In 2004 NICE stated in Clinical Guideline ‘11’ that "timing
intercourse to coincide with ovulation causes stress and is not
recommended. People who are concerned about their fertility should be
informed that sexual intercourse every 2 to 3 days optimises the chance of
pregnancy [para 1.1.2.1]".
To support this (surprising) statement they cite a single paper that
refers to postal questionnaires received from 20 women in North America*.
I contacted the authors who were astonished that some of their data had
been used by NICE and J. Wilson wrote that “as a general policy, one
simply cannot support the conclusion not to use timed intercourse, and it
is hard to understand how a research finding can get misapplied so badly
as policy”.
Compared with timed intercourse, surely NICE’s ‘every 2-3 days’
advice will also be stressful, particularly as many of these attempts to
get pregnant each month will be ineffective during the infertile days. Has
a clinical trial of this important advice been done since 2004?
I understand this Guideline was adopted by the RCOG and RCN, and it
is difficult to see why these august Colleges are also (officially)
against timed intercourse whilst many fertility experts are not.
NICE is due to review this Guideline next year but I was told that as
an individual I could not challenge their statement. Nevertheless I do
feel that better evidence is needed to support the advice NICE have given
so far, about whether intercourse should be timed or not.
* Kopitzke EJ, Berg BJ, Wilson JF, Owens D. Physical and emotional
stress associated with components of the infertility investigation:
perspectives of professionals and patients. Fertil Steril 1991;55:1137–43.
Competing interests:
I have co-designed a simple plastic rotary calendar calculator that, based on a woman’s menstrual pattern, will readily indicate a woman’s most fertile days every month and should reduce the stress of timing considerably.
Rapid Response:
Official advice on how to get pregnant
Dear Sir
In 2004 NICE stated in Clinical Guideline ‘11’ that "timing
intercourse to coincide with ovulation causes stress and is not
recommended. People who are concerned about their fertility should be
informed that sexual intercourse every 2 to 3 days optimises the chance of
pregnancy [para 1.1.2.1]".
To support this (surprising) statement they cite a single paper that
refers to postal questionnaires received from 20 women in North America*.
I contacted the authors who were astonished that some of their data had
been used by NICE and J. Wilson wrote that “as a general policy, one
simply cannot support the conclusion not to use timed intercourse, and it
is hard to understand how a research finding can get misapplied so badly
as policy”.
Compared with timed intercourse, surely NICE’s ‘every 2-3 days’
advice will also be stressful, particularly as many of these attempts to
get pregnant each month will be ineffective during the infertile days. Has
a clinical trial of this important advice been done since 2004?
I understand this Guideline was adopted by the RCOG and RCN, and it
is difficult to see why these august Colleges are also (officially)
against timed intercourse whilst many fertility experts are not.
NICE is due to review this Guideline next year but I was told that as
an individual I could not challenge their statement. Nevertheless I do
feel that better evidence is needed to support the advice NICE have given
so far, about whether intercourse should be timed or not.
Yours faithfully
C B Everett cbe@obdisk.co.uk
* Kopitzke EJ, Berg BJ, Wilson JF, Owens D. Physical and emotional
stress associated with components of the infertility investigation:
perspectives of professionals and patients. Fertil Steril 1991;55:1137–43.
Competing interests:
I have co-designed a simple plastic rotary calendar calculator that, based on a woman’s menstrual pattern, will readily indicate a woman’s most fertile days every month and should reduce the stress of timing considerably.
Competing interests: No competing interests