Sperm can live up to 5 days inside your body, so if you have sex up to 5 days before your egg is released, you can get pregnant. After ovulation, though, your egg can only live for 12 to 24 hours. After this time is up, your time for getting pregnant has gone for now till the following month.
Pregnancy After Ovulation
Getting pregnant after ovulation is possible, but is limited to the 12-24 hours after your egg has been released. Cervical mucus helps sperm live up to 5 days in a woman's body, and it takes around 6 hours for active sperm to reach the fallopian tubes.
To confirm that ovulation is over, you can test for the presence of progesterone approximately 6-8 days after your estimated day of ovulation. This is when your progesterone levels will be at their highest, and elevated progesterone levels are an indicator that ovulation was successful.
After ovulation comes the luteal phase. If pregnancy occurs during this phase, hormones will keep the lining from shedding. Otherwise, bleeding will start around day 28 of the cycle, beginning the next cycle. In short: Ovulation generally occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle.
A released egg lives for less than 24 hours. The highest pregnancy rates have been reported when the egg and sperm join together within 4 to 6 hours of ovulation.
If you have sex without using contraception, you can conceive (get pregnant) at any time during your menstrual cycle, even during or just after your period. You can also get pregnant if you have never had a period before, during your first period, or after the first time you have sex.
Facts about timing
Pregnancy is technically only possible if you have sex during the five days before ovulation or on the day of ovulation. But the most fertile days are the three days leading up to and including ovulation. Having sex during this time gives you the best chance of getting pregnant.
Is it possible? Although it is possible to get pregnant in the days leading up to your period, it isn't likely. You can only get pregnant during a narrow window of five to six days a month. When these fertile days actually occur depends on when you ovulate, or release an egg from your ovary.
According to infertility research, the likelihood of getting pregnant in the first month is around 30% . For people without fertility issues, the approximate chances of conception are: 75% after 6 months. 90% after a year.
It's important to know what is considered normal, so you don't worry if there is no cause for concern. 90% of couples will conceive within 12 to 18 months of trying. If you are 35 years of age or older, doctors will start evaluating your fertility after six months of unsuccessful attempts at pregnancy.
This is completely false! Any girl who has unprotected vaginal intercourse runs the risk of becoming pregnant, whether it's her first time having sex or the 100th time.
Most couples are able to get pregnant within six months to a year. If you're unable to conceive after a full year of trying, it's a good idea to consult a fertility specialist. Sometimes there's an obvious cause of infertility, like a physical problem with the ovaries, uterus, or testicles.
The days before and during menstruation are the least fertile days of the menstrual cycle. People with a menstrual cycle that is shorter than 28 days could ovulate within days of their period ending. Menstrual cycles may shorten with age, particularly after the age of 35 years .
Usually, the sperm reaches the egg within 15 to 45 minutes of ejaculation. However, the process could be much longer than that if you haven't ovulated yet by the time you have sex, because sperm can live inside a reproductive tract and wait for an egg for up to five days.
Can I get pregnant just before my period? The probability of conceiving if you have sex two or three days before your period is extremely low. Since your egg lives for around 12 to 24 hours after it is released, this means your fertility window closes soon after you ovulate.
Experts say the best time to get pregnant is between your late 20s and early 30s. This age range is associated with the best outcomes for both you and your baby. One study pinpointed the ideal age to give birth to a first child as 30.5. Your age is just one factor that should go into your decision to get pregnant.
The sperm rapidly swim up and into the cervix, where they can survive in the mucus for up to five days before an egg is released.
Ideally, you want to have sperm ready and waiting for the egg. This is why most ovulation signs appear in the days before the egg is released. The two to four days before you ovulate are your most fertile time.
Days 1-6 Past Ovulation (1-6 DPO)
The egg then travels to the fallopian tube to meet the sperm and get fertilized. The released egg is only viable and available for about 24 hours, meaning you need to have sexual intercourse in the five days before or 24 hours after ovulation for the best odds of pregnancy.
As ovulation nears, your discharge will become wet, stretchy and slippery. The most common analogy used for super fertile cervical mucus is looking and feeling like raw egg whites. If you see that texture, you will know you're at your most fertile time. After ovulation, your cervical mucus goes back to thick and dry.
The sensation of ovulation is often described as a dull or sharp abdominal pain that can last just a few minutes or a few days. Light bleeding may also occur. Generally, ovulation happens about two weeks from the start of your last period.
The luteal phase
After ovulation, cells in the ovary (the corpus luteum), release progesterone and a small amount of oestrogen. This causes the lining of the uterus to thicken in preparation for pregnancy.
Usually, the sperm reaches the egg within 15 to 45 minutes of ejaculation. However, the process could be much longer than that if you haven't ovulated yet by the time you have sex, because sperm can live inside a reproductive tract and wait for an egg for up to five days.
Some women do notice signs and symptoms that implantation has occurred. Signs may include light bleeding, cramping, nausea, bloating, sore breasts, headaches, mood swings, and possibly a change in basal body temperature. But — and here's the frustrating part — many of these signs are very similar to PMS.