Healthy Living

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The return of the old-fashioned fertility treatment: Daily sex could be the key

Remember back in the old days when the treatment for infertility was thought to be simply having a lot of sex? Those days seem to be back.

This time around, though, the reasoning is not just that the more you do it, the more sperm will make their way to the waiting egg, and the more likely you will be to conceive. A new study finds that having daily sex could actually improve the health of the sperm and therefore improve the chances of conception. These days, it's not about quantity as much as quality.

This study may answer recent debates over whether men should abstain from sex for a few days before trying to conceive.

Australian researchers say that their study of 118 men who were evaluated to have sperm with higher than average DNA damage revealed that daily sex significantly improved the quality of the sperm. They believe that more frequent ejaculation moves sperm more swiftly out of the testicular ducts, where DNA damage can occur. While the volume of sperm was shown to decrease due to all the sexual activity, the increased health of the sperm outweighed any concern over that.

The lead researcher reported that the study may be good news for couples trying to conceive, stating, "It seems safe to conclude that couples with relatively normal semen parameters should have sex daily for up to a week before the ovulation date."

There are a lot of dos and don'ts circulating at this point in time for couples trying to conceive. Is having daily sex one more thing on the big list of conception stuff to consider? Or would you take more frequent sex seriously after reading about research like this?



Things that are not doing his fertility any favors:


More stuff that could be the fertility boost you need:


[photo credit: Getty Images]

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 23
  • Emily L's Avatar
    Posted by Emily L Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:47pm PDT

    THAT IS SO CRAZY I REALLY GOT TO TRY AND HAVE SEX ALOT MORE OFTEN SO I GUEST IMA TRY IT BUT THAT KOO!!!!! ;)

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  • MS's Avatar
    Posted by MS Wed Jul 1, 2009 6:16am PDT

    What couple who's been married for 12 yrs actually still has sex every single day? Hubby and I still have an active, healthy sex life, but we have neither the desire, nor the time to do it every freaking day.

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  • Juel's Avatar
    Posted by Juel Wed Jul 1, 2009 6:37am PDT

    my husband and i have been having sex since we got married with no protection (been married for 4 years). we have a healthy sex life, but we only have one child. the ironic thing is during the time i got pregnant with her we were having sex everyday. so it's funny to read this article.

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  • Apple's Avatar
    Posted by Apple Wed Jul 1, 2009 7:07am PDT

    I would concur...

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  • Gino's Avatar
    Posted by Gino Wed Jul 1, 2009 7:55am PDT

    A few years ago I was watching an interview with a fertility expert who had just opened shop in my hometown and the first question he was asked was, what is the main cause of infertility?, and he jokingly replied, "lack of trying". He then went on to explain that one of the first things he did with new patients was explaining to them that there are days and positions that can increase the possibility of conception. Now, one thing I have read over and over, is that when couples are trying to conceive they should have intercourse every other day, not everyday.

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  • Deedle's Avatar
    Posted by Deedle Wed Jul 1, 2009 8:01am PDT

    from my linited knowdgle,,a tad pole ejected from male apandage,in to the vagina of a female,when a oosphere is comming down the pipe, if the two come together,and move on to the womb, you could bcome pregnant,,and the egg come down the pipe once /mo,,

    a male tadpole count deminishes ,with each ejecton,,still it only takes one to do the job,,so daily gettin it on is a crap shoot if you are trying to have a baby,,my second one came ,after the wife,consulted a doctor,because she was not getting pregnant,again,and we were gettin it on every night,, she checked her tempture hourly,and according to the doctor a sudden change in tempture meant rhe egg was comming down the pipe,,a daughter was born 9 mo later.A female friend would love to get pregnant,but concluded,she was baren,,checking with my doctor,she discovered se was a ok ,,and the doc had the husband to eject a sample which was extremly low in tad pole count,,after a bout a mounth of obstaining,and some other things,,his wife consieved,and delivered a boy,, my daughter had an egg and a tad pole hang up in the tube,,did not move on down to the womb,,the tube was cleared and she later delivered a boy..A nurse told me I COULD get it on with my orental girl friend for A FEW DAYS days AFTER her period,WITH NO FEAR OF GETTING HER PREGNANT,,kids with one arm longer than the other,, trying to hang on till after the wedding

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  • Morgan's Avatar
    Posted by Morgan Wed Jul 1, 2009 10:08am PDT

    I'm sorry but it is just a bunch of bull sahit to me!

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  • tin-tin's Avatar
    Posted by tin-tin Wed Jul 1, 2009 10:14am PDT

    i am complete with you Deedle. because having sex everyday is not what i have had heard on another study. and just be practical that women's eggs are not active every damn day. the reason why they want you to have sex everyday so you won't miss the day when the woman is fertile.

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  • Marcia H's Avatar
    Posted by Marcia H Wed Jul 1, 2009 11:47am PDT

    Why is this any surprise to anyone? Sex is what makes a baby

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  • jasonb's Avatar
    Posted by jasonb Wed Jul 1, 2009 12:01pm PDT

    Who cares if it boosts fertility???? More sex is great any way you slice it!

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Comments 1-10 of 23

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