The Embarrassing Truth

Conception Facts You Need to Know But Are Too Afraid to Ask

By Gwen Morrison

For couples faced with infertility issues, every questions needs an answer – especially the embarrassing ones. If you can't seem to get the questions out at your doctor's office, we've brought the doctors – and their answers – to you.

"The concept of position for coitus is important as much for its lack of importance for most couples than its actual benefits," says Dr. Machelle M. Seibel, M.D., a professor of clinical OB/GYN at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Mass. "Most of the time, at least some of the ejaculate falls out, causing couples to worry that somehow not enough got in – in fact, nature creates a sticky mucus that occurs at mid-cycle for just this purpose."

Dr. Seibel explains that under normal circumstances, positions to prevent spillage are unnecessary. Standing on your head or elevating your hips is often unnecessarily used. But how do you know?

A good rule of thumb is to keep in mind that sperm deposited closest to the cervix will have less distance to travel in order to swim up through the cervix. The traditional missionary position helps to accomplish this. Slightly propping the pelvis, lying still after intercourse and anything else you can think of to keep the semen inside might not give you a better advantage when trying to conceive, but it can't hurt, either.

Want to see more?

• Decisions, Decisions: Which Conception Path is Right for You?
• Answers to Your Pregnancy Test Questions
• Ten Myths About Conceiving
• Talk about it!