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John L. Gililland, M.D. of the Northern California Fertility Medical Center offers the following non-medical interventions to his patients:
On women's position following relations:"After having intercourse, it isn't necessary to lie down more than 20 or 30 minutes to keep the semen in the vagina. After 30 minutes, sperm that are not already in the cervical mucus are very unlikely to survive."
On the use of BBT for timing intercourse:"When attempting to conceive, have intercourse no more than every 36 hours in the days leading up to ovulation. Ejaculating more often than 36 hours may lead to a lowered sperm count and temporarily decrease a man's fertility. Once ovulation has occurred (and progesterone production begins), the cervical mucus rapidly becomes impenetrable to sperm and thus having intercourse after that time does nothing to increase the odds of conception."
"Basal body temperature graphs (BBT's) are not helpful for timing of intercourse. Once the temperature rise has occurred, ovulation has already happened (probably the day before). BBT's do give us some information about cycle length, approximate time of ovulation (though the cycle day of ovulation can vary some from cycle to cycle), and length of the luteal phase (postovulatory phase)but are not helpful prospectively."
Dr. Alan Copperman (from Mt. Sinai Med Ctr) adds this advice:
On the use of guaifenesin (Robitussin et al.):On sexual intercourse position:"While there are volumes of data that support the "throat mucous" thinning properties of cough syrups such as Robitussin, there is absolutely no good data that suggest that it has any effect on cervical mucous."
On frequency/timing of intercourse:"The position in which a couple has intercourse has no effect on the chance of conception...As long as ejaculation occurs deep in the vagina."
On determining gender of offspring:"The old school of thought about abstaining from intercourse for one week to give the couple a really good shot at conceiving is probably bad advice. This technique will most likely result in poor quality sperm being delivered, often after ovulation. Intercourse daily or every other day in the 5 days leading up to ovulation are probably ideal."
On women's position following relations:"The timing of intercourse does not determine whether the baby will be male or female, neither does the position, the presence or absence of a family history, or the phase of the moon. It is quite simply the result of whether an X or a Y bearing sperm fertilizes the egg."
On relaxation and conception:"A woman does not have to lie flat for 30 minutes after intercourse... Most sperm reach their target within minutes."
"Relaxation does not help someone become pregnant...There is little if any data to support a relationship between state of mind and embryos sticking to the uterus. In fact, telling a woman to "relax" just makes her feel like it is her fault that she is not getting pregnant. There is also no correlation between taking vacations and becoming pregnant, and of course none between adopting and {subsequently} conceiving!"
Our thanks to Drs. Copperman and Gililland for their responses.
© Tracy Morris
