Alkaline Douching and Fertility: What the Science Says

Question
Hello my husband and I have been ttc for about five months.  I am 28 with an 18m daughter.  I have heard that using an akaline douch just before intercourse sometimes helps with conception.  What are your views on this practice?
April

Answer
An alkaline douche  (or any douche) will not help your ability to conceive. However, we use an alkaline douche to increase the chances of having a male infant, and we use an acid douche to increase the chances of having a female infant. This is because "male" sperm do not do well in an acid environment but do better in a alkaline environment. If you are interested, check out the article "Choosing the sex of my Baby" by Dr. Shettles.  However, douching will not improve your chances of conceiving.