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Mixed messages about timing intercourse with ovulation have led many couples astray in their efforts to conceive. In fact, waiting to have sex until you ovulate can actually harm your chances. Here’s why: sperm can live in a woman’s body for as long as five days. The more sperm that have access to the egg the better. So, your best bet is to learn your cycle, figure out when you’re ovulating and then count back a few days and then start having sex as much as you want to! This gives your egg a better chance of being fertilized by the multiple sperm that (hopefully) make their way through the cervix for the approximately 24-hours your egg is viable.
Here are some tips and information about your menstrual cycle, ovulation, and the ways you can hone in on just the right time to try and get pregnant. Keep in mind that on average, it takes women several months to a year to conceive. Being discouraged can take the romance right out of the baby making, which is definitely not good for conception!
When is the best time to have sex if I want to get pregnant?
Step 1: Learn your cycle.
On average, women have a 28-day cycle but this definitely varies from woman to woman. Some have shorter cycles and some have longer. Start keeping track on your calendar, or use a high-tech fertility app, for a few months in a row to begin learning your unique cycle. If your periods are irregular, and you haven’t addressed it with a healthcare professional, make an appointment to see your OB/GYN. You may have underlying issues that will make conception more difficult if they aren’t addressed.
Step 2: Start counting backwards.
Once you’ve figured out your menstrual cycle, you will be able to more accurately guess when your approximate ovulation date is. Mark the date you suspect your period will begin. Then count backwards 12 days. This is an approximation of when you’ll be ovulating. Then count back another four days or so. Let the romance flow for those days, in addition to when you’re ovulating, because the more sperm you have swimming around when your egg is released, the better your chances of conception.
Step 3: Get to know the physical signs.
Lots of changes are taking place in your body when you ovulate, and these changes – mostly hormonal – bring about noticeable physical changes. The most noticeable is a very particular type of discharge will begin to come out of your cervix and into your vagina. It will also end up on your underwear. Unlike your normal discharge, this specific version resembles the white of an egg. It is slippery, stretchy, and filled with a web-like material that helps to guide sperm up and into the cervix.
You can also purchase an ovulation predictor kit (OPK) at your local pharmacy. These work similar to a pregnancy test, using your urine to detect particular hormone levels. In the case of ovulation, you’re testing the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) . They can predict ovulation to within 12 to 36 hours.
Step 4: Try to remain patient.
Once a couple is ready to conceive, it can be agonizing to wait for the positive results of a pregnancy test, or to get a negative result repeatedly. Try your best to remain positive and patient. Use this time to begin making lifestyle changes that will benefit you and your baby once you conceive. If you have tried to get pregnant for a year or more, or are in your 30’s, you may want to schedule a consultation with a fertility specialist to learn more about how to improve your chances of conception and discuss fertility options.
In most cases, learning your cycle and perfecting your timing will be all that’s needed to introduce the right sperm, to the right egg, at the right time.