Chance of conception by day
Chances of Getting Pregnant on Ovulation Day – Proov
Written by: Dr. Amy Beckley, PhD, Founder and Inventor of the Proov test — the first and only FDA-cleared test to check for successful ovulation at home.
Written on: 5/25/22
If you’re trying to conceive, you may know by now how important timing is. After all, timing intercourse around ovulation is critical to conception.
As you move through the different phases of your cycle, your chances of getting pregnant change as well. Understanding the chances of getting pregnant throughout your cycle — especially your chances of getting pregnant on ovulation day — may be the key to your success!
It’s no secret that in order to get pregnant, egg and sperm need to meet. An egg is only released during ovulation, about midway through your cycle.
Once an egg has been released, they can only survive for 12-24 hours. That means sperm has a really short amount of time in which it can fertilize the egg.
Additionally, his sperm needs some time to swim all the way through your reproductive system to reach the egg. Because of both of these factors, the chances of getting pregnant on ovulation day are about 20%.
You may be surprised by how low that number is — we sure were! The good news is that ovulation day is not the only day each cycle when it’s possible to get pregnant. Let’s keep going.
While eggs can only live for no more than a day after ovulation, sperm can actually have a much longer life span. Healthy sperm may survive in your reproductive tract for up to 5 days.
In fact, having intercourse during the few days leading up to ovulation can help ensure the sperm is ready and waiting for the egg once ovulation occurs. You should start “trying” ideally up to 3 days before ovulation actually occurs.
Here are the day-specific pregnancy probabilities based on the day of intercourse:
- 3 days before ovulation: 27%
- 2 days before ovulation: 33%
- 1 day before ovulation: 41%
- Day of ovulation: 20%
- 1 day post ovulation: 8%
You’ll see that the probability of pregnancy significantly drops on the day of and day after ovulation. Waiting too late in your cycle may hurt your chances of conception.
This is why understanding your cycle and knowing when you’re ovulating is so important!
Understanding your cycle and knowing when you ovulate is so important when trying to conceive!
How do I know when I’m ovulating?Ovulation typically occurs about midway through your cycle. If you have a regular cycle — meaning the amount of time between each period is consistent — you may be able to guess when ovulation will occur or simply time intercourse just before the middle of your cycle.
However, not everyone has a regular cycle and ovulation can vary by a day or two even in those with regular cycles. This is where tracking your cycle becomes important.
Changes in our fertility hormone levels prepare the body for and trigger ovulation each cycle. Understanding and monitoring these hormone shifts is the most tried and true way to know when you’re ovulating.
At-home ovulation tests most often measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. A dramatic increase in LH (also called a “surge”) is what triggers the ovary to release the egg.
Ovulation should occur about 12-36 hours after an LH surge. That means a positive ovulation test (which indicates an LH surge) identifies your 2 most fertile days each cycle.
But, as we know, there are a few more days each cycle when you can be fertile. Another hormone, estrogen, rises even before LH as your body gears up for ovulation.
Ovulation tests that measure estrogen and LH, like Proov Complete, provide even more fertile days each cycle.
That way you have the maximum amount of time to try!
While directly measuring your hormone levels with tools like ovulation tests are the best way to track your cycle and know when you’re ovulating, there are a few other ways to predict ovulation. Here are just a few:
- Calendar-based apps: Calendar-based apps approximate your ovulation day by using data you fed them during previous cycles. They may get it right if your period is like clockwork, but often don’t work well for people who have irregular periods.
- Cervical mucus monitoring: Monitoring changes in cervical mucus is one of the oldest ovulation tracking methods, completely free and easy to do. As estrogen rises and you approach the LH surge, your vaginal discharge turns into an egg-white, stretchy mucus that is sperm friendly. Note that semen leftovers may be mistaken for fertile cervical mucus and dehydration can impact cervical mucus production.
- Mittelschmerz: Mittelschmerz is a lower pelvic (usually one-sided) pain, associated with ovulation.
Some women can swear they know when they release an egg, and they probably do. The problem is that lower pelvic pain may occur for several reasons and this makes it a rather unreliable marker for the prediction of ovulation.
Not quite! Remember that ovulation tests measure LH which surges right before ovulation should occur. While an LH surge is a fairly reliable indicator that ovulation is approaching, it doesn’t actually tell you if you have ovulated.
