Timed Intercourse
Timed Intercourse is the most natural low complexity technique: we monitor your cycle to identify the exact fertile day. It works for specific cases, not for everyone. We confirm whether it fits your case at the First Consultation.
Timed Intercourse is the assisted reproduction technique closest to natural conception. The medical team monitors the woman's cycle with ultrasounds and, once the exact ovulatory peak is identified, indicates the optimal moment for the couple to have sexual relations. There is no lab, no catheter, no invasive procedure: the body does all the work, only the when is chosen better.
It is important to say it clearly: this technique is not for everyone. It works in very specific profiles, mainly young couples with irregular ovulation and no other diagnoses. For cases with male factor, advanced age, endometriosis or prolonged search, insemination or IVF are the indicated options, not this one.
That is why we always start with the First Consultation. If your case fits, Timed Intercourse can be the first step. If not, we tell you honestly which technique suits you and why.
- 0-20% Success per cycle (under 35)
- 0-4 Max cycles before reshaping
- Minimal Invasiveness and intervention
Three advantages of Timed Intercourse
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The most natural technique
No lab, no procedures. Fertilization happens inside the body, through the couple's sexual relations, just as in spontaneous conception. Medical support only sharpens the timing.
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Precise identification of fertile day
With transvaginal ultrasounds and hormonal analysis we measure follicular growth and detect the ovulatory peak with a margin of hours. Without that precision, natural search works less well.
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First step of the path
For profiles with a clear diagnosis and no aggravating factors, it is the logical first intervention. If it doesn't work, it gives information to escalate to the next level with clinical data.
The cycle, not luck
In a natural cycle, the fertile day lasts approximately 24 hours. Finding it without medical assistance is difficult: home methods (basal temperature, ovulation tests) have a margin of error, and many couples who think they are searching well are actually off-timing.
Timed Intercourse solves that with clinical precision. The follicular phase is monitored with 3 to 5 ultrasounds and, when the follicles reach the optimal size, a trigger injection (hCG) is administered that fires ovulation in 36 to 40 hours. The couple has relations within that exact window.
It is the same biology as a natural conception, but with sharpened timing. The body does everything else.
Your path is unique. So is your plan.
We design a protocol tailored to you after understanding your story and your previous tests. No generic diagnoses or protocols.
Profiles where Timed Intercourse has real chances
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Women under 35
Biological age favors oocyte quality. After 35, rates drop so much that this technique stops being efficient and escalation is recommended.
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Mild anovulation or irregular cycles
When ovulation is not regular, light stimulation and medical monitoring order the cycle and multiply the chances of each attempt.
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Patent tubes and healthy uterus
We confirm this with an initial study (hysterosalpingography or similar). Without functional tubes, this technique has no chance.
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No significant male factor
The semen analysis must show concentration, motility and morphology within normal parameters. With male factor, insemination or ICSI is indicated instead.
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Recent search (less than 1 year)
If you have been trying for 2-3 years without success, this technique probably won't solve it. It means there is an unidentified factor and it is better to investigate first.
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No aggravating diagnoses
Moderate or severe endometriosis, fibroids, low ovarian reserve, or history of recurrent losses disqualify this technique as a first option.
When it's better to skip this step
We say this clearly because we think about your time, not the service catalog. If your profile fits any of these cases, Timed Intercourse means losing a month you can't afford:
Women over 35, especially near 38–40, where every cycle counts. Low ovarian reserve, where the number of available eggs is already limited. Moderate or severe male factor, where nature cannot compensate for sperm quality. Significant endometriosis, where the uterine environment requires intervention. Prolonged search (more than 1 year without success), where insisting on the natural path when it hasn't worked has little clinical basis.
In these cases, the honest indication is to skip to Artificial Insemination or directly to IVF, depending on the diagnosis. We tell you that openly at the First Consultation.
Seven steps in a cycle of approximately one month
1. Initial diagnosis. We confirm with semen analysis, hormonal profile, ultrasound and tubal review that your case is a candidate. Without this step, no cycle starts.
2. Day 1 of the cycle. The first day of menstruation is the reference point for programming ultrasounds and medication.
3. Baseline ultrasound (days 2–5). We verify ovarian reserve, rule out cysts, and confirm the cycle starts well.
4. Stimulating medication. Oral treatment (clomiphene) or mild injectable (gonadotropins) to ensure the growth of one or two follicles. The dose is adjusted to your individual response.
5. Follicular monitoring. Between 3 and 5 ultrasounds throughout the cycle to track follicle size and endometrial thickness. When the dominant follicle reaches 18–22 mm, it is ready.
6. Trigger injection (hCG). A single dose that fires ovulation in 36 to 40 hours. We tell you the exact moment to schedule relations (typically between 24 and 36 hours after).
7. Progesterone test. A week later we confirm that ovulation occurred. Two weeks after intercourse, blood pregnancy test.
If it doesn't work in 3 or 4 cycles, the strategy must change
Timed Intercourse is evaluated in a short window. If after 3 to 4 consecutive cycles there is no pregnancy, the chances of success in further attempts drop sharply. Insisting beyond that range without reshaping means losing biological months.
In those cases the indication is to escalate to Artificial Insemination or directly to IVF, depending on the updated diagnosis. It is not a failure of the technique: it is the clinical information we needed to define the next step. See High Complexity
Frequently asked questions about Timed Intercourse
What is the success rate of Timed Intercourse?
Between 15% and 20% per cycle in women under 35 with a favorable diagnosis. The rate drops significantly with age and other medical factors (male factor, endometriosis, low ovarian reserve). That is why a maximum of 3 to 4 cycles is planned before reassessing the strategy.
How is it different from trying on our own on fertile days?
In precision. Home methods (basal temperature, ovulation tests, cycle apps) have a margin of error of 24 to 48 hours, and many couples who think they are searching well are actually outside the fertile window. Medical monitoring identifies the ovulatory peak with clinical precision.
Who is NOT a candidate for this technique?
Women over 35, with low ovarian reserve, moderate or severe male factor, significant endometriosis, blocked tubes, history of recurrent losses, or prolonged unsuccessful search. In all those cases the indication is to skip directly to insemination or IVF.
How many attempts should we do before escalating?
Maximum 3 to 4 cycles. After that range, chances drop so much that insisting usually means losing time. If pregnancy was not achieved, the team evaluates moving to insemination or IVF based on the updated diagnosis.
Does the medication have side effects?
The most common with clomiphene are mild hot flashes, mood changes, or breast tenderness. With injectable gonadotropins there may be mild abdominal discomfort from follicular growth. We discuss it in detail at the Consultation before starting.
Is there risk of multiple pregnancy?
Small but real. Ovarian stimulation can lead to the growth of more than one follicle, which increases the chance of twins. We control this with strict ultrasound monitoring and, if too many follicles develop, we can cancel the cycle to avoid risks.
How does the cost compare to other techniques?
It is the most accessible option within low complexity because there is no lab or invasive procedure. We discuss the specifics at the First Consultation with concrete numbers based on your case.
Is Timed Intercourse the right option for you?
It's not a technique for everyone. At the First Consultation we analyze your case and tell you honestly whether this is the path or whether you should start with something else.
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