Peeing after sex is something you've probably heard a lot of times as it can prevent urinary tract infections or UTIs, hence, you may be unsure if this is a practice you should persist in if trying to conceive. After all, if you're trying to conceive, lying down flat after sex is suggested to maximize the chances of conception.
Monica Grover, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), OBGYN, and Chief Medical Officer at VSPOT, says that the concept of peeing after sex as it can affect the ability of one to get pregnant is only a myth. Emphasizing that peeing after sex does not lessen the chances of conceiving; When sperm is ejaculated, it is at a both very fast and strong force and is also highly concentrated in the average male. Therefore, despite the gravitational pull upon urination along with some loss of seminal fluid, there is still a negligible impact on the concentration of the sperm within the vaginal canal that impair the chances of conception.
Karla Robinson, M.D., a family medicine physician and medical editor at Good Rx, says that peeing does not affect any conception after all as the pee comes from a different area than where sperm is deposited.
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"The pee leaves the body from the urethra"
Experts noted that peeing after cannot be used as a contraceptive method and won't harm the chances of conception. Basically, as soon as the sperm is deposited in the vaginal canal, you can get pregnant, and peeing after sex won't oust that sperm.
Dr. Robinson says that peeing after sex can surely kill sperm or wash it away before conception or peeing can be used as birth control is all false. Adding that it's very important not to use peeing after sex as a way to prevent conception and rather turn to a medically-approved method of birth control such as Intrauterine devices or IUDs, birth control pills, and condoms. Suggesting connecting with a healthcare provider to discuss safe options that are best for you.
Dr. Robinson added that the pee leaves the body from the urethra which is only a small opening right above the vaginal opening. Thus, any sperm deposited after sex goes directly into the vaginal canal and doesn't mix with urine. Further, the urine does not leave the body through the vagina as there is another opening for that, per Very Well Family.
Does lying down will help when trying to get pregnant?
Many individuals believe the myth that peeing after sex is a bad idea as they believe that if you stand up, the semen will only leak from the body and there will only be fewer sperm available to fertilize the egg. However, Dr. Robinson explains that this myth does not have enough proof. There's also no proof that positioning has any influence on the chances of conception which includes either the positioning during the sexual interaction or laying in a certain position after sex.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine's (ASRM) committee comments on optimizing natural fertility which asserts that there is no scientific foundation to back up the claim that lying down increases the chance of conception. ASRM added that the sperm quickly reaches the fallopian tubes within minutes after conception or sometimes takes only 2 minutes.
Even though there is no association between peeing after sex and getting pregnant, there may be a connection between peeing after sex and preventing UTIs. In fact, UTIs are very common specifically among those with female anatomy, with 40 percent sustaining a UTI at some point in their lives.
Moreover, peeing does not prevent one from pregnancy. If trying to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, take an emergency conception, Planned Parenthood says.
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