In fact, many women, especially those with PCOS, postpartum, or in perimenopause may experience either several LH peaks or high LH levels throughout their cycle.
The only way to know if ovulation actually occurred is to confirm it, with a PdG test like Proov Confirm. PdG is only released after ovulation occurs and is necessary for preparing the body for implantation and pregnancy.
If you want to increase your chances of pregnancy even more, you’ll want to test your PdG levels during the implantation window.
Studies show that elevated PdG levels during the implantation window (after ovulation) are correlated with a 92% chance of successful pregnancy, compared to just a 19% chance in those with low PdG levels.
Timing intercourse just before ovulation day can help increase your chances of pregnancy!
How many days after ovulation can you get pregnant?
It is possible to become pregnant after ovulation. When a person has sex within 12–24 hours after the release of a mature egg, there is a high chance of conceiving.
Ovulation occurs when one of the ovaries releases a mature egg. This is the time when the body is ready to receive sperm for fertilization.
If fertilization does not occur, the egg disintegrates into the uterine lining. The body will then shed the remains during a person’s monthly period.
Ovulation lasts anywhere from 12–24 hours. After the ovary releases an egg, it survives for about 24 hours before it dies, unless a sperm fertilizes it.
If a person has sex days before or during the ovulation period, there is a high chance of conceiving. This is because sperm can survive up to 5 days in the cervix. Therefore, it is important to understand the fertile window.
The fertile window is the period of time during which it is possible to become pregnant from sex. This is the day of ovulation plus the amount of time that sperm can live inside the cervix before it fertilizes the egg.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a person can become pregnant if they have sex anywhere from 5 days before until 1 day after ovulation.
Depending on the menstrual cycle, the fertile window may vary from one person to another.
To calculate the fertility window, a person should note the first day of a period until the next period occurs. This timeframe is the menstrual cycle. On average, most people who menstruate have a 28-day cycle.
However, according to the Office on Women’s Health, for some, it may last 21–35 days.
According to the ACOG, ovulation occurs around day 14 of the menstrual cycle.
A person with a 28-day cycle, for example, will have their fertile window 5 days before the ovulation date.
Pregnancy is possible 12–24 hours after ovulation. This is because the released egg can only survive 24 hours before the sperm can no longer fertilize it.
The likelihood of getting pregnant on the days before and after ovulation varies from one person to another.
An older study from 1995 looked at the timing of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation and the likelihood of conception.
Out of 221 healthy women, there were 192 pregnancies. Researchers concluded they could estimate the odds of becoming pregnant on each day of the fertile window as between 10–33%, depending on the day.
| 5 days before ovulation | 10% |
| 4 days before ovulation | 16% |
| 3 days before ovulation | 14% |
| 2 days before ovulation | 27% |
| 1 day before ovulation | 31% |
| Ovulation day | 33% |
The same study authors also note there could be a 12% chance of conceiving on either day 7 before ovulation and the day after ovulation.
However, the chances of becoming pregnant before or after ovulation depend on several factors, including:
- age
- frequency of sexual intercourse
- menstrual cycle
For those trying to conceive, tracking ovulation is crucial to ensure they identify the most fertile days in the menstrual cycle.
Here are some of the methods a person can use to track or predict ovulation.
Basal body temperature charting
Basal body temperature (BBT) is the temperature when the body is at rest.
Charting BBT for a series of months by measuring every morning after waking up will help predict ovulation.
During or when ovulation approaches, there is a slight increase in BBT. A person can use a digital thermometer to track these small changes in temperature.
Monitoring BBT can help tell when ovulation occurs and therefore predict the days in the cycle when pregnancy is possible.
Ovulation predictor kits
Using ovulation predictor kits, such as test strips and digital tests, will help measure the level of luteinizing hormone (LH), which usually rises during ovulation.
A person needs to take tests for consecutive days to detect the rise in LH.
Once they notice a consistent rise, experts recommend having sex daily for the next couple of days to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Cycle charting apps
Several cycle apps, such as the Clue period tracker and Flo period ovulation tracker, can help calculate the ovulation period and fertile window.
Charting ovulation using these apps will indicate the ovulation date and days when a person’s body is most fertile.
