Timed Intercourse

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Obie Editorial Team

Q: How should we time sex?

A: There is a problem with this approach. First, you can't always predict when you ovulate. There are no sure tests that will always tell you ahead of time when ovulation happens. Cervical mucus can't always predict it and even OPKs can't always predict it. If, for example, you test with an OPK once every 24 hours, ovulation may already have happened by the time you first test positive. Timed intercourse has never been shown to work better than regular intercourse two to three times a week, and it probably has less of a chance of getting you pregnant. Most women ovulate irregularly, even those with regular cycles. Having sex after ovulation won't get you pregnant, so making love two to three times each week, every week, assures that enough sperm are around when you ovulate. To improve your chances, you may want to add to this routine and have sex daily as ovulation approaches.