When Am I Most Fertile? Ovulation Window and Calculation Explained

When Am I Most Fertile To Get Pregnant?: Ovulation Window Explained

If you’re anything like us, conception always seemed so simple. Sure, there’s stories in every show about infertility and adoption… But somehow we think if we just “do the deed” when we’re ready, it can magically happen for us.

Well, after months of reading and research, we’ve come to the conclusion that it IS more difficult than was explained to us.

So difficult, in fact, that we’ve built a whole company around demystifying it, we’re taking baby-making matters into our own hands, by talking about how you can optimise fertility.

What’s the Fertile Window?

Your fertile window describes the period in the middle of your menstrual cycle when conception is most likely. For the average person, the fertile window lasts about 6 days — 1 day of ovulation (when the egg gets released from the ovary) and 5 days before that.

Yep, only 6 days. With all the fanfare and theatrics around our periods, ovulation should be an even bigger event, don’t you think? 🙄

Having sex during your fertile window doesn’t always mean you’ll get pregnant, it’s just the best time to try. Even if you get all the calculations and timing right, there’s only a 25-30% chance of conceiving every month, and that tends to decrease as we get older.

That’s because while sperm can survive in the uterus for up to 5 days, eggs are only mature for 12-24 hours after release from the ovary, and must be fertilised during this period.

After that, the window closes until your next cycle.

What Is Ovulation Window & How You Can Calculate Your Ovulation Day?

Knowing when you ovulate is key to pinpointing your fertile window. Here are a few ways to calculate your ovulation day:

• Calendar method: If you have a regular 28-day cycle, ovulation typically occurs around day 14 (counting from the first day of your last period). For longer or shorter cycles, subtract 14 from the number of days in your cycle to determine ovulation day.

• Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs): These at-home tests detect the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) that occurs 24-36 hours before ovulation. Start testing a few days before your expected ovulation day.

• Basal body temperature (BBT): Your temperature rises slightly (about 0.5°F) after ovulation. Take your temperature first thing every morning and chart it to identify the shift. Ovulation likely occurred the day before the rise.

• Cervical mucus: As ovulation approaches, cervical mucus becomes clear, stretchy, and slippery (like raw egg whites). This consistency helps sperm swim to the egg.

Signs and Symptoms of Ovulation

In addition to tracking methods, your body may give you clues that ovulation is near. Common signs of ovulation include:

• Pelvic or abdominal pain (mittelschmerz)

• Slight increase in basal body temperature

• Changes in cervical mucus (becomes clear and stretchy)

• Breast tenderness

• Bloating

• Increased sex drive

• Light spotting

Keep in mind, not everyone experiences ovulation symptoms. If you don't notice signs, you can still be ovulating. Tracking with OPKs or BBT can provide more insight.

When does Ovulation happen?

Even if you have a 28-day cycle, ovulation doesn’t always fall midway on Day 14. It can vary from month to month depending on a bunch of hormonal factors. If your periods are irregular, your ovulation might occur over a wider range of days.

That’s why it’s important to track your ovulation accurately. This can help you track your fertile days, and plan those baby-making seshs accordingly when you’re trying to conceive!

What Is The Difference Between the Fertile Window & Ovulation Window?

Fertility is your ability to get pregnant, but ovulation is the process of the ovaries releasing a mature egg. Here’s how they’re both related: your fertility is the highest around 5 days before and up until the day of ovulation.

Hence, ovulation and fertility aren’t the same thing, but are related.

How Many Eggs Are Released During Ovulation Window?

Typically, only one egg is released each menstrual cycle. Once an egg is released, your ovary sends signals to prevent any additional eggs from maturing during that cycle.

In rare cases, two (or more) eggs can mature and be released. If both get fertilized and implanted in the uterus, this results in fraternal (non-identical) twins. But for most people, just one egg will ripen per cycle.

How do I know if I have ovulated?

There are several telltale signs of ovulation apart from the fact that it occurs around 12 to 16 days before your period starts. Some of them include:

1. Increase in basal body temperature

2. Cervical mucus changes

3. Pelvic or abdominal pain

4. Mood changes

5. Housing

6. Bloating and fluid retention

7. Changes in appetite

But our bodies sometimes also have a silent way 🤫 of doing things. You may ovulate without any symptoms at all, on some months. However, its worth keeping an eye out on the ovulation day and day’s surrounding it.

Can I get pregnant any other time?

Honestly? Your best bet is during the fertile window.

But there is a chance that you could fall pregnant during the days after your period, if you have a shorter cycle.

Here’s how it works: the likelihood of getting pregnant 1-2 days after your period is nearly zero, but the chances increases day by day, even though you may still be menstruating.

So if you have a shorter menstrual cycle, the time from the start of your period to the next egg release is shorter. While the chances are very low, you can never be 100% assured that it may not happen.

So it’s very possible that you may conceive as early as 12 days into your cycle.

When are my best chances to get pregnant?

The day you ovulate and 2 days before it are specifically referred to as ‘peak fertility’ days. Many medical professionals recommend having regular sex throughout to maximise chances of conception.

In fact, because the egg only remains viable 12-14 hours after release, it’s more important to have sex before to have sperm ready and available for fertilisation. Waiting until after could risk missing that window, especially when life gets in the way.

It’s important to note that “getting pregnant” doesn’t just stop at fertilisation. Implantation of the fertilised egg into the uterine wall is arguably as crucial, and happens 8-10 days after ovulation. This time is referred to as the dreaded ‘Two Week Wait’ (TWW) for couples trying to conceive naturally or through IVF. It can be an especially stressful time, so make sure to lean on your support system (that includes us 🤎)

Having a fun and consistent schedule can help plan those 👶 making sessions better, and can help ensure that you don’t miss that window. We know that juggling stress, schedules, and other responsibilities can be a challenge, so if you ever need to talk, we’re just a click away.

Ready to start calculating your Fertile Window? Check our Part 2 where we go over 5 different methods, and our curated recommendations.

TL;DR

• The fertile window usually lasts 6 days — 1 day of ovulation and 5 days before that.

• Ovulation & the fertile window vary from person to person, and even from month to month.

• You can calculate ovulation day using the calendar method, OPKs, BBT, and cervical mucus.

• Common ovulation signs include pelvic pain, BBT rise, stretchy cervical mucus, and increased sex drive.

• Only one egg is typically released per cycle.

• The best time to conceive is the day of ovulation and 2 days before it.

• Medical professionals recommend having regular sex throughout the cycle to maximize chances of conception.

• Implantation is as important as fertilization for pregnancy.