ParentData

This is a newsletter that comes out about every two weeks, focusing on data related to pregnancy and parenting. It includes new statistics, quick facts, book suggestions, and more.

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Does Keeping Your Legs Up After Sex Help You Get Pregnant?

1 day ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

Does keeping your legs up in the air after sex help you get pregnant? I read you should try to lie down and let gravity do its thing. —This Seems WeirdThere is no published data on the impact of sex positions, or of what you do after sex, on fertility. You will often hear that positions, like missionary or doggy style, that get the sperm closer to the cervix are better. This is based on a kind of logic but not on any actual data.
Does Using Lube Hurt Your Chances of Getting Pregnant?

2 days ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

Does using lube during sex slow down the sperm or hurt your chances of getting pregnant? —Lube-ing for AnswersThe short answer is that it depends on the lubricant. Unlike some things in fertility, this is a relatively easy question to answer (that’s often true of questions about sperm). The main features we care about with sperm are motility (how good they are at swimming) and morphology (whether they have the right shape).
Your Support Team for LGBTQ+ Family Planning

3 days ago | parentdata.org | Marea Goodman |Emily Oster

When you’re thinking about starting your LGBTQ+ family, resources and support options aren’t always obvious. There is a lot to consider — and gathering a support team around you makes a huge difference. This article will guide you through the people who can help you feel supported, prepared, and well cared for along each stage of the queer family building process. What does a fertility doula or coach do?
A Guide for Solo Parents by Choice

3 days ago | parentdata.org | Marea Goodman |Emily Oster

In the past 25 years, there’s been a dramatic in single people choosing to become solo parents — that is, choosing to have or parent a child without a partner. This trend is expected to continue as more people choose to start a family after age 35. If you’re considering a path toward solo parenthood, chances are you have many questions. Where do you start? How will you choose a sperm or egg donor? How much will it cost?
What Do You Hope Your Child Is Like as an Adult?

3 days ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

Parenting often seems like a series of small goals. Get your baby to latch. Get your 1-year-old to eat peas. Get your toddler to poop in the toilet. Teach your kindergartener to read. Get your middle schooler to hand their homework in on time. It’s one small, goal-oriented step after another. It’s no wonder that when parents ask me questions (which happens all the time), they are all about these goals. How do I get the baby to latch? How do I make my kid eat vegetables?
Does My Child Need Routine Dental X-Rays?

6 days ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

My husband is telling me that routine dental x-rays are not supported by evidence and we should decline them for our children (and ourselves), based on a random article he read. What’s your take? —A Cavity QueenI am not sure where your husband is reading it, but in fact his take is consistent with the American Dental Association guidelines. Some background: Dental x-rays are a source of radiation, and generally we want to avoid radiation.
Are Irregular Periods a Sign of Menopause?

1 week ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

In your recent post about longevity and menopause, you say that irregular periods before 45 could be an indicator of early menopause. But if 45 is an actual normal age for natural menopause, wouldn’t irregular periods (a sign of perimenopause that can start up to 10 years before) be normal well before 45? For instance, I seem to be following in my mother’s footsteps. We both had some irregular periods starting at 44, maybe sooner, but she went through full menopause in her mid-50s.
What Negatively Impacts Male Fertility?

1 week ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

Over the years, I’ve received a number of emails from men who have concerns about whether lifestyle factors can decrease their sperm count. And it’s a long list of concerns: wearing tight underwear, laptop use, putting their cellphone in their pocket, weight, exercise (either too much or not enough), stress, age, and bicycling. In some cases, the concerns could not possibly all be true (exercise cannot be both good and bad). But this led me to wonder: does any of this matter?
Should You Do IUI or IVF when Using a Sperm Donor?

1 week ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

How do you know whether to start with IUI or IVF when using a sperm donor? —TTC without a mapThis is such a great question, because the decision-making process when using donor sperm is complex. First, I want to acknowledge that sometimes people don’t have a choice. There are some fertility challenges that make conception through IVF essential and can only be diagnosed by a doctor.
I’m 35. When Can I See a Fertility Doctor?

1 week ago | parentdata.org | Emily Oster

Is there anything you can do at six months TTC if you’re under 35? The thought of waiting another six months to not be pregnant feels frustrating. Are there things a doctor would be willing to try, such as progesterone supplements or other options, before IVF? —Tired of WaitingThis question brings up a few things. First, it is important to mention that there is an overall trend of women delaying childbirth.