Q: I am a 28 years old female, have been married for two years. I have been trying to conceive for the last four months. We have intercourse every alternate day during the safe period (10th to 20th day starting from 1st day of my period). I have a concern regarding the semen flowing out of my vagina after my husband ejaculates. Is it normal for the semen to flow out? If it yes, how does the conception happen? I also keep my legs up for 30 mins after the intercourse. Is that helpful? I have consulted a gynaecologist who has asked me to take Folic acid tablets.

A:If your cycles are regular at 28-32 days, this timing is OK. Some semen will flow out. Remember even a little amount of semen is sufficient, provided it has good, healthy motile sperms in sufficient quantity. The tablets prescribed are fine. I suggest you have a postcoital test done. This is done around time of ovulation -in your case maybe around Day 12/ 14/ 15. The gynecologist takes out a bit of the cervical mucus (using a small forceps) and places this on a slide and examines it under a microscope to see number and motility of sperms. You have to have sex within 4 hours (preferably) of the test, and not to use any vaginal douche before or after sex. You can have a bath. You need to take an appointment with your doctor before the test. This test gives a lot of valuable information without going through a battery of formal investigations. If the test is good, you can try for another 3 months. If you do not conceive within 2 months you can have ultrasound monitoring for follicular and endometrial monitoring and ovulation and have timed intercourse.