Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
|
|
 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Swimming after Intercourse When Trying to Conceive | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
When trying to conceive, are you allowed to go swimming after intercourse?
— Pest | | | ANSWER |
July 16, 2002 | | | Dear Pest,
When a couple has had difficulty getting pregnant, the woman may be advised to lie down after intercourse so that the sperm don't have to fight gravity as they make their way to the egg. I don't think that there is scientific evidence of this improving the chances of getting pregnant, but many people want to feel that they are doing everything possible to aid conception, especially if they are already traveling down the disheartening and frustrating road of fertility problems. If you have been advised to practice certain behaviors due to a problem with conception, it is probably best to follow your fertility team's recommendations.
For most couples, though, getting pregnant isn't difficult, and no special arrangements need to be made beyond depositing the man's semen into the woman's vagina. Generally, the sperm reach the cervix within seconds of ejaculation. Even douching, where the vagina is rinsed out, can't prevent pregnancy after intercourse. Add to that the fact that water doesn't really enter far into the vagina during bathing or swimming, and you can be confident that a refreshing dip in the pool or ocean won't delay that baby you want to take swimming with you next summer.
Good luck!— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
|
