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{In no situation do we ever recommend that fertility diagnosis or treatment be undertaken without the oversight of a qualified medical practitioner. Please use the enclosed information as quick reference and for discussion aids with your practitioner.}

Alrighty - we're gonna get pregnant, and we're gonna "do it" in every conceivable position, in every room of the house!

Does sexual position really matter when it comes to conception? The best answer is "Sometimes..."

First, let's get your goal here straight:
In order for conception to occur, sperm must be deposited as close as possible to the woman's cervix. That's what sexual intercourse is for -- when it comes to getting pregnant, anyway!

In general, when a man and woman are trying to conceive (TTC), if they're both "typically" fertile and reproductively "normal", then the position in which they engage sexually probably won't matter much.

If, on the other hand, one or both of the sexual partners has something reproductively amiss, the importance of sexual intercourse position increases. The level of importance varies with whatever problem exists. The real problem, of course, is that most people have no idea that they have a reproductive problem until they're already having trouble conceiving... If you're in that boat already, please refer to the rest of The Fertility Center for more information.

Okay, let's assume both partners are reproductively normal. Proceed!

Give gravity an edge.
It's true -- getting pregnant might be all about gravity. While strong, healthy sperm are usually great swimmers against almost all odds, some of the little guys need a little more assistance.

Choose a position that makes common sense as you remember your goal of depositing sperm as close to the cervix as possible. (Don't know what a cervix is? Refer to our Fertility Definitions page.)

From our feature on Baby-Making Sex:

Some sexual positions that are not conducive to conception are:

• Sitting
• Standing
• Female dominant (woman on top)
• Bending over

Although achieving pregnancy is not impossible using these positions, they do not encourage the flow of sperm into the uterus and, ultimately, the fallopian tubes (Lauersen and Bouchez, p. 202).

Lie down!
Never hurts to head sperm in the right direction after they've been left at the cervical doorway. No need to stand on your head, ladies, but lying down for 20 or 30 minutes afterward can't hurt and might help. In general, however, healthy sperm in a healthy female reproductive tract will reach their target within a few minutes.

Roll over!
Now, if you already know or suspect that you have a uterus that is positioned differently than most (not a completely unheard of condition!), then it may be better if you lie prone (on your stomach) after intercourse. Again, whatever direction the sperm need to head, give them a little gravitational edge.

If you find that you and/or your partner are some of the folks who have to be a little more careful about positioning when it comes to TTC, take heart -- things could be worse -- you could be trying this alone!

Keep your eyes on the prize!