How much sex!?

It is completely up to you and your partner!

There is no formula to this that will guarantee a pregnancy, nor is there a formula to avoid pregnancy, but if you and your partner can understand the workings of each other bodies, it definitely makes it easier to digest the process.

Science shows that sperm can live inside the female reproductive system, in the right environment, anywhere from 2 - 5 days.

Trying to conceive:

Most practitioners/specialists will recommend having sex every second day during your fertile phase to keep a consistent flow of semen to potentially conceive.

To keep expectations realistic, heterosexual couples under the age of 35 years old have a 25 - 30% chance of conceiving in any one cycle. On top of that, everything else needs to simultaneously work to perfection in order for a viable pregnancy. This video on YouTube was a bit of an eye-opener for my husband and I. It’s hard for most, so don’t feel alone when things aren’t happening. They don’t call it a miracle for no reason.

Personally, we have tried it all! From sex, every day during my fertile phase to relying solely on OPKs, to BBT, to every second day and then to the Sperm Meets Egg Plan (SMEP).

My recommendation, get to know your cycle before you start trying. Understand when your fertile phase is, and get to know your bodies natural signals surrounding ovulation. There are really only about 3 days where the optimal chance to conceive sits on a cycle. For those wanting more, head on over to our deep dive page to explore all the tips and tricks.

Trying to avoid pregnancy:

Contraception! But let’s chat on this as I personally feel strongly about avoiding hormone suppressors at a young age if you can.

Same-sex couples inseminating at home:

This is where BBT and OPKs come into play helping you preserve the precious semen reserve you have, whilst hitting the best timing possible. Pretty much the same as heterosexual couples, only a little DIY.