You are most fertile when an egg is released from your ovaries (ovulation). However, for the best chance of getting pregnant, you should have sex every two to three days throughout the month.
Regular sex
Although you’re most fertile during the days around ovulation, if you’re trying to conceive, you don’t need to time having unprotected sex to match when you’re ovulating.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) advises that, for the best chance of success, you should have sex every two to three days throughout the month.
Trying to plan sex around the time you’re ovulating can be stressful. NICE also advises that if you’re stressed, you’re less likely to have sex as often, which may affect your chances of getting pregnant.
Your menstrual cycle
Your menstrual cycle lasts from the first day of your period up to, but not including, the first day of your next period. The length of a woman’s menstrual cycle can vary. Anything from 24 to 35 days is common, although it could be longer or shorter than this. On average, it lasts 28 days.
Ovulation
During your menstrual cycle, hormones are released to stimulate your ovaries. An egg stored in your ovaries begins to grow and mature. When the egg is mature, it’s released from your ovaries (ovulation) and travels down the fallopian tubes. Occasionally, more than one egg is released.
Ovulation occurs roughly halfway through your menstrual cycle, usually around 10 to 16 days before the start of your next period. If your menstrual cycle is 28 days long, this would be around days 13 to 19 of your menstrual cycle.
Some women may recognise signs that they’re ovulating, such as:
- breast tenderness
- abdominal pain
- slight vaginal bleeding
- watery vaginal discharge
For more information, see How can I tell when I’m ovulating?
Some women choose to buy special ovulation prediction kits, which test your temperature or hormone levels to find out when you’re ovulating.
Read the answers to more questions about pregnancy.
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