I have written in the past about how I am continually amazed at all of the events in the human body that must occur in a definite sequence in a definite window of time for conception to take place. When a patient has done all of the appropriate tracking of fertile mucus, temperature, LH surges, etc. and combined that with the most important part–intercourse, I am at a loss to explain to them why another month will go by without a positive test. After seeing how a patients cycles have become regular and normal in every way  (including proper luteal phase) after coming to acupuncture,  I am often frustrated and disappointed right along with my patients.

Although the timing of intercourse does indeed need to be synchronized with ovulation, I am intrigued by some scientific evidence that men’s semen may indeed contain a hormone or chemical that encourages ovulation and helps regulate a woman’s cycles. So for women with irregular or anovulatory cycles, it may be good to have relations throughout the month, as opposed to waiting for fertility signs. This can also be a more relaxed approach to becoming pregnant, which could be good for a relationship.