The simple answer to this question is, yes. As it turns out, you can get pregnant at any time during your cycle, the chances of conception are just less during certain times of the month. Women are most fertile 14 days before the beginning of their next menstrual period, when ovulation occurs. The egg, once released, can survive from 24-48 hours, which means that it could become fertilized during this time after ovulation. Sperm can survive much longer than the egg, some live as long as 5 days in the right environment (such as the female reproductive tract).

Tracking your cycle can help you monitor when you are most likely to become (or not become) pregnant. If you are trying to get pregnant, you should have sex right before, during and/or within 24 hours of ovulation. There are many ways to monitor your ovulation including studying the changes in your cervical mucus, using a basal thermometer, or using an ovulation calendar or calculator.

Posted in Trying to Get Pregnant

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