregnant isn’t happening as fast as you’d like. If this is the case, go easy on yourself and make sure you lean on your loved ones for support. While stress alone doesn’t cause fertility problems, it may cause cycle irregularities, which make it more difficult. It might also make you less likely to want to have sex. It’s easier said than done to totally eliminate stress from our lives, but it’s well worth finding stress management techniques that work for you, says Dr. White. Try a weekly yoga class or take time out for a long walk in the fresh air and see what works for you.  

Alcohol and drugs: Drinking too much can impact fertility for both men and women. Doctors often suggest completely cutting out alcohol if you’re trying to conceive, so it’s worth considering whether this is something you want to do. Similarly, it’s advisable for you both to avoid cannabis if you’re trying to get pregnant because it can impact sperm count as well as have risks for the development of a fetu

Too much exercise: Exercise has lots of benefits, so staying active is a good idea if you’re trying to have a baby. But you can have too much of a good thing. Research shows that an hour or more of strenuous exercise a day might increase the risk of ovulation problems. So consider dialing down the intensity of your workouts if you think you’re in danger of overdoing it.

Which sex positions are best for getting pregnant?

As well as making healthy lifestyle choices, some people wonder if they should stick to certain sex positions for getting pregnant. There are lots of theories but not a lot of evidence that any particular sex position can boost your conception chances, says Dr. White. Plus, it’s a difficult thing for scientists to research! 

When it comes to sex and TTC, do what feels good for you. There’s no firm schedule or diagram you have to follow if you want to get pregnant. Sure, it’s a good idea to be aware of when your fertile window is likely to be so you can better time conception sex. But you don’t need to have sex twice a day during that time. So try not to worry too much about frequency or positions and instead focus on pleasure and connection with your partner.