What is timed intercourse?

Scheduled sexual intercourse, also known as directed intercourse or timed intercourse, is a simple reproductive technique monitored by a gynaecologist that may be recommended for couples who are having difficulty getting pregnant naturally.

Why might timed intercourse be recommended?

Usually, directed intercourse is recommended to couples who have difficulty getting pregnant because of either unexplained infertility or ovulation disorders. Such couples may be recommended to practice timed intercourse to increase their chances of pregnancy.

Sometimes it is also used for moral or religious reasons, when the couple does not want to resort to other techniques such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or artificial insemination.

What does it consist of?

Timed intercourse involves using ultrasound to assess the woman’s ovarian cycle to determine when the best time for intercourse will be, in the hope that the chances of achieving pregnancy will be at their highest.

Timed intercourse can also involve using medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs or to induce ovulation. These medications are either taken orally, or injected. Time intercourse is often practiced in conjunction with intrauterine insemination (IUI) to increase the odds of fertilisation.

Preparation for timed intercourse

If timed medical intercourse is being practiced with medication, it will be administered at the opportune moment in the woman’s cycle, as determined by various physical examinations.