What days is it possible to get pregnant

Sex during any of these days may provide a 20—30 percent chance of pregnancy. Some women may wish to track their fertility to prevent pregnancy. This is known as the fertility awareness method. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC charts fertility awareness-based methods of contraception as having a 24 percent failure rate with typical use.

However, they may still become pregnant if they have ovulated early or late in their cycle, as sperm can survive in the body for several days. Ovulation and the fertile window can change from cycle-to-cycle, but they may also alter with age. Fertility naturally begins to decline in females from 35 years of age onward. Some medical conditions, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome, also make conception more difficult. Birth control pills aim to prevent unintended pregnancy.

The pill prevents pregnancy by releasing synthetic hormones that stop ovulation from occurring and the uterus lining from thickening. So, even if the ovaries do release an egg, a fertilized egg would be unable to implant in the wall of the uterus. The pill also thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. According to the CDC , the pill is more than 99 percent effective with perfect use but only 91 percent effective with typical use.

This means that, with typical use, around 9 out of women would become pregnant in a year of taking the pill. Women who track their fertile window with the aim of getting pregnant should see their doctor for preconception planning. As well as identifying barriers to conceiving, a doctor can advise on the use of folic acid or prenatal supplements to encourage a healthy pregnancy.

Women under 35 years of age should see their doctor if they do not conceive after a year of trying. Those over 35 years of age should seek medical advice after 6 months of trying to conceive. Anyone who has irregular cycles or does not appear to ovulate should also speak to their doctor. There may be an underlying medical cause that is preventing ovulation and conception. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. If you want to get pregnant faster , you might be interested in knowing when you should have sex, how frequently to have sex, and whether there are factors that can increase or decrease your chances of becoming pregnant each month.

It's important to know that you can get pregnant at any time during your menstrual cycle, even if you are having your period. While unprotected sex doesn't lead to pregnancy every time, you can become pregnant if you have sex just one time.

In general, fertility declines with age, and teenagers are far more likely to become pregnant with only one or a few sexual encounters than older women are. If you have sex often enough, and if you are not urgently trying to get pregnant, working on strategizing the timing of sex may not be necessary.

But knowing the best time to have sex can help you if you want to get pregnant soon. You have one week every month when sex is most likely to lead to pregnancy. This is considered your fertile window , and it begins two to three days before you ovulate.

The best chance of becoming pregnant is in those days right before ovulation. Ovulation usually occurs around days 12 to 14 of a day cycle, but it varies from woman to woman based on the length of their cycle and can even vary from cycle to cycle. It's possible to have your fertile window as early as day 8 and 9 if you have a shorter cycle, or as late as days 19 and 20 with a longer cycle, for example.

The egg that ovulates is only able to be fertilized for 12 to 24 hours after it's released from the ovary, but with the help of your cervical mucus, sperm can live up to five days in the female reproductive tract.

Since it can be nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact moment of ovulation, having sex before you ovulate as opposed to after can help increase your chances of conception by having sperm ready and waiting for the egg. You may have heard that day 14 of your cycle is when you ovulate.

As a result, many women have sex on day 11, 12, and 13, thinking this will give them the best chance at conception. But many women don't ovulate on day Normal ovulation can occur as early as day 10 and as late as day If you have irregular cycles , ovulation can occur even later. Research says that the best day for sexual intercourse is the day you notice the most fertile cervical mucus.

This kind of discharge is healthy and normal, and it typically appears on the days before ovulation. Once you know what to look for, it's easy to detect. If you have discharge that has a pungent smell or causes itchiness, you may have an infection. You should see your doctor. Cervical mucus improves sperm motility movement and helps them survive. Feeling relaxed and free of stress can increase your chances of becoming pregnant, but, as with most other "rules," this is not necessarily the case.

Have you ever noticed that your libido is stronger at certain times of the month? This is no coincidence. The same hormones that increase just before ovulation also boost your desire for sex. Sexual pleasure can increase the chances of becoming pregnant, but not so much that you need to be concerned that every time you have sex it's the hottest sex ever. The theory that female orgasm might help boost the odds of conception may be wishful thinking.

This theory ignores the physiological fact that female arousal creates vaginal tenting, which actually lifts the cervix-uterine area away from the ejaculated semen. You can have terrible sex and still conceive. You can keep track of ovulation based on a calendar , and some tools use physiological changes such as body temperature, cervical mucus, or hormone levels to track signs of ovulation.

These options are over 99 percent effective against pregnancy if you follow the instructions carefully. Condoms are another effective form of birth control and also protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Having unprotected sex during your period decreases your probability of pregnancy. Tracking ovulation and determining your fertile window can decrease your chance of getting pregnant each month. Natural family planning has about a 25 percent failure rate. If you want to prevent pregnancy, the best option is to talk to your doctor about a more reliable form of birth control.

Cervical mucus can provide important clues to vaginal health, ovulation, pregnancy, and more. A hormonal intrauterine device IUD is the most effective form of birth control.

Once inserted, a hormonal IUD is Are condoms with spermicide more effective than condoms without spermicide? From IUDs and implants to condoms and diaphragms, each contraceptive has its pros and cons.

Here's how long it takes for each birth control option to…. Read on to learn what to expect. When it comes to emergency contraception, there can be a lot of confusion. Natural Cycles and other fertility awareness apps can be an effective way to prevent pregnancy. Our review explains what you need to know. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Ovulation and pregnancy Fertile window Effectiveness Other methods Contraception Takeaway We include products we think are useful for our readers.

How soon after your period can you get pregnant? When you know your average menstrual cycle length, you can work out when you ovulate. Ovulation happens about 14 days before your period starts. If your average menstrual cycle is 28 days, you ovulate around day 14, and your most fertile days are days 12, 13 and If your average menstrual cycle is 35 days ovulation happens around day 21 and your most fertile days are days 19,20 and If you have shorter cycles, say 21 days, ovulation happens around day 7 and your most fertile days are days 5, 6 and 7.

FACT A woman can only get pregnant on a few days during her menstrual cycle. Because eggs and sperm only live for a short time: Sperm live for around five days. Eggs can only be fertilised for around 24 hours one day after being released from the ovary. Getting the timing right If you're trying to get pregnant, timing is everything. What are the chances? Having sex as close as possible to the time of ovulation increases the chance of pregnancy. If she has sex five days before she ovulates, her probability of pregnancy is about 10 percent.

When does preconception health begin? How to know you are ovulating Kerry Hampton, a registered nurse and fertility specialist, discusses the importance of fertility awareness, and how to determine your fertile window to improve your chances of conceiving. Identification and prediction of the fertile window using Natural Cycles. Self-identification of the clinical fertile window and the ovulation period. Fertility and Sterility, 5 , Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility, 1 , Revisiting the fertile window.

Timing intercourse to achieve pregnancy: current evidence. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 6 ,