When's The Best Time to Have Sex to Conceive?

Knowing a little bit about the ovulation cycle is helpful to understand the best time to attempt conception (check out our post "What happens during the female ovulation cycle"). Timing intercourse maximizes your chance of conception. 

The optimal time to have sex is during the "fertile window", which takes place in the follicular phase of the ovulation cycle. This window spans about 5-6 days, and ends the day of ovulation. There are commercially available kits that help determine this window, but an easy rule of thumb is that ovulation occurs around 14 days after the start of menstruation. Having sex daily or every other day beginning 5-6 days before ovulation and ending around 24 hours after ovulation increases the chance of sperm fertilizing an egg. 

Keep in mind that every female's ovulation cycle is different. While the "typical" ovulation cycle lasts 28 days, the cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days. Using ovulation prediction kits, or evaluating for changes in cervical mucus, can help pinpoint the best time period to attempt conception. 

*This post is for educational purposes only, and should not be taken as medical advice. If you have personal medical questions, consult with your personal physician* 

Keywords: Ovulation cycle, menstrual cycle, phases of ovulation, oocyte, timed intercourse, conception, timing conception