Fertility monitors
For people trying to conceive or wishing to avoid pregnancy, using fertility monitors to track ovulation can help people plan intercourse.
Fertility monitors work by measuring significant body changes, such as BBT, heart rate, and breathing.
By compiling this data, the fertility monitor can predict the fertile window.
Cervical mucus method
Observing cervical mucus can give an idea of when a person may be ovulating.
When ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus changes to a thin, clear, stringy, slippery consistency. It may look similar to raw egg whites.
The mucus allows the sperm to swim to the released egg during intercourse.
Ideally, this is the ideal time to have sex due to the high chances of becoming pregnant.
Watching ovulation signs, such as a slight increase in BBT, changes in cervical mucus, and increased sex drive, can help determine the best time to have sex to boost chances of becoming pregnant.
In addition, having sex during the fertile window increases the chances of conception. During this timeframe, the body is ready to receive sperm for fertilization.
On average, a menstrual cycle lasts between 21–35 days.
An irregular cycle or absent cycle that lasts fewer than 21 days or more than 35 days, can mean that a person is not ovulating.
A person should speak with a doctor if they do not become pregnant after 1 year of trying to conceive.
Age may also determine when to seek help. People between 35–40 years of age should speak with a doctor after 6 months of trying to get pregnant. For those above 40 years of age, a healthcare professional may run some fertility tests.
A doctor may also test for possible signs of infertility or if a person has ever had repeated miscarriages, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, prior cancer treatment, or a history of irregular periods.
A person can get pregnant 12–24 hours after ovulation, as a released egg can survive up to 24 hours within the cervix.
For those trying to conceive, it is crucial to understand the menstrual cycle.
Beyond this, a person can use methods, such as BBT charting, cycle charting apps, fertility monitors, changes in cervical mucus, and ovulation predictor kits to boost the chances of pregnancy.
9 rules of conception - what to do to increase the chances of conceiving a child
Sometimes it happens that it is not possible to conceive a child immediately, but after several unsuccessful sexual intercourses, you should not sound the alarm and diagnose yourself with infertility.
Perhaps your “stork”, who will bring you a baby, just needs to actively help.
Rule 1
Everyone knows that the male reproductive cell is the basis of conception, therefore, a certain energy is required from the spermatozoon to ensure its mobility, because an energetic spermatozoon is able to go further, and one should not expect conception from a weak one. And if pregnancy occurs, then there is a high risk of DNA breakdowns, which lead to a missed pregnancy or spontaneous abortion. That is why, two weeks before the decisive sexual intercourse, you need to start preparing a man. To do this, you need to start feeding him properly: include more meat, nuts, vitamin E in the diet. Such nutrition will help increase sperm motility. nine0003
It is worth noting that the excessive activity of partners for conception is not only useless, but also harmful. Therefore, before the decisive sexual intercourse, a man should abstain for 2-3 days in order to accumulate energy.
One couple went to the doctor because they could not conceive a child. During the conversation, it turned out that the couple wants a child so much that they have sex 2-3 times a day. After that, the doctor advised to abstain from sex for several days. Following the recommendation of the doctor, the couple managed to conceive a child. nine0003
Rule 2
The first intercourse is decisive for conception. All further acts in the evening or night are just for fun. The fact is that after the first sexual intercourse, the concentration of spermatozoa decreases by almost half, so subsequent ejaculations, as experts joke, are one water.
Rule 3
Immediately after ejaculation, a man should remove the penis from the vagina to help the sperm to penetrate further, which greatly increases the likelihood of conception. nine0003
Rule 4
The female orgasm can prevent conception. This happens because during orgasm, the cervix rises a little, so the spermatozoa have to climb this peak, which significantly reduces the chance of one of them reaching the egg.
Rule 5
Proper timing of conception plays a significant role in conception. A woman is more fertile in the middle of the cycle, when the egg matures (ovulation period). 5-6 days before ovulation are also considered favorable: this is how long a sperm cell can live, waiting for an egg and remaining capable. The period within 6 days after ovulation is also considered favorable, since the female egg remains viable during this period of time. nine0003
Rule 6
Douching with baking soda before intercourse can significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant. It is known that a woman may have hidden inflammation, which she does not even know about. As a result of inflammation, an acidic environment arises, which is extremely harmful to spermatozoa and can not only significantly reduce their activity, but even completely destroy them. If there is no inflammation, then douching still does not hurt.
