Best Time To Get Pregnant: Ovulation & Factors Affecting It

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When is the best time to get pregnant? There is no definite answer to this question. It solely depends on you and your partner. If you plan to have a family, understanding your ovulation time and reproductive health are the key since it will indicate the right time to achieve a successful conception.

In terms of sex, you can follow these tips to improve your chances, as per research:

• Have sex every day, given your partner has a strong sperm count.
• Have sex often when you are at peak fertility, typically for a period of four days.
• Have sex on and two days prior to ovulation.

If you are curious to know more, read on! We will tell you all about getting pregnant, including factors affecting the chances of conceiving, tips to enhance fertility, and achieving proper timing for intercourse.

When Is The Best Time To Get Pregnant?

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Having sex during the six-day fertile window — the five days that lead to ovulation and the day of ovulation — is highly effective to get pregnant (1).

Now, let us understand how sex during ovulation would work to help you conceive:

Fertile window: Sperm can live inside the woman’s reproductive tract for three to five days, but an egg can live for just 12 to 24 hours. This is why the egg needs to be fertilized within this timeframe. Moreover, freshly ejaculated sperm cannot fertilize the egg until it undergoes capacitation (a series of changes that happen inside the reproductive tract of a woman to make sperm more mobile and penetrate through the egg) (2). It usually takes about 10 hours for this process to happen. The five days before ovulation are, therefore, important for the sperm to fertilize the egg.

Having a mature sperm ready for the egg is the key for conception.

Is the day of ovulation right for you to get pregnant?

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There is a belief that the ovulation day is the best day to conceive. Researchers have studied the relationship between the timing of intercourse and ovulation to find which days would be most fertile for a woman to conceive. The research findings in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine say that the day of ovulation is not the best day to conceive. Then, when am I fertile?

1. Sex one day before ovulation

The day before ovulation is one of the better days to conceive as compared to the day of ovulation. This is primarily because the sperm has enough time to undergo the capacitation process and hence, is mature enough to reach and fertilize the egg.

2. Sex two days before ovulation

Two days before ovulation is also a good time for conception.

In fact, you are more likely to get pregnant if you have sexual intercourse two days before ovulation than a day before.

3. Sex three to four days before ovulation

By having sexual intercourse three to four days before ovulation, you will have higher chances of getting pregnant when compared to having sex on the day of ovulation.

4. Sex five days before ovulation

The first day of the fertile window is also ideal but it is less effective than the remaining four days before ovulation.

In short, two days before ovulation and the day of ovulation are the most fertile days of your menstrual cycle.

To determine your ovulation period, you need to try the ovulation calculator.

Calculating Ovulation: Know Your Fertile Days

Knowing your ovulation day and how long your ovulation lasts is important. The ovulation period in any given menstrual cycle depends on the length of the cycle and regularity of your periods. The menstrual cycle can be between 22 and 36 days (3). You ovulate 12 to 14 days before the cycle ends.

First Day of Your Last Menstural Period:

MonthJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNEJULYAUGSEPOCTNOVDECDay12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728Year2017201820192020202120222023202420252026202720282029

Average cycle length:  21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

• If you have a 28-day menstrual cycle, you will ovulate on the 14th day. This is the best time to get pregnant before your next period, or after your period.

• However, if you have a shorter cycle (21 days), you will ovulate on the seventh day.

• On the other hand, if your menstrual cycle is for 35 days, you would ovulate on the 21st day of your cycle.

If your menstrual cycle varies from month to month, the fertile window would also vary.

Therefore, it is advisable to have sexual intercourse every two to three days throughout the cycle. It will be more effective than waiting for the days of ovulation. Moreover, having intercourse regularly will improve the quality of the sperm.

How Do You Know If You Are Ovulating?

You can, sometimes, know when you are ovulating, but at the other times ovulation can go unnoticed. Understand your body and track your menstrual cycle for a couple of months. The best time of the month to conceive would be when you look for signs such as:

• Vaginal mucus turning thin, stretchy, clear and slippery.

• Mild discomfort at one side of the tummy, also known as mittelschmerz.

• Increase in basal body temperature (BBT), which you can determine by noting down the temperature every morning after you wake up, once your period ends. The BBT increases a day after ovulation. Keeping track of BBT over a few cycles will help you understand the pattern.

• The cervix turns softer and opens slightly during the fertile period.

Quick fact

Tender breasts, light bleeding or spotting, increased sex drive, and mood and appetite changes are other ovulation symptoms (8).

Do Irregular Periods Affect Your Conception?

Ideally, women have 12 periods in a year. However, some may have fewer or skipped months. Abrupt weight gain or loss, stress, exercises, thyroid disorder, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and ovarian dysfunction, can all interrupt your periods.

The more irregular your periods are, the tougher it will be to estimate ovulation. However, you may try to predict to know the best days, or even dates for conceiving:

1. Look for the changes in the fertile cervical mucus (vaginal discharge). Have sexual intercourse when you are likely to notice two or more days of slippery and stretchy mucus. Alternatively, have regular intercourse throughout your cycle (4).

