Can Different Sex Positions Increase the Risk of Pregnancy?

Unless you’re trying for a baby, thinking about conception when you’re getting down and dirty with a partner (or partners) might be a bit of a vibe killer. There’s lots of myths about ways to get pregnant, whether intentionally or not, but do certain sex positions actually increase your chances of getting pregnant? Read on to find out…

Ovulation is the bodily function of an ovary releasing an egg. Once the egg is released, it will travel down the fallopian tube and wait to be fertilised by sperm. If fertilised, the egg will then attach itself to the lining of the uterus where it will start its journey of growing into a foetus. If the egg is not fertilised, it will move through to the uterus and disintegrate. It is after this that your body starts to shed its uterine lining and your period starts.

In the most simple terms, whenever you want! But if you are actively trying to conceive, you may want to give it a bit more thought than that. It’s actually really tricky to accurately determine the exact point of ovulation, but having sex around then might be a good idea. To try and figure out when you’re ovulating, you could try cycle tracking, taking your temperature or using ovulation tests. They can sometimes take the fun and spontaneity out of sex but hey, if you need to know then you need to know! 

Most people with uteruses tend to have a ‘fertile window’ of about 5 days, usually in the middle of their menstrual cycle. Once released, the egg lasts inside the body for 12-24 hours but sperm can stay inside the body for up to 5 days.

While technically no sex positions have been proved to be the ‘most successful’ at helping people get pregnant, the positions that allow for deeper penetration mean that the sperm gets as close to the cervix as possible. Positions that allow this kind of depth tend to be doggy style or missionary (although everyone’s bodies are different and work differently together) – we say it’s the perfect excuse to try lots of different positions to decide for yourselves which feel best for you! 

And that’s not to say that any of your favourite positions should be ‘off limits’ if you’re trying not to get pregnant. As long as you’re on top (get it) and in full understanding of your contraception, there shouldn’t be any problem with having sex however and whenever you want.

Some say that using a pillow under your hips during sex or tilting your pelvis afterwards to let gravity help with the sperm’s journey can increase the likelihood of getting pregnant, but there is no scientific evidence behind this either. As long as you’re ensuring that ejaculation happens in its entirety inside your body, you’re doing all you can in terms of natural conception.

There are some wider lifestyle choices you can make to help increase your chances of conception, like stopping smoking/vaping and cutting down on caffeine may help, but there’s not enough evidence to say for sure. If you have any questions about what changes might help your fertility journey or any concerns about getting pregnant, we suggest speaking to your GP.

That’s cool too! At ellaOne® we are firm believers in the right to choose – and that includes whether or not you want to have kids. It can feel like women and people with uteruses are expected to raise children, and should have that as their priority above all else. For obvious reasons, not everyone agrees with that. We think these decisions should be completely yours, without scrutiny or judgement.

If you don’t want to have children (either now or in the future), it’s probably a good idea to consider a reliable contraceptive option that works for your body and relationship/s.

If you’ve had unprotected sex while trying for a baby then yay for you! But if you’ve had unprotected sex and don’t want an unplanned pregnancy, then that’s where we come in. ellaOne® is the UK’s best-selling emergency contraceptive pill* and is trusted by millions of women across the UK**.

ellaOne® works by delaying ovulation, so there is no egg to be fertilised by any lingering sperm. You can use ellaOne® up to 120 hours after unprotected sex, but it is most effective the sooner you use it. However, if you have unprotected sex a second time within those 120 hours you will not be protected by the ellaOne® dose and will need a second pill. Despite the nickname ‘morning after pill’, you can use ellaOne at any time of day or night.

ellaOne® 30mg film-coated tablet contains ulipristal acetate and is indicated for emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. Always read the label.

*Verify at ellaone.co.uk/verify

**Based on unit sales April 2015 – Dec 2023 and average number of times 425 emergency contraceptive pill users aged 18-35 said they’d taken it in their life. Verify at ellaone.co.uk/verify