7 rule
The actions of a woman after intercourse are of great importance.
Little depends on the man and he can safely go to the shower, but the woman should lie down for a while. With the normal position of the uterus and cervix, it is best to lie on your back, while pressing your knees to your chest. If a woman has a bend of the uterus, it is better to lie on her stomach. These positions allow the cervix to sink freely into the semen pool, which increases the chance of sperm penetration. There are also specific cases, for example, when there is inflammation of the appendages. In this situation, the uterus can turn to the side, but in which one - this can only be determined by a gynecologist at a consultation. Then the doctor can tell you exactly which side is better to lie on. nine0003
8 rule
Choosing the right position can greatly increase your chances of conceiving a child. Unfortunately, the choice of correct poses is not great - this is the classic missionary pose. But if you try to get pregnant, for example, while standing, then the liquid will simply pour out.
There is indeed an exception. If a woman has a uterine bend, then the back position is suitable.
Rule 9
After sexual intercourse, it is imperative to relax and preferably be in an excellent state of mind for the next few days. Meditation, nature walks, outdoor activities, etc. can help with this. Waiting and worrying is not the best condition for this period. In a state of stress, the contractile activity of the fallopian tubes, which promote spermatozoa to the egg, is disrupted. Listen to the recommendations of gynecologists and you will succeed. nine0003
How to calculate the most successful days for conception?
The importance of keeping a menstrual cycle calendar is taught to girls from a young age. Not everyone heeds such advice from gynecologists, but in vain. Regular maintenance of the menstruation calendar makes it possible to accurately determine the length of the cycle, notice deviations from the norm in time, detect pregnancy and calculate favorable days for conception and the so-called “safe” days, when the probability is close to zero.
nine0003
Let's note right away: the calendar method of contraception is extremely unreliable, it is not able to fully protect you from unwanted pregnancy, and even more so from STIs. However, he will help you calculate the days when conception is most likely. The main conditions in this case are keeping a diary of menstruation for 4-6 months (the longer the better) and the regularity of menstruation.
The female cycle can be conditionally divided into several segments:
- egg maturation; nine0057 ovulation;
- transfer of a mature egg to the uterine cavity;
- menstruation.
Normally, the cycle lasts from 21 to 35 days, of which 2-7 days fall on the actual menstruation. The features of the course of the cycle are very individual, so you should not compare your body with others and be guided by the experience of your friends. If you are worried about heavy or too scanty periods, severe pain these days, discharge of a strange color (for example, bright scarlet or dark brown), it is worth visiting a gynecologist.
nine0003
The most favorable days for conception are 4-5 days before ovulation and 1-2 days after it. Ovulation (the release of an egg ready for fertilization) occurs approximately in the middle of the cycle: for example, with a duration of 28 days, this is day 14. Its approach and onset can be indicated by abundant, protein-like mucous discharge from the vagina, slight aching pains in the abdomen. Today, pharmacies sell ovulation tests that will help clarify its onset. The highest probability of conception is actually on the day of ovulation. If fertilization occurs, menstruation does not come at the appointed time. nine0003
Important! Many girls who dream of getting pregnant start doing home jet tests a few days before the date of the expected menstruation, but this is not right. Despite the fact that modern pharmacology produces tests with very high sensitivity, capable of recognizing pregnancy in the early stages, for the reliability of the result, you should wait for the day of the expected menstruation.
If bleeding does not occur, the next day, a test can be done from the first portion of urine (this is important, since the highest dose of hCG is contained in it). With each day of delay, the level of hCG in the urine increases, therefore, the accuracy of the test results also increases. First of all, pregnancy is detected by a blood test for hCG, since the concentration of this hormone in it is 2 times higher than in urine. Therefore, especially impatient people should visit the laboratory 1-2 days before the date of the expected menstruation. nine0003
If conception does not occur, the bleeding comes at the right time and a new cycle begins.
The probability of conception, in addition to the day of the female cycle, is also influenced by other factors, namely:
Important! The calendar method is not a reliable method of contraception! Conception is influenced by a huge number of factors, and it is simply impossible to take into account all of them on your own.
