When can you conceive?
You can get pregnant on about six days of each cycle: the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Ovulation usually comes about 14 days before your next period, so in a 28-day cycle it falls around day 14. If you are trying for a baby, the calculator shows these fertile days for your next cycles and the due date that conceiving in each would give. If you already know the date of conception, it shows your due date.
Example: with a 28-day cycle and a period that began on March 1, 2027, the fertile window is March 10 to 16, with ovulation around March 15. Conceiving then gives a due date around December 6, 2027.
Improving the chances
- Have intercourse every one to two days during the fertile window; the two days before ovulation are the best.
- Ovulation test kits detect the hormone surge a day or two before ovulation and narrow the window.
- Start taking folic acid, 400 micrograms a day, at least a month before trying.
- Most couples conceive within a year. See a doctor after 12 months of trying, or after 6 months if you are 35 or older.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sperm live?
Up to five days in the body, while an egg lives about 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. That is why the fertile window starts before ovulation.
What if my cycles are irregular?
The dates will be less reliable. Ovulation tests or tracking your basal body temperature help find your fertile days.
How is the due date worked out from conception?
A pregnancy lasts about 266 days from conception, which is 280 days, or 40 weeks, from the last period.