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Timing Sex to Get Pregnant

When you are trying to conceive, there are certain times in your menstrual cycle when you are more fertile than others. Fertile days occur around the time of ovulation, when your ovaries release a mature egg for fertilization. If you are trying to get pregnant, it is important to plan sex during your most fertile days.

Fertile Days in Menstrual Cycles

Fertile days vary from woman-to-woman, depending on the length and regularity of her menstrual cycles. Women are most fertile during ovulation, when a woman releases an egg to be fertilized. For women with 28-day menstrual cycles, ovulation usually occurs between days 13 to 15.

Once an egg is released, it can be fertilized for only 12 to 24 hours before it dissolves. Sperm, on the other hand, can stay alive in the body for 3 to 5 days, making a woman fertile for about 5 to 7 days.

Best Time to Have Sex to Conceive

Because sperm lasts several days in the human body, and a woman’s egg only last a maximum of 24 hours, the best time to have sex to get pregnant is a few days before ovulation should occur. Couples should begin having sex five days before a woman will ovulate and one day after ovulation. Couples should try to have sex at least every other day.

How to Detect Fertile Days to Get Pregnant

A helpful way to achieve pregnancy is to schedule sexual intercourse slightly before and during ovulation. In order to make the most out of each session of sexual intercourse, it is important to understand signs of ovulation so you know when you are ovulating. This will help you plan sex accordingly to help you get pregnant.

  • Changes in Cervical Mucus. Cervical mucus can be an important indication of ovulation. Before ovulation, cervical mucus is dry and sticky. As ovulation comes closer, it may take on a creamier consistency. Right before ovulation, cervical mucus tends to take on the consistency of a raw egg white and may become more slippery. Charting your cervical mucus can be helpful because it allows you to spot patterns from one menstrual cycle to the next.
  • Charting Basal Body Temperature (BBT). Charting BBT . Charting your BBT can help you detect patterns of ovulation. You can buy a special BBT thermometer, which detects temperature to the tenth degree. Take your temperature the first thing each morning. You can detect ovulation by an increased temperature of 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which will usually be the highest temperature over the last six days.
  • Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPK). Ovulation predictor kits are at-home tests that allow a woman to predict when she will ovulate. The test works by measuring the luteinizing hormone. When the LH rises sharply, ovulation should occur in the next 12 to 48 hours.
  • Physical Signs of Ovulation. Physical signs of ovulation may vary for each woman, but may include light spotting, abdominal cramping, breast tenderness, and bloating.
Subjects: 
Getting Pregnant
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Comments

Submitted by CR Hays on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 7:26pm

I think you put a lot of useful information into your articles.

A lot of women don't think about the days leading up to ovulation. Good job.

Thank you, I will share this information.

Submitted by omolara on Thu, 03/31/2011 - 2:10am

my menstral cyle is 33days, so when is my ovulation . i,ve been trying to Conceive again after i had miscarriage in April 2010. Thank u

Submitted by G on Wed, 04/20/2011 - 12:16pm

my boyfriend and i have been trying to have a baby fo r more than four months now.
both of us are in our early twenties and we are healthy and in a happy and loving relationship

he thinks i cannot get pregnant but he smokes a lot and i think that is the reason y we cannot conceive as yet

plus i have a 21 day cycle and it is had to sheck can any one pleae hel p me because i dont want to loose this man and the relationship we have

Submitted by dale on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 7:19pm

i'm a 30 year old man, engaged to my amazing 20 yr old fiance, we've been trying to concieve for about year now, and still no luck.
i know that shes had quiet a few miscarriages, and doesn't have a child yet. Although i do have a beautiful 11 year old daughter whom will be 12 in july. However i grew up being the only child and would like my daughter to have a sibling..... to get to the point. Back in 2003 i had a major car accident that pretty much distroyed a major vertabre in my lower back that makes my lower half (legs, feet, kidneys, etc...) function....
See i had my daughter before my car accident and well i was just wondering if the accident that i had would have any misfuntion with concieveing a child. Maybe it messed with my sperm count or something. I honestly don't know. I don't want to lose what i have with her, and what she wants is to have a family....
If theres anyone that can help please let me know.
Thank you\

Submitted by ls2008 on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 7:17am

It could and cannot be, but to every problem there's an answer.

What I can advice you is to go see a fertility specialist and an IVF clinic. they would have many ways to see your goal.

I have a 3 year old daughter but I have lost 2 pregnancies before her and 2 more after her. now I'm trying to get pregnant too but nothing yet

Your fiancé can be blocked from a scar tissue of a previous miscarriage like me and also from Factor V lieden. she should get that checked. I have a day surgery to remove the scar and now I just have to try and take vitamins and after pregnancy shots.

GOOD LUCK

Submitted by Thobs on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:45am

ive been trying to have a second baby i have a healthy 5year old since then i never use any protection by no luck i had miscourage at three month after my child she was still eight month when i conceived bt lost that baby since then im strugglish im using the advised ovulation calculators bt tough luck im worried because now im 34 years

Submitted by Onte on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 1:35am

I am trying to have my second child also and its been 12 1/2 years now. i dont know whats the problem but im trying. it hard and i think i tried everything.. i hope it will happen soon.

