Timed Intercourse

At Perch Fertility, timed intercourse is often one of the first fertility treatment options suggested for couples experiencing difficulties conceiving. It involves carefully timing sexual intercourse to coincide with the woman’s most fertile period, identified through ovulation tracking.

This non-invasive and natural approach is ideal for couples facing mild fertility challenges or unexplained infertility. Our team guides patients on tools like ovulation kits and through ultrasound monitoring to identify precise timing for optimal chance of conception.

How Timed Intercourse Works

Timed intercourse revolves around accurately predicting ovulation—the release of an egg from the ovary. By tracking the woman’s cycle and ovulation patterns, the fertility window can be identified. Sexual activity is then planned to coincide with this fertile window to increase the chance of conception.

Monitoring ovulation can be achieved through various methods, including:

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting: Tracking your daily body temperature can help identify ovulation. A rise in temperature indicates that ovulation has already occurred.
Ovulation Predictor Kits: These over-the-counter tests measure the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. A surge in LH typically occurs 24-36 hours before ovulation.
Ultrasound Monitoring: We may use ultrasounds to visualize your ovaries and track the development of follicles. This can provide a more precise estimate of your ovulation timing.

Once you have identified your fertile window, it's important to engage in sexual intercourse within this timeframe.

Understanding the Timed Intercourse Process

Timed intercourse is a low-intervention treatment option that offers a strategic approach to optimizing your chances of conception.

At Perch Fertility, we offer medical support to enhance the chance of natural conception through timed intercourse. The steps involved in this process are as follows.

Step 1: Initial Evaluation & Testing

Before starting treatment, our fertility specialist will perform standard fertility tests to evaluate your reproductive health. This includes blood tests and ultrasounds to assess hormone levels, ovarian function, and overall reproductive anatomy. For male partners, a semen analysis will be conducted to measure sperm count, motility, and morphology.

Step 2: Start of the Menstrual Cycle

You notify our team once your period starts. If you don’t have a regular period, you may be prescribed progesterone medication to induce menstruation. This helps establish a clear timeline for when fertility medications can begin.

Step 3: Baseline Ultrasound

A baseline ultrasound is conducted to examine your ovaries for any abnormalities, such as large cysts. If the results are normal, we move forward with the treatment cycle. The presence of large cysts may require postponing the cycle for safety reasons.

Step 4: Ovulation Stimulation with Medication

Ovulation is stimulated using fertility medications like Clomid or Letrozole, taken for about 5 days, or injectables, used for up to 12 days. These medications encourage the development of multiple eggs. We will tailor the dosage to ensure optimal follicle development and prevent overstimulation.

Step 5: Monitoring Follicle Growth

Throughout the treatment cycle, we monitor follicle growth through regular ultrasounds and blood tests. Monitoring tests occur every 2-5 days to ensure that the eggs are maturing correctly, allowing for precise timing of ovulation. Adjustments to the medication may be made as needed to support this goal.

Step 6: Trigger Shot

Once the eggs have matured, an hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) trigger shot is administered to induce ovulation within 36-42 hours. This shot signals the follicles to release the eggs, preparing the body for conception.

Step 7: Timed Intercourse

At this point, you will be advised to engage in intercourse during the most fertile window—usually within the 36-42 hours following the trigger shot. Couples are advised to have intercourse daily or every other day for 3 consecutive days to maximize the chance of conception.

Step 8: Progesterone Monitoring

About one week after ovulation, a blood test will measure progesterone levels to confirm ovulation. If progesterone levels are insufficient, supplemental progesterone may be prescribed to support implantation and the development of the uterine lining.

Step 9: Pregnancy Testing

Two weeks after ovulation, a pregnancy test will be administered. It's important to wait the full two weeks, as testing earlier may result in a false positive due to the hCG trigger shot.

Ideal Candidates for Timed Intercourse

Timed intercourse is an excellent option for couples with:

Regular ovulation and no severe fertility issues
Mild male infertility factors, such as slightly low sperm count
Unexplained infertility, where no major underlying cause has been identified

Success Rates for Timed Intercourse

Success rates for timed intercourse depend on several factors, including age, regularity of ovulation, and sperm quality. Younger women with regular cycles tend to have higher success rates. For couples using fertility medications to support timed intercourse, the chances of conception may increase.

Medically Supported Timed Intercourse in Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Timed intercourse with medical assistance is a low-intervention, yet highly effective, option for couples experiencing difficulty conceiving. At Perch Fertility, our expert team carefully monitors and customizes each step to improve your chance of success.

If you're ready to begin your fertility journey, contact Perch Fertility today. Our highly experienced team will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring that you have the best possible chance of achieving pregnancy.

To schedule a consultation with our fertility specialist, please call us at 201-775-0003 or request an appointment online. We are here to answer your questions and provide you with the information and support you need.