Old Wives Tales or Good Advice?

[millefleur]

So I had an appt. with my NMW today. What do you think of the following pearls of wisdom she gave me?

- Don't get up to pee right after sex while TTC. Stay flat in bed to let the sperm do their job.

- Abstain from sex for four days prior to ovulation time. This will mean there are more sperm at the ready when I'm fertile.

- Make sure DP stops smoking MJ because (she literally said this) "it kills sperm!" (he only does this on occasion and I have not been able to find any proof that this is actually true)

I have heard all of this advice before, but have never found any conclusive evidence to back it up in my prior research. I don't know, it just sort of sounds...old fashioned maybe? I mean, I'll try it, it can't hurt, but just wondering what you ladies thought. She didn't seem too concerned that we have been trying for 8 months. This was her only advice.

[Dana_305]

Hmmm, I can't speak to the second item but I can say probably to #1 and most definitely to #3.

There's nothing conclusive to say that standing up or jumping around or standing on your head immediately after DTD will or will not impede your TTC efforts but based on basic body mechanics it probably couldn't hurt to stay on your back with your hips elevated (or maybe on your belly or side if you have a tilted uterus) after DTD because your body forms a pool to hold the semen at the base of the cervical opening and the cervix dips down into that pool and in go the sperm (which is why an orgasm helps when TTC unless you're using reproductive technology that deposits sperm directly into the uterus).

As to #3, this theory was proven positive for my by the conception and birth of my nephew. My SIL's BF smoked alot of pot, my SIL nagged and nagged until he cut back (I don't think he stopped altogether) his use. All the while they were having massive amounts of sex (for years) w/o any birth control, but apparently he wasn't fertile until he cut back his use of pot because after she very quickly became pregnant. I would not, however, use pot as a sole means of birth control because it seems to take quite a bit to make a man completely infertile, while moderate usage may have varying effects on fertility.

[buttercups.nest]

Originally Posted by millefleur

- Don't get up to pee right after sex while TTC. Stay flat in bed to let the sperm do their job.

I did this with both my kids....it makes sense to me...the whole gravity thing. I usually put a pillow under my bum and read a book

Originally Posted by millefleur

- Abstain from sex for four days prior to ovulation time. This will mean there are more sperm at the ready when I'm fertile.

I have heard the truth to this is that sperm only lives for a certain amount of time. If you have sex before you ovulate you could miss it.

I have no references to back this up though! Just what I've heard.

[jenger]

Here's my take on it, from my limited experience......

Originally Posted by millefleur

- Don't get up to pee right after sex while TTC. Stay flat in bed to let the sperm do their job.

Makes a it of sense - lying down is possibly easier for the sperm to swim, and peeing could push some of them out, especially if you 'push' when you are peeing... Not too big a TTC taboo...

Originally Posted by millefleur

- Abstain from sex for four days prior to ovulation time. This will mean there are more sperm at the ready when I'm fertile.

Only if you DP has a low sperm count, really. In fact some studies find that sperm motility decreases as a man abstains from ejaculating - the older 'guys' don't make it... Besides that, I am always worried about missing the window! We still have sperm at o day! (Albeit, a it less!)

Originally Posted by millefleur

- Make sure DP stops smoking MJ because (she literally said this) "it kills sperm!" (he only does this on occasion and I have not been able to find any proof that this is actually true)

I doubt is KILLS sperms, it just makes 'em slow, they wander, not exactly sure of where they will end up next... I doubt occasional pot smoking will ruin you chances... If you (he) enjoys it, maybe wait for a few months...

Apparently 8 months isn't that long, but we've been trying for 6, and it feels like an eternity!!!

Hope this month is your month, and that my comments, however uneducated they are, are helpful!

[outlier]

Don't get up to pee right after sex while TTC. Stay flat in bed to let the sperm do their job.

I'm sure at the very least this wouldn't hurt, plus it's easy to do, but I thought I'd throw in my one and only relevant experience here. After dh and I did the deed that got me pregnant last month, I was on the toilet literally within 30 seconds of him making his "deposit," doing kegels while I peed. I cleaned really well with wet wipes too, basically doing everything I could do ensure a complete dump of said deposit. I even checked the toilet when I was done, and it looked like it all came out.

Well, it's pretty obvious now they didn't all come out, and I have a new respect for how speedy (and long-lived) those little suckers can be. I think in the future when we actually TTC, I probably won't do this because I know for us it's not necessary.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by millefleur

1- Don't get up to pee right after sex while TTC. Stay flat in bed to let the sperm do their job.

