When we talk about scheduled intercourse, you might think it’s about having sex at the exact right time, right? But that’s not quite it! Behind the scheduled intercourse procedure, there’s an entire process to really make things easier and help achieve a pregnancy. So, do you know who can have this procedure and how it’s carried out?
Scheduled intercourse1 is a type of fertility treatment. Let’s say it’s a more simplified form of in vitro insemination done in the lab2. But, of course, sperm insertion happens by natural means. Couples who have some non-apparent form of infertility may be advised to try the scheduled intercourse process. A couple trying to conceive for over a year without success should have tests done, and it’s extremely important that all tests, including the sperm analysis and hysterosalpingography, come back normal. If all tests are good, then the doctor can help with this procedure, which is the initial step and also one of the most effective and affordable.
Scheduled intercourse treatment actually starts with ovulation induction in the woman. One natural, at-home way to induce ovulation is by consuming yam. Some research shows that yam contains substances that induce ovulation. The phytohormone diosgenin found in yam3 stimulates hormone balance in the brain, increasing the chances of conception.
In addition, it’s possible to induce ovulation with oral medications like Clomid or Indux, or even with injectable stimulants like Menopur. When a woman takes the ovulation inducer, she can produce between 2 and 15 follicles per ovary—a reasonably high number, but only one or two of these follicles might actually become a dominant follicle during this phase of scheduled intercourse.
But How to Know When to Have Sex During Scheduled Intercourse
Here’s where the magic of medical technology comes in. After applying or using medication to stimulate the ovaries to produce follicles, ultrasounds are performed. Usually, these are done every 2 days, and as the follicles get bigger, ultrasounds become daily in order to detect the exact day of ovulation—that’s when the couple is advised to have sex on the day the dominant follicle (egg) is about to be released.
How do you know if the egg is good, large, and mature enough to conceive? Typically, the egg can reach 21mm. This is an excellent size for release and fertilization. However, eggs measuring 19mm or 20mm can also be fertilized and lead to pregnancy.
Most scheduled intercourse procedures also use the medication Ovidrel, which causes the egg to be released from the follicle more quickly. So, if you have one or more viable eggs to be fertilized, you can take an HCG (Ovidrel) injection, and in 12 to 24 hours have intercourse (have sex), as mature follicles will have been released.
What if Scheduled Intercourse Doesn’t Work the First Time?
Doctors typically try 3 cycles of scheduled intercourse and, if it doesn’t work, you may be referred to artificial insemination, which is actually more effective because insemination “shortens” the sperm’s journey to the uterus and thus can make pregnancy even easier. However, scheduled intercourse can be successful—and often on the first attempt—since these are couples without an apparent fertility problem who are guided through this initial step. Scheduled intercourse has an average cost of around R$1,800.00, considering consultations, medications, and ultrasounds.
If the couple has health insurance, almost the entire process may be covered and become much more affordable. The success rate of scheduled intercourse is approximately 45% for young, healthy couples and 25 to 30% for couples over 35 years old. One aspect to consider with scheduled intercourse is the possibility of twins. Because ovulation induction can trigger more than one dominant follicle, the couple must be aware of this “bonus” the procedure can bring. A double blessing, in fact.
Therefore, couples with no apparent infertility should speak with a specialist, who may or may not recommend scheduled intercourse, or may even suggest moving directly to artificial insemination. The choice is yours, if your budget allows, of course.
See you next time!
See also: Fertile Period Calculator
