Baby-Making Secrets You Should Know

There's a fabulous myth floating around that a woman must have an orgasm to get pregnant. While gals around the world have been whispering that gem into the ears of their lovers for obvious reasons, it's simply not true. Yet some doctors speculate that the physical effect of an orgasm helps move semen closer to the cervix and up into the fallopian tubes while increasing the blood flow to a woman's reproductive organs. In addition, Landrum B. Shettles, MD, former associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and author of How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby, asserts that the body produces substances after orgasm that makes the vaginal environment more alkaline, which favors sperm carrying the Y chromosome—or "boy sperm."

According to Dr. Shettles, if you're ready to paint the nursery blue, make sure both partners walk away satisfied. Even if much of the information surrounding female orgasm is speculative, it can't be a bad thing. Much like acupuncture, yoga, and other stress-reducing activities, orgasm may not be necessary for conception—but it certainly makes the journey to parenthood a lot more pleasant!