2. Ovulation predictor kits may help in detecting the ovulation period. The tests are positive when there is an LH surge (a sudden and brief rise in the luteinizing hormone), which is the trigger for releasing the egg. LH surge happens 24-48 hours before ovulation. You will be most fertile over the next three days of LH surge. Therefore, you can have sex every day over the next three to four days (5).

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3. Record your menstrual cycle for eight or more months. Take the shortest cycle, and subtract 18 from it (for instance 25-day cycle minus 18), and 11 from the longest cycle (35-day cycle minus 11). The resulting difference (day 7 to day 24) will be your most fertile days to get pregnant.

If your menstrual cycles are continuously irregular, fertility tracking becomes more difficult and you should see your healthcare provider without any delay. Also you need to inform your doctor if you have taken any medically assisted birth control measures prior to the conception due to delayed family planning.

Lindsay Brooke, a mother, provides some helpful tips on preparing for pregnancy in her video. She says, “I came off of birth control when we started trying to conceive and gave myself a whole month of just getting ready to start trying. You have to have your normal cycle (menstrual cycle) come back if you didn’t have one while on birth control. I also took daily supplements, including multivitamins with folic acid, for about a year and a half.

“I tracked my ovulation with several apps and ovulation test kits. I started tracking my ovulation as soon as I got my cycle back for the whole month. On day 16, I saw that the second line on the ovulation test was dark or darker than the other lines, which means the LH (Luteinizing hormone) levels have surged, and you are most fertile 24 hours after that. So, that’s when you have the best chance of having a baby (i).”

What Factors Can Affect Your Chances Of Getting Pregnant?

In spite of your efforts, your pregnancy could be delayed due to certain factors:

1. The older you are, the fewer are the chances

A woman’s fertility starts decreasing from the early 30s. Though most women do not have any problem conceiving in their 30s, fertility usually declines significantly after 35 years. The changes that occur in her ovaries and eggs make it difficult to get pregnant.

Age and fertility are correlated, a man’s fertility also decreases with age. As he ages, the sperm count comes down along with his sexual abilities. However, men can boost their libido by taking a special diet rich in zinc, selenium, vitamin E, maintaining proper weight and abstaining from tobacco and alcohol. According to the WHO, infertility affects almost one in every six people of reproductive age globally.

2. Lifestyle has an influence

Lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, unusual weight, and stress can affect your fertility. Also, some medications and vaginal lubricants may impair your ability to conceive. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your doctor before you use any of them.

3. Have sex frequently

Persistence pays significantly. You need to indulge in frequent sex for pregnancy. Having sexual intercourse every two to three days would give a chance for the sperm to fertilize the egg. If ovulation is regular, conception becomes easier. The less frequent your lovemaking is, the lower are the chances to get pregnant.

4. Balanced mental state

Take pleasure in everything you do and remain confident. Overwork, stress, obesity and frustration can affect your chances of becoming pregnant. Hence you need to find a balanced approach to your life through proper stress management, rest, and relaxation.

So, is there a way to increase your chances of pregnancy?

Research finds

A Harvard study recommends that women trying to get pregnant follow a Mediterranean diet high in avocados and olive oil, and low in dairy and meat (9).

Tips To Improve Fertility

Follow these tips:

• Healthy balanced diets with the right nutrition and fertility foods are necessary to improve your fertility.

• Do not panic as it can affect your body and mind.

• Enjoy sex. The fertile window calculations and checking the basal body temperature can just kill your romance. You would end up having sex not for pleasure but the baby.

• Make sure there is a high emotional bonding between you and your partner. The more it is, the higher are your chances.

• Exercise but let it be moderate. A healthy body produces the required hormones for improving fertility. Maintaining optimal hormonal balance is the key.

Image: Shutterstock

• Pay attention to your preconception health by cutting down obesity. It is not at all healthy and affects the fertility rate.

Did you know?

Taking recommended doses of folic acid for at least 12 weeks before trying to conceive may increase conception chances (10).

Do Sexual Positions Help You Get Pregnant?

Positions will not affect your chances of conception but having an orgasm would help. You might have heard that certain positions, such as missionary, help in conceiving. But, there is no evidence to support such claims.

Infographic: Reasons For Decreasing Chances Of Pregnancy

Many factors influence women’s fertility and reduce their chances of getting pregnant; however, some simple tips can be effective if no medical condition is involved. Check out the infographic below to learn some possible reasons affecting pregnancy chances and valuable tips to improve your possibility of conceiving.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Best Time To Get Pregnant: Ovulation & Factors Affecting It

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Asmita KaundalMD

Dr. Kaundal has 10 years of experience as an obstetrician and gynecologist and is currently working as a consultant IVF at Matritava Advanced IVF and Training Centre, New Delhi. She has previously worked at Lady Hardinge Medical College, MKW and IMB IVF centre, Apollo Cradle Royale and AIIMS, New Delhi.

Read full bio of Dr. Asmita Kaundal

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer.

Read full bio of Dr. Joyani Das