Is There a Best Sex Position to Get Pregnant? Here Are 8 to Try
Ready to start a family? There are no “wrong” sex positions to get pregnant—but there may be a few positions that increase the likelihood of sperm meeting egg. While the scientific proof may be scant, there’s no harm in giving them a whirl. (You know, for curiosity’s sake!) You’ve got nothing to lose, and maybe a baby to gain. Find out about the best sex positions to get pregnant, here—we’ve even included instructions and a handy visual aid.
You might be wondering: What is the best sex position to get pregnant? “There are no known ‘Cirque du Soleil’ sexual positions that have been medically proven to help get you pregnant, but there is a healthy intuition that certain positions improve the fertility footprint in helping the egg and sperm meet up in the fallopian tube,” says Sherry Ross, MD, women’s sexual health expert and author of She-ology and She-ology, the She-quel. “Since the cervix is the gateway into the uterus and fallopian tube, it would make sense to have the sperm as close as possible to the cervix to help it swim up towards the eggs.” To that end, she recommends positions with deeper penetration, such as missionary and reverse cowgirl. Try some of the ideas below:
Missionary
Tried and true, missionary might just be the best position to get pregnant. It puts gravity in your favor, says Nita Landry, MD, an ob-gyn, TV host and author of Dr. Nita’s Crash Course for Women: Better Sex, Better Health, Better You. “In woman-on-top positions, the sperm has to swim upstream, but man on top allows sperm to flow into your vaginal opening and toward your cervix,” she says. For added effectiveness, place a pillow underneath your bottom, which can give an even more favorable angle for sperm.
From behind (aka doggie style)
“Any position that allows deep penetration can help the sperm get as close to the cervix as possible and may make conception more [likely],” Landry says. This position, where a man enters a woman as she rests on all fours, does exactly that.
Legs on shoulders
A twist on missionary—in which a woman hooks her legs on her partner’s shoulders during intercourse—this position allows sperm to get as close to the cervix as possible while also having the benefit of gravity, Landry says.
CAT (Coital alignment technique)
Missionary not your thing? This position may be effective in assisting female orgasm (which, to be clear, is not a factor in conception, but it’s an added bonus!) while letting sperm swim downstream. The woman splays out her knees so the man’s lower torso fits between. Then, instead of thrusting, the man and woman rock their pelvises together in rhythm—which still gives you the gravity-assisting effect of missionary.
Reverse cowgirl
About a quarter of women have a tipped or retroverted uterus, and if you’re among them, this might be the best sex position to get pregnant. Here, the woman sits on her partner facing away from him, providing a unique angle of entry. Chances are, you don’t know whether you have a retroverted uterus or not, so why not try this position anyway, just in case (and just for fun).
Side-by-side scissors
In this position, you lie side by side, facing each other, as the male partner enters the woman. This position can also give the deep entry that may help the sperm quickly reach the cervix.
Rear entry
As the woman lies on her stomach, the man enters her from behind. This position may help the penis reach more deeply in the vaginal opening than missionary position, according to a Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy study, which (believe it or not) documented the findings with an MRI.
Wheelbarrow
You don’t have to be a yogi or gymnast to try this one, but it’s admittedly among the more adventurous sex positions to get pregnant. The woman gets into position, as if she were about to be the wheelbarrow in a wheelbarrow race—hands either on the floor or bed (she can also rest on her elbows). The man holds the woman’s legs and lines up his thighs between hers, entering from behind, which allows for the deep penetration that can bring the sperm closer to the egg.
“While no position will guarantee conception, I tell patients to consider positions that help take advantage of gravity,” says Landry. “But the position doesn’t matter nearly as much as being healthy before you begin trying.” She advises that both you and your partner make a preconception appointment to discuss your health and lifestyle habits.
Once you’ve checked that appointment off your list, preconception prep also includes knowing when you’re ovulating by keeping an ovulation calendar and being aware of potential ovulation clues. On the days that you’re fertile (usually five days leading up to ovulation and 24 hours after), Landry advises having sex every other day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you lie down or get up after sex to improve your chances of conceiving?
Not all doctors are in consensus about this one, but Ross recommends lying down for a bit if you can. Moreover, a British Medical Journal study found that 27 percent of women who remained lying down after intrauterine insemination (IUI) became pregnant, compared to 18 percent of women who got up immediately after the procedure. While this study focused on women receiving a fertility treatment in which sperm is injected directly into the uterus, the advantage may also apply to good old-fashioned intercourse.
Should you lift your legs or elevate your hips to boost the chances of conception?
Again, there’s no concrete scientific evidence here, but you might as well. “[Lying] flat on your back and [tilting] your pelvis upwards, [with a] pillow under your hips for 20 to 30 minutes, allows the sperm time to swim up into the fallopian tubes, where fertilization takes place,” says Ross. “During this time, you can also have an orgasm, which [may] also help propel sperm in the right direction.”
Does peeing after sex affect your chances of conceiving?
“Peeing after sex doesn’t affect chances [of] conceiving as urine exits the body through the urethra and not the vagina,” says Alejandra Lucatero, LCSW, a Honolulu-based social worker specializing in sexual health.
Does being in the shower affect your chances of conceiving?
Lucatero says that while showering can wash sperm off the body, it doesn’t wash off sperm that’s ejaculated inside the body. “Having shower sex or taking a shower shouldn’t impact chances of conceiving,” she says.
Does being in a hot tub affect your chances of conceiving?
Experts don’t recommend trying one of your favorite sex positions to get pregnant in a hot tub, sauna or jacuzzi. “Being in a hot tub influences penis owners more than it does vulva owners,” explains Lucatero. “The penis is located outside of the body because the testicles require cooler temperatures to produce sperm, which would not be possible if the penis were located internally because of warm body temperatures. Therefore, frequent exposure to hot tubs influences short-term sperm production.”
Now that you know all about the best sex positions to get pregnant, it might be time to try out a few. Just remember that many other factors affect your fertility. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your chances of conceiving.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Nita Landry, MD, is an ob-gyn, TV host and author of Dr. Nita’s Crash Course for Women: Better Sex, Better Health, Better You. She was co-host of the Emmy Award-winning talk show The Doctors for six seasons. She earned her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.
Alejandra Lucatero, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in sexual health at the Hawaii Center for Sexual and Relationship Health in Honolulu.
Sherry Ross, MD, is an ob-gyn and women’s sexual health expert. She’s the author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health. Period. and She-ology, the She-quel: Let's Continue the Conversation. She received her medical degree from New York Medical College.
Cleveland Clinic, Retroverted Uterus, July 2022
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Sexual Intercourse: Second Experience in Missionary Position and Initial Experience in Posterior Position, January 2011
British Medical Journal, Immobilisation Versus Immediate Mobilisation After Intrauterine Insemination: Randomised Controlled Trial, October 2009
Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.
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