2- Abstain from sex for four days prior to ovulation time. This will mean there are more sperm at the ready when I'm fertile.

3- Make sure DP stops smoking MJ because (she literally said this) "it kills sperm!" (he only does this on occasion and I have not been able to find any proof that this is actually true)

1- well.. it wont hurt if you wait about 15 minutes but don't wait too long or you put yourself at risk of a urinary tract infection! Most of the little spermies get where they are headed within that time frame anyway.

2- MANY recent studies have proven this to actually hinder chances of pregnancy. Even in a man with sperm count issues, 4 day seems sort of extreme.

Recently I read a study which said in a healthy man with healthy sperm count 1 to 2 times per day for a week leading up to O actually INCREASES sperm count and quality. Just make sure to have at least 12 hours between each time for the sperm count to get back up to a good level.

3- If that were true in ANY sense there is no way I would have gotten pregnant the first two times I did as the father was smoking MJ DAILY. Every now and then shouldn't do anything at all.

[luv-my-boys]

]So I had an appt. with my NMW today. What do you think of the following pearls of wisdom she gave me?

- Don't get up to pee right after sex while TTC. Stay flat in bed to let the sperm do their job.

Its a gravity thing. They also suggest that you slightly elevate your bum with a pillow to help keep the "guys" in.

- Abstain from sex for four days prior to ovulation time. This will mean there are more sperm at the ready when I'm fertile.

I wonder if she is referring to a study that was done some time ago. Sorry I dont remember the name of it but it showed that basically sperm fluid quanitity was more after a few days of abstaining. However the quality of them was slightly diminished. Meaning you had more of them but also had more that werent so great.

- Make sure DP stops smoking MJ because (she literally said this) "it kills sperm!" (he only does this on occasion and I have not been able to find any proof that this is actually true)

hmmm, never heard that they kill them but it seems logical that perhaps they wouldnt be of the best quaility (i e good swimmers)

I have heard all of this advice before, but have never found any conclusive evidence to back it up in my prior research. I don't know, it just sort of sounds...old fashioned maybe? I mean, I'll try it, it can't hurt, but just wondering what you ladies thought. She didn't seem too concerned that we have been trying for 8 months. This was her only advice]

[Sweetmama26]

LOL to #3 its not true at ALL. Don't worry about the sperm motility in MJ users, that's just anti marijuana propoganda and a lot of the mainstream "findings" have been proven false. As for the other two I'm not sure.

[Stevi]

#1... As most of the others have posted, this makes sense. It gives more time for more sperm to get where they need to go.

#2... I think the more you DTD, the better. Unless your partner has a low sperm count and a Dr. suggests differently.

#3... I think this is probably true. It seems to be true for cigarette smokers. I think any substance you put in your body can have an effect on sperm. All of us TTCers are constantly looking into our diets, medications, supplements, emotional health, everything to see how it affects our fertility. Why should male fertility be any different?

[PhotoJournMama]

I just finished reading the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" so I can share the advice I gleamed from there and from my own personal choices.

1. The book suggests that there is some speculation that the best position for intercourse is missionary, which allows for the deepest penetration and will deposit sperm close to the cervix and then to remain lying down for UP TO 30 minutes - I wouldn't wait any longer than that because you risk getting a UTI. I usually wait 5-10 mins myself.

2. For men with low sperm counts, it is suggested that they keep ejaculation to a maximum frequency of once every 48 hours. That will help increase sperm counts.

3. All they say about marijuana is that it may suppress sperm production. In women it has been shown to have an efect on the ability to conceive and nurture and embryo. I agree with a stevi - we are constantly analyzing our diets and lifestyles to see what we could improve upon.

[millefleur]

Thanks everyone!

It's not that I necessarily felt she was making it up or anything, I just felt that she was giving me somewhat outdated or unproven information. As a medical professional (a nurse) I would have hoped she would be more factual (and current) in her advice-giving.

In my own research (TCOYF included in my reading) I have seen conflicting reports on the efficacy of #1 and #2, and no conclusive evidence of #3, so I was a bit miffed that she was presenting this information to me as absolute medical fact, rather than just her opinion.

I am definitely prone to UTI's so I feel like I shouldn't lie down for too long, though yes, it can't hurt to try it for a little while. But from what I've read the ones who are going to get there are pretty much going to get where they need to go right off the bat.

And it certainly can't hurt for DP to lay off the MJ, though I too have seen heavy MJ users (male) conceive at the drop of a hat. I don't use it.

I guess coming from a research background I am always looking for empirical evidence rather than anecdotal. That said, I think both have a place, and I really appreciate your taking the time to respond! Thanks!

