When Should You Have Sex To Get Pregnant?

For some people, pregnancy happens quickly, easily and even accidentally. For others, it can require more careful planning. So, when’s the best time to have sex to maximize your chances of becoming pregnant? Let’s take a look with Ob/Gyn Erica Newlin, MD.

Understanding your fertile window and how to conceive

Pregnancy can only occur after ovulation, which is when your ovaries release an egg — and only after that egg is fertilized by sperm during unprotected sexual intercourse (or through infertility treatment).

But there’s a catch: Each month, there’s actually only a very short period of time when you can get pregnant. “Once you’ve ovulated, you have just about a 12-hour period of time to conceive,” Dr. Newlin says.

That’s because after you ovulate, the lifespan of an egg is only about 24 hours. That means that if that egg isn’t fertilized within the first 12 hours after ovulation, conception likely won’t happen. This period of time is your “fertile window.”

Best time to get pregnant

Because the post-ovulation window is so short, it’s best to have sex before ovulation, if you can.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that if you wait until you’ve already ovulated to have sex, then your fertile window is much lower,” Dr. Newlin clarifies. “Sperm can survive inside the body for about 72 hours, so if you have intercourse within that three-day span before you ovulate, it’ll give you higher chances of getting pregnant.”

That way, by the time the egg is released, there’s already sperm inside the cervical reservoirs waiting to fertilize it.

But how can you tell when ovulation will begin? It usually happens around the 14th day of a 28-day menstrual cycle.

“We typically recommend that 10 days after your period starts, you start having intercourse at least every other day,” she says. “Continue until you get a peak on an ovulation strip, or 12 days before you expect your next period.”

Tracking ovulation

Everyone’s menstrual cycle is different, so you may start ovulating sooner or later than day 14 of your cycle. To increase your chances of getting pregnant, you’ll need to understand your body’s timing.

• Track your ovulation. Keeping an ovulation calendar can help you figure out when to start having sex to try to get pregnant. There are phone apps for tracking, but you can also do it the old-fashioned way, with pen and paper.
• Use ovulation strips. Over-the-counter ovulation strips may help you figure out when you’re in your fertile window. After a few months of keeping track, you’ll start to know which day of your cycle you’re likely to ovulate — and, thus, when to have sex to maximize the likelihood of conception.
• Have sex before you ovulate. Dr. Newlin reiterates that you should start having intercourse in the 72 hours before you ovulate. From there, have sex at least every other day until you’ve finished ovulating.

Tracking your ovulation as part of an overall “period diary” can help you better understand the timing of your menstrual cycle. Make note of the first day of your period each month, along with how heavy your flow is and any symptoms you’re having.

“That way, if you need to talk to your Ob/Gyn about your fertility down the road, you have a record of what you’ve been experiencing while you’ve been trying to conceive,” Dr. Newlin says. “Looking at that record gives us a good idea of your cycles.”

Lifestyle and health tips for getting pregnant

You’re tracking your ovulation and timing sex accordingly, but what else can you do to ready your body for pregnancy? Dr. Newlin shares a few tips that can have a big impact on your reproductive health.

• Consider a preconception visit. You can make an appointment with your Ob/Gyn before you even start trying to get pregnant. “We’ll go through health risks, medications and any sort of genetic testing that might be indicated before a pregnancy,” she says.
• Don’t smoke. This is a big one! Nicotine can negatively affect fertility in both men and women, so quitting smoking can go a long way.
• Manage stress. Stress can mess with the timing of your periods and have other serious effects on your body and mind. But stress relief and stress management can help keep you physically and emotionally healthy.
• Exercise regularly. It’s time to start working out, if you don’t already. Physical activity improves heart health, helps with weight management and relieves stress, which are all pluses when you’re trying to get pregnant.
• Follow a healthy diet. The best foods for fertility are those that are best for your overall health: whole foods that are nutrient-rich and low in sugar.
• Achieve a healthy weight. Having obesity or underweight may make it harder to get pregnant. Your primary care provider or Ob/Gyn can share recommendations to help you reach and maintain a weight that’s healthiest for you.
• Start prenatal vitamins. Yes, you can take prenatal vitamins before you’re pregnant! Just be sure to run it by your healthcare provider ahead of time. They should always be in the loop on what supplements you take.

Of course, it takes two to tango. Male infertility affects about 10% to 15% of men in the U.S. who are trying to conceive, so encourage your partner to focus on their health as well.

“Encourage them to exercise, stop smoking and abstain from drugs, like marijuana, as you’re trying to conceive,” Dr. Newlin recommends.

When to see a doctor for help getting pregnant

The general rule of thumb is that if you’re under age 35 and haven’t gotten pregnant after trying for a year, it’s time to talk with a healthcare provider about your fertility. This is if you’re having regular menstrual cycles and appropriately timed intercourse, but still aren’t conceiving.

“Your Ob/Gyn can do a first preliminary evaluation of your fertility and let you know if you or your partner needs to see a specialist,” Dr. Newlin says.

But there are times when you should talk to your Ob/Gyn sooner if you’re not getting pregnant on the timeline you’d hoped for:

• You’re over age 35. “We know that age and fertility are closely linked, so if you’re over 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for six months without success, make an appointment to talk to