Submitted by jacquelyne kebaya on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 12:58am

i have read your articles and want to know more, i am 44 and get miscarriages from 4 weeks to 5 months pregnancy, they say i need complete bed rest and nill sex, i want to try again,i take long to conceive to due to an ectopic pregnancy, i want to get pregnant in the next few months and in particular aboy what do you advice

Submitted by Alicia Gogue on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 10:47pm

I want to more two or six Babies . He want to More babies too. I want to pregnancy Baby now.Ben L want to promise Babies. I Cry new Babies need more love kids.he never first time no kids and grew up to himself ask date me . finially he want to make sure sex with me everything

Submitted by Erika on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 3:04am

Thank you for your article that i been already read it, we stay for nearly two years,and trying to having babies but we cant,we need your help to show us things which we can understand more, and having babies soon.

Submitted by sarah on Tue, 07/26/2011 - 7:39pm

I am 38 yrs old already and my husband is 32. We are trying to have a second babby since our first child is already 3 yrs old. It's been almost 3 months now of no contraceptives but still no luck to get pregnant.

Can anyone help me? And in addition, i haven't tried papsmear after giving birth to my first baby. Can papsmear help in getting pregnant?

Need your advise.

Submitted by mrs mccoy on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 2:00pm

i am 20 yr old female and me and my husband have been trying to get pregnet for 2 years now and still no luch we have tryed the fertility drug clomide but nothing if anyone knoes other ways let me know thanks

Submitted by Mary-Ann on Tue, 08/23/2011 - 7:26am

I dont know how many times i went over this menstrual cycle.I dnt gt it.I have a five year old daughter turning 6 soon.Been trying for a second now and i cant seem to be getting it right.My periods are never stable.

Submitted by steph on Sat, 08/27/2011 - 4:47am

i have been trying for a baby for 8months now with my parter . im 27 and he is 41. this will be our first child .. i have my peroid always on 24th ov every mounth .. that is a 30 day cycle yeah .. im not sure wen is the best time to work out wen im ovutating and the best time to have sex ... can u help me work the best time to conceive .. thanks

Submitted by bobi on Sat, 09/03/2011 - 4:42am

have 2 kids by c-section - trying for 2 years to get pregnant. would the c-sections be to blame

Submitted by Alaaaaa on Fri, 09/16/2011 - 3:21pm

I'm 21 and I and my husband are trying to have a baby for over a year! I have problems with my menstraual cycle I could go without it for a long time ,, the doctors that I went to said that everything is ok and I shouldn't worry but I'm douse we are trying and still nothing ... I don't know what should I do or what doctor should I visit to see if I could get pregnant ! In my family everybody was healthy and there is no bad history !

Submitted by concerned on Sat, 09/17/2011 - 11:51am

my husband and i have been having sex for 2 years now and we have not been able to conceive. His job requires him to be away from home, and sometimes i stress about it. I don't know if stress is the reason why we have not become pregnant. I have done blood test, x-rays, ultra sound, urine test, pap smear and i am fine. My menstrual cycle is normal. I'm really getting frustrated that i may not be able to have kids.

Submitted by fernie on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 3:07pm

Hi,
I'm 23 and my boyfriend and i have been trying to get pregnant for about 4 1/2 yrs now. I've pretty much tried everything. gone to the doctors and have ultra sounds n wat not n for the second yr of tryin to conceive it was very stressful. and now were just letting things flow =D. we've been together for 6 yrs now and We really want a baby and maybe im not doin something right. my menstrual periods r normal n i have a 39 day cycle. and i just had my last period a day ago, do hopefully this time it works. =p
oh, and i dont know if this is normal but every time he um, 'u know' in me.. for some reason it always comes out of me. is that normal at all..??

Submitted by sandralitleshorty on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 6:38pm

My first day of my last period was November 21, my period is not regulate, sometimes 28, 30 or even 32days. When is the best time to get pregnant, or when is my next ovulation, please need help i do not understand how this works?

Thank you....

Submitted by ANGEL3745 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 9:00pm

Im 31, been prego twice. one was a tubel and one the doctor said it wasn't growing. My husband and I have been trying for some time now, but are having a problem. My cycle ranges from 30-32 days. I try to watch the vaganal mucas that you are supose to watch. when it is an egg white substence my husband and I have sex and after but still no baby. This month I started on Dec. 16th or 17th ended on Dec. 19th or 20th, but then started bleeding again on Dec.24th-25th. What is going on? Is something wrong with me? is it a sign that there is a problem?

Submitted by claire on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 8:01am

Hi Angel, if you have been pregnant twice and have lost both pregnancies, it is probably time to see a fertility doctor, also known as a reproductive endocrinologist. You can find one in your area by entering your zip code in the "Find a Local Expert" box on every page of FertilityAuthority. The fertility doctor can run a whole battery of tests to determine why you are unable to get pregnant or are are having miscarriages. Good luck!

Submitted by ls2008 on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 7:21am

Im in my late 20s I have a beautiful daughter who's 3 yrs old, and a wonderful husband since 2006.

I have lost 2 pregnancies before my child and 2 after. I found out that all my scars had blocked me and ever since my last miscarriage till January I wasn't able to get pregnant.

In January I had my day surgery to remove those scars and now im trying but no success.

When is it the best time to have sex to get pregnant, if im a 28 day cycle???

Submitted by toni on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 10:44am

im 53 yrs old im trying to get pregnent my periods are 3to4 days but their irreg. i think do i have to have a papsmear to see if im ok. and to see if everything is ok. ty

Your daily does of sanity: The Daily Shot.
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