What role do orgasms play in getting pregnant?

Dear Reader, 

To become pregnant naturally, a sperm needs to fertilize an egg, then implant into the lining of the uterus—no orgasm required!  Historically, many have thought that conception (becoming pregnant) required both partners participating in penile-vaginal intercourse to have an orgasm. This belief likely stemmed from the idea that orgasms united partners, physically or spiritually, which allowed for pregnancy to occur. However, rather than the presence or absence of orgasms, pregnancy is affected by the health of the sperm and the egg. But just because orgasms aren’t necessary for pregnancy doesn’t mean they don’t make the process more enjoyable! 

What’s an orgasm? 

An orgasm is a feeling of intense sexual pleasure that usually happens at the peak of sexual arousal. Orgasms typically feel good because of their effects throughout the body. Some of these effects can include muscles contracting (squeezing) in the penis, vagina, and anus; increases in heartbeat and breathing; and a feeling of euphoria and relaxation.  
For people assigned male as birth (AMAB), orgasms may also be accompanied by ejaculation, or the release of fluids (specifically, semen which typically contains sperm) from the urethra. However, it’s possible for people AMAB to have an orgasm without ejaculation (sometimes called a dry orgasm), as well as to ejaculate without having an orgasm. While ejaculation is possible for people assigned female at birth (AFAB), it’s much less common. 

How does pregnancy occur? 

To get pregnant, sperm must fertilize an egg. During penile-vaginal intercourse, this occurs in the fallopian tubes (the passageways from the ovaries to the uterus). The fertilized egg must then travel to the uterus, where it can implant in the uterine lining and begin growing into an embryo. Ejaculation during penile-vaginal intercourse is thought of as the most common way to become pregnant. However, there are also other egg fertilization methods that can help a person become pregnant. Some people may use approaches such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intracervical insemination (ICI), and intrauterine insemination (IUI) to help them get pregnant. 

Do you and your partner need to have an orgasm to become pregnant? 

As previously mentioned, for people AMAB, ejaculation can occur without orgasm. This means they do not necessarily have to orgasm in order to release their swimmers for action. 

In people AFAB, orgasm also does not need to happen in order to get pregnant. Instead, their menstrual cycle will determine how likely it is that they’ll get pregnant. They’re more likely to get pregnant in the days before and during ovulation. During this timeframe, the ovaries release eggs into the fallopian tubes so they can be fertilized. 

Although some people have theorized that the muscle contractions that happen during orgasm can help move sperm toward the fallopian tubes, there’s no current data to support these claims. However, some research shows that people AFAB tend to have more orgasms in the days around ovulation. This suggests orgasm and conception may have some relation, even if it’s small. 

Are there other ways orgasms can impact your chances of becoming pregnant? 

Having an orgasm doesn’t decrease the likelihood of pregnancy—so even if it doesn’t help, it certainly doesn’t hurt! Orgasms may cause you to enjoy sex more and further your bond with your partner. Since this satisfaction may make you want to have more sex, having orgasms could increase your likelihood of conception just based on frequency of sex. Communicating with your partner about what arouses each other can help make the process more fun for you both. 

If orgasms aren’t necessary but you’re still not getting pregnant, what can you do? 

Tools like ICI, IUI, and IVF can be great options for people having trouble getting pregnant, same-sex couples, and people hoping to become pregnant individually. 

Some people who have trouble getting pregnant may have fertility disorders (sometimes called infertility). This can be affected by differences in sperm, eggs, hormones, and the genitals, as well as by a wide variety of genetic and environmental factors. 

Additionally, some people may have conditions that affect their ability to have orgasms. These conditions may not affect conception directly. However, addressing these may help improve sexual enjoyment, which may help conception in the long run. 

It may be useful to discuss these topics with health care providers who focus on the reproductive systems such as an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) or a urologist. OB-GYNs specialize in pregnancy and reproductive systems that include the vagina, ovaries, and uterus. A urologist is an expert in reproductive systems that include the penis and testes, along with the urinary tract. 

Good luck getting lucky!