When it comes to conception and pregnancy, a lot of it boils down to good timing. For people with ovaries, that means understanding the link between ovulation and your fertile window, AKA the best time for you to conceive ✨
But what exactly is ovulation, and how is it related to your fertile window? What does it mean to be in your fertile window? How many days is ovulation after your period?
Find the answers to all your burning questions and more in our comprehensive guide below.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended as medical advice.
What Is Ovulation? Plus, Its Links to Your Fertile Window & Menstrual Cycle
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s get the basics right 📚
Ovulation 101: Sex-Ed (Adulting Version) 👄
Ovulation happens when hormonal changes within your body signal the release of a mature egg from the ovaries. The egg then travels down the fallopian tube so that it can be fertilized by the sperm.
This monthly phenomenon typically occurs around the middle of your menstrual cycle, roughly 14 days before your next period begins.
Understanding how ovulation works and when it happens is thus essential knowledge for anyone trying to conceive (TTC). It’s basically the prime time for making a baby.
By tracking ovulation signs and timing intercourse accordingly, couples like you and your partner can increase their chances of achieving pregnancy.
Related article: How To Track Your Ovulation and Boost Your Odds of Pregnancy
The Relationship Between Ovulation and the Menstrual Cycle 🔗
Ovulation isn’t separate from the menstrual cycle, but a part of it — the midpoint of it, to be specific. If your cycle is 28 days long, your ovulation day is around days 14-15.
Contrary to popular misconception, most women-identified folks do not have the “perfect” 28-day cycle — we know, right?! 🤯 In fact, science shows that a normal menstrual cycle actually lasts anywhere between 26 and 35 days.
If your cycle is fewer than 26 days, it’s considered short, with ovulation happening earlier. When the menstrual cycle lasts more than 35 days, it’s seen as a long cycle, with ovulation happening later. This obviously affects the timing of your fertile window (more on that later).
Related article: Irregular Periods and Pregnancy: The Only Guide You Need
When Is Ovulation and Your Fertile Window? 🤔
You’ve probably encountered phrases like “fertile window” and “fertile period” when Googling how to get pregnant faster. And your gut instinct is correct in telling you these are key terms to add to your TTC vocabulary.
The Fertile Window — Is It the Same As the Fertile Period?
The fertile window is a scientific term for the short window of time when you’re at peak fertility in each menstrual cycle. It consists of ovulation day + the five days leading up to it. In human-speak, some of us refer to it as “the fertile period” 💅
How Long Does Ovulation Last? You’d Be Surprised at the Answer
Some of us may mistake our ovulation period for our fertile period when that’s not the case.
As mentioned earlier, your fertile period (or fertile window) is much longer, lasting 5-6 days. It’s also inclusive of your ovulation day. Meanwhile, ovulation is only a one-day event that typically lasts 12-24 hours.
No matter if you’re scheduling sex according to your ovulation day or fertile period, time is of the essence if you want to take full advantage of your peak fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant 😉
Related article: Trying To Conceive 101: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant
How Many Days After Ovulation Can You Get Pregnant?
If you want to know how many days after ovulation you are still fertile, the answer is a mere one day or so.
That’s because ovulation only takes place for 12-24 hours. Any longer than that, the mature egg would have disintegrated in the fallopian tube, resulting in no fertilization.
The best time for conception begins five days before ovulation until the day after. While more research is needed, a scientific review highlighted that timed intercourse during your fertile window may improve your pregnancy success rates.
Remember, it’s a numbers game when it comes to conception!
Related article: Chances Of Getting Pregnant Before, During, And After Ovulation
Key Ovulation Symptoms To Look Out For
There are many ways your body tries to tell you that you’re ovulating. Common ovulation signs include:
- A change in your cervical position
- Clear and/or slippery vaginal discharge
- Light spotting
- Breast tenderness
- Increased sex drive
- Mild abdominal discomfort or pain
- A slight increase in your basal body temperature by about 0.4°C
A more convenient and accurate way to determine if you’re ovulating is to use an ovulation predictor test like twoplus’ Ovulation Test Kit.
These easy-to-use test kits take about 10 minutes to provide reliable results and help you better plan ahead for procreative sex.
How To Track Your Ovulation for Pregnancy Success 💃
Tracking your ovulation may sound overwhelming at first.
But there are many useful tools that you can use at home to make the process easier, such as:
- Ovulation predictor kits (as mentioned above)
- Basal body temperature tracking (see our guide on Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Chart For Tracking Ovulation)
- Cervical mucus trackers
- Digital fertility monitors
- The calendar method
Read our in-depth guide on How To Track Your Ovulation and Boost Your Odds of Pregnancy to learn more about each method.
Alternative Ways of Getting Pregnant: Enter At-Home Fertility Aids 🍀
Apart from doing it au naturel, you have other options that don’t involve ultra-invasive and expensive fertility treatments like in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-uterine insemination (IUI).
Instead, at-home fertility aids by brands like twoplus Fertility are changing the conception game for TTC couples.
Case in point: The twoplus Sperm Guide.
This novel home conception aid helps to retain semen near the cervix post-sex, so that more sperm reaches the egg. Our Sperm Guide can help you work toward a chance of pregnancy success with regular use during peak fertility.
Seize Your Ovulation Day To Get Pregnant Faster 🎉
Understanding what ovulation is and its relationship to your fertile window is crucial for couples trying to conceive.
Your fertile window, consisting of your ovulation day and the five days leading up to it, offers a broader timeframe for conception.
Timed intercourse during this period can significantly increase your chances of a positive pregnancy test result. Tracking ovulation signs and using ovulation predictor kits can help pinpoint the best time for procreative sex.
Take note that the length of your menstrual cycle and the timing of your fertile window is unique to you. Using at-home fertility aids like the Sperm Guide can put you in a position for pregnancy.
It’s time to take charge of your fertility journey with twoplus ❤️