Scientists say couples who use urine tests to monitor their fertility are more likely to get pregnant.
Women who identified their most fertile days had a 28% chance of getting pregnant each month.
Meanwhile, those who had sex whenever they wanted had an 18% chance of getting pregnant per month.
But a team from the Cochrane Research Institute in London noted that there is evidence that only urine tests work.
That means the jury is still preoccupied with bike tracking apps downloaded by millions of women around the world.
Dr. Tatjana Gibbons, who led the study, noted that more research is needed on the negative effects of timed sex, such as increased stress in couples.
Researchers studying more than 2,000 women found that those who used urine tests to timing sex for their fertile days had a 20-28 percent chance of getting pregnant each month. Meanwhile, those who had sex whenever they wanted had only an 18% chance of getting pregnant each month.
Experts say that couples hoping to have children use fertility-conscious methods; that means using ovulation data when they have sex.
These can come from menstrual-tracking apps that measure your temperature and check for cervical secretions, cramps or menstrual dates, predicting when the ovary is most likely to release an egg.
Couples can also spend over £100 on urine test monitors to find out when they are ovulating.
These are women who urinate on a stick that is placed on a digital monitor and confirms whether they are ovulating.
The tests work by detecting an increase in luteinizing hormone in the urine that occurs when an ovary is released.
The review looked at six studies involving a total of 2,374 women trying to conceive naturally.
The team wanted to determine the impact of timed intercourse on live births, pregnancy rates, gestational age, and quality of life.
They also wanted to track down side effects associated with timed intercourse, such as stress and performance pressure from a lack of spontaneity.
The results, which will be presented today at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Milan, showed that planned sex based on the results of urinary ovulation tests produced the best results.
However, the team could not conclude that sexual intercourse by any means makes a difference in live birth and pregnancy rates.
Data on this was available in only two studies on 160 women, and the evidence was of low quality, the researchers said.
They noted that while benefits appear to exist for couples trying to conceive for less than 12 months, there is insufficient data to determine whether timed sex increases the likelihood of those who have fertility problems and those who have tried for longer.
Dr Gibbons, from Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, said: “This update demonstrates the advantage of timed intercourse through urinary ovulation detection.
“However, more evidence is needed on the adverse effects and efficacy of time association in various groups, such as those with unexplained infertility, before doctors encourage this practice.”
“Future studies should also consider the use of fertility awareness-based methods for couples trying to conceive.”
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