[millefleur]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

1- well.. it wont hurt if you wait about 15 minutes but don't wait too long or you put yourself at risk of a urinary tract infection! Most of the little spermies get where they are headed within that time frame anyway.

2- MANY recent studies have proven this to actually hinder chances of pregnancy. Even in a man with sperm count issues, 4 day seems sort of extreme.

Recently I read a study which said in a healthy man with healthy sperm count 1 to 2 times per day for a week leading up to O actually INCREASES sperm count and quality. Just make sure to have at least 12 hours between each time for the sperm count to get back up to a good level.

3- If that were true in ANY sense there is no way I would have gotten pregnant the first two times I did as the father was smoking MJ DAILY. Every now and then shouldn't do anything at all.

I was hoping you would weigh in on the matter! You always have great advice!

[millefleur]

Originally Posted by jenger

Apparently 8 months isn't that long, but we've been trying for 6, and it feels like an eternity!!!

Hope this month is your month, and that my comments, however uneducated they are, are helpful!

Thank you! And good luck to you too! I know they usually say a year, but to me it started to feel like a long time around 6 mos., especially since I had a m/c before and I'm turning 34 very soon! I think it's OK for us to start to look for answers when it feels like it has been taking a while. I mean, I'm not going to head off to the fertility specialists just yet, but certainly hoping to figure out what the delay might be about.

[Monarchgrrl]

Here's some new info on the MJ-sperm link.

[Sweetmama26]

That article reminds me of when researchers decided to smoke out chimps and forgot to give them oxygen.

[Monarchgrrl]

Huh? Really? No where in there did it say that they ran tests where the sperm was only subjected to MJ smoke. All they are speculating on is why sperm reacts negatively to MJ. It's just stating a possible theory. One can be all pro-MJ but it doesn't mean that just because one likes something that it doesn't possibly affect fertility. Everything you consume/breathe affects your body to some degree.

[TheDivineMrsM]

Originally Posted by millefleur

So I had an appt. with my NMW today. What do you think of the following pearls of wisdom she gave me?

- Don't get up to pee right after sex while TTC. Stay flat in bed to let the sperm do their job.

- Abstain from sex for four days prior to ovulation time. This will mean there are more sperm at the ready when I'm fertile.

- Make sure DP stops smoking MJ because (she literally said this) "it kills sperm!" (he only does this on occasion and I have not been able to find any proof that this is actually true)

I have heard all of this advice before, but have never found any conclusive evidence to back it up in my prior research. I don't know, it just sort of sounds...old fashioned maybe? I mean, I'll try it, it can't hurt, but just wondering what you ladies thought. She didn't seem too concerned that we have been trying for 8 months. This was her only advice.

1) Sounds reasonable. But after 15 minutes or so, feel free to pee if you have to. At that point all the swimmers are up where they need to be, and still help prevent UTIs.

2) I was under the impression that sex ever 12-48 hours was fine. Abstaining for that long before O could mean that you miss it, esp. if your cycles are irregular.

3) Well, if tobacco smoke kills sperm, I'm not surprised that MJ also has a negative effect. DH decided to stop smoking weed b/c of this. I've known pot smokers that have gotten pregnant, but if you're actively TTC, both partners should make an effort to create a healthy environment for the future baby. But that's my $0.02.

[Sweetmama26]

Originally Posted by Monarchgrrl

Huh? Really? No where in there did it say that they ran tests where the sperm was only subjected to MJ smoke. All they are speculating on is why sperm reacts negatively to MJ. It's just stating a possible theory. One can be all pro-MJ but it doesn't mean that just because one likes something that it doesn't possibly affect fertility. Everything you consume/breathe affects your body to some degree.

As someone who got pregnant by a pot smoker more then once, I'm fairly certain POT does not affect sperm. Its the job of BIG pharma and the government to find reasons why pot is bad.

[Monarchgrrl]

Of course plenty of people will still get pregnant by MJ users. Cigarettes affect fertility too, but there are plenty of people that get pregnant while smoking or by smokers. The questions isn't "Is it still possible to get pregnant?" It's "Can using MJ negatively affect sperm?"

[Sweetmama26]

Please tell me exactly how a herb that has no chemical alterations other then what it grows naturally in the dirt can have a negative affect on your sperm count? That's like saying Poppy seeds will alter your sperm because they are part of the opium family.

ETA: Tobacco itself without all the chemicals pumped into it to make it addictive wouldn't hurt your sperm either, its all the chemicals that they put into it.