Sex has suitably been described as one
of the sweetest things on earth. Thus, it is not for nothing that some
people lose their composure or start vibrating when they are about
having a session. It is that exciting, more so with the unrivalled
enjoyment and ultimate excitement that often accompany it.
But beyond these, it is (almost) a
necessary activity for procreation, the importance of which cannot be
overemphasised in marriage.
Inasmuch as couples who are desirous of
having babies engage in this all-too-important activity, some women end
up not conceiving, in spite of ‘doing it’ at the ‘right time of the
month’ and observing a host of other things that could help boost their
chances, such as abstinence from alcohol and being conscious of their
diet, among other things. Some people have also argued that fertility
problems have increased over the years, but it appears there is more to
it.
However, given that sex is more of a
compulsory activity for those desirous of conception, one other thing
people may not have paid due attention to when it comes to conception is
the issue of sexual position.
This implies that apart from having
frequent sex and taking full advantage of the fertile (ovulation)
period, knowing the right position for both the man and the woman is
just as important. Worthy of note, however, is the fact that the concept
of sexual position and conception has been widely debated and is still
shrouded in some myths.
Interestingly, when it comes to sexual relationship, variety in styles is allowed, and according to thehealthsite.com,
these styles range from missionary, doggy, glowing triangle, magic
mountain, wheelbarrow, cowgirl, spooning, plough style, butterfly to
head over heels, among others. But one style that has been found to aid
conception is the missionary style, which involves the woman lying on
her back and the man on top.
According to some scientists, this
method does not only enable the man to have a deeper penetration, it
also allows the sperm to travel faster and closer to the cervix (the
opening of the womb), noting that the tip of the penis could be as close
to the cervix. They also pointed out that the doggy style could also
achieve same objective by placing the sperm close to the cervix from the
rear end.
Beyond this, when a woman places a
pillow below her hips, it was found that it helps the sperm to travel
deeper towards the direction of the cervix.
A fertility expert, Dr. Marilyn Glenville, told Mail Online
that couples who are desirous of having babies should pay more
attention to the position they take during and immediately after sex,
adding that such could appreciably determine whether the woman would be
pregnant or not. She noted that once the man ejaculates, position plays a
huge role in the movement of sperm to the cervix and the fallopian
tube.
Glenville said, “The man-on-top position
has the best chance of getting a woman pregnant. The rationale is that
this position allows for deep penetration so the man’s sperm can be
ejaculated as close to the cervix (the opening of the womb) as possible.
“This gives the sperm cells a flying
start on their long journey. The closer they are to the ripe egg waiting
in the fallopian tube, several centimeters further up in a woman’s
body, the more likely they are to reach it. This implies that couples
should avoid any position that discourages the sperm’s smooth journey
because it can deter conception.
“If a man enters a woman from behind,
especially if she is kneeling in front of him, she is at an angle, with
her bottom higher than her head (doggy style), it could also encourage
conception. The chances might be maximised if the woman leans the upper
half of her body a little away from her partner, pushing her bottom
against him. The only exception to this would be if the woman has a
retroverted uterus.”
Also, two biologists, Robin Baker and Mark Bellis, told Mail Online
that the strong muscular contractions linked to orgasm tend to create a
partial vacuum that helps to draw the sperm from the vagina to the
cervix, where it would be in a better position to reach an egg.
Even though Glenville didn’t support her
claim with any scientific study, she maintained that the closer the
sperm are to the eggs, the more likely there would be conception.
Meanwhile, experts have advised that
couples hoping for a conception should not stop having sex, both within
and outside the woman’s fertile period, noting that apart from
increasing the chance of conception, it boosts the woman’s immune system
and promotes the type of immunity that could support conception.
The study by some researchers from
Indiana University, found that women who are sexually active experience
beneficial changes to the levels of antibodies secreted by their white
blood cells, which was absent in women who abstained from sex.
Also, a women’s health expert, Donnica Moore, on webmd.com warned
that women who are trying to conceive should avoid having a bath
immediately after sex, noting that douching tends to alter the pH
balance of the vagina as against the alkaline-acid levels needed by the
sperm to live.
Reacting to the study, a consultant
endocrinologist, Dr. Michael Olamoyegun, dismissed the idea that women
should not stand up immediately after sex to allow the retention of
sperm in their private part, saying it could not be true. “It’s a
fallacy that a woman shouldn’t stand up after sex. It doesn’t matter,
and for the sexual position, I’ve not come across any study on it, so I
won’t be able to comment on that,” he added.
Olamoyegun explained that women used to
be seen as being responsible for infertility but that studies had shown
that 40 per cent of the factors responsible for infertility is caused by
women, another 40 per cent by men, 10 per cent is caused by both men
and women and the reason for the remaining 10 per cent is yet unknown.
He added, “Blocked fallopian tube is
another cause of infertility in women, and this could be due to sexually
transmitted diseases, possibly occasioned by the way people now get
involved in unprotected sex, leading to pelvic inflammatory diseases
that could cause obstruction of the fallopian tube. Also, when abortion
is not properly done, it could block the fallopian tube. These are some
of the reasons why there seems to be an increase in infertility rate.”
Also, a nutritionist, Mr. Okunola
Oladimeji, said nutrition and lifestyle had roles to play in the
fertility or otherwise in both men and women. He identified certain food
items that couples should eat and those to avoid for a hitch-free
conception and good sex life.
He added, “Food items that couples
should endeavour to consume regularly, some of which had been found to
increase blood flow, include fruits, vegetables, albumen (egg white),
food rich in Vitamin C, nuts, including walnut, groundnut, etc, and
garlic, which should be in moderate quantity. Of particular importance
is water melon, which has been found to boost sexual powers in men and
women.
“Also, people should avoid include processed food items and yolk (the yellow part of an egg) and others.”
