What is timed intercourse?
Timed intercourse (TI), also known as programmed or directed intercourse, is a fertility treatment in which the couple has intercourse under gynaecological monitoring, timing it to coincide with the most fertile window of the cycle — when the egg matures and is released into the fallopian tubes — to maximise the chances of a natural pregnancy.
Types of timed intercourse
Timed intercourse can be carried out in different ways:
- Natural cycle monitoring: the only intervention is an ultrasound scan to track follicle growth and a blood test to measure LH (luteinising hormone) levels. When LH rises, the specialist can predict when ovulation will occur and directs the couple on the best dates for intercourse.
- Ovulation trigger: the patient receives an injection of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which triggers ovulation approximately 36–38 hours after administration. Intercourse is then scheduled two days after the hCG injection to optimise the meeting between egg and sperm. This approach sits between natural-cycle timed intercourse and full ovarian stimulation.
- Ovarian stimulation: timed intercourse is often recommended for couples where the woman has ovulation difficulties — for example, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). In these cases, the ovaries are stimulated using clomiphene citrate (oral medication) or gonadotropins (injected). Follicle development is monitored through ultrasound scans and blood tests. Once the egg reaches the desired maturity, the hCG trigger is administered to induce ovulation roughly two days later, during which the couple is advised to have intercourse.
Free first consultation
The team at Love Fertility Clinic is delighted to help you. You can book your free first consultation with our specialists Blanca, Isabel, Sara, and Rocío, who will explain all available treatment options and complementary techniques, success rates for your specific case, your family plan, or your wish to preserve your fertility for the future. Marian and Sonia, our nurses, will support you and answer all your questions about medication.
Our patient care team, led by María and Sole, will help you with the day-to-day at the clinic, providing financial information and financing options. We will make it easy to schedule appointments at the times that work best for you with your designated specialist.
Get in touch with us — we will answer all your questions. You will have emotional support from the very beginning, so you can feel calm and cared for throughout the process. We will be by your side on the path to motherhood — together, we will make it happen.
Shall we talk?
