How many times the average couple has sex before conceiving a baby

Couples trying for a baby have sex an average of 78 times before they finally conceive, a new study suggests.

It typically takes 185 days for parents-to-be to get a positive pregnancy test after deciding to have a child - the equivalent of six months and three days.

Research also suggested that couples have sex 13 times every month while attempting to have a baby.

For those couples, the most popular sexual position to conceive was missionary, the study found. Parenting website ChannelMum.com quizzed 1,194 parents about their efforts to conceive.

The study showed half of respondents admitted they made love much more frequently than normal in their bid to have a baby.

An energetic 10 per cent cosied up 15 to 20 times each month while one in 20 couples romped almost daily - managing 21 to 25 times.

A further five per cent said they had sex just once each month but still managed to fall pregnant.

And while over a third of women and 51 per cent of men said they 'loved' having more sex, 18 per cent confided sex in a bid to conceive became a chore rather than a pleasure.

Another 43 per cent felt under pressure in case they didn't fall pregnant.

The poll revealed it is women who take the lead in the bedroom when trying to conceive, with two in five admitting they initiated sex more frequently, and 13 per cent investing in sexy lingerie to get their partner in the mood.

Half of women tried to time sex to fertile days, while 39 per cent improved their diet and took extra vitamins.

But five per cent used more unorthodox methods including fertility spells and gender prediction calendars.