Do You Have To Orgasm To Get Pregnant?

Fertility is an issue that's not cut and dry for everyone. There are women who face complications, and women who don't. The questions concerning potential pregnancy are numerous, and so much of it just isn't covered in your basic sexual education. When trying to get pregnant, the questions only grow. Do you have to orgasm to get pregnant? What sex positions are best for conceiving? When do you ovulate?

While I'll leave the sex position research and ovulation calculations to you, I will tell you that no, you do not have to orgasm to get pregnant. However, many doctors in the fertility field do believe it helps. There are two main reasons why.

The first is a theory called the vacuum effect. When you orgasm, your uterus contracts. The argument is that the contraction creates a vacuum, drawing the sperm in after ejaculation. "During orgasm, the uterus dips in the vagina like an anteater and sucks up the semen to further increase the chance of fertilization," said Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD in his book You: Being Beautiful.

This theory has been around for decades. In a study done in the '90s, Dr. Jacky Boivin, from the School of Psychology at Cardiff University found that there is a "significant and direct relationship between the quality of the woman's sexual response and the number of sperm found in the cervical mucus." The stronger the orgasm, the bigger the contraction, the better vacuum effect.

Having an orgasm can also help you conceive, because one of the biggest baby-making blockers happens to be stress. According to psychiatrist Sheenie Ambardar, having an orgasm is scientifically proven to relax you. But beyond relaxation, reproductive physiologist Joanna Ellington told Parents that men who are fully stimulated will ejaculate up to 50 percent more. Enjoying the sex you're having will not only increase pleasure for both you and your partner, it will increase your chances of conceiving.

So the answer is this: No, you don't have to orgasm to get pregnant. Women can definitely conceive without reaching climax. But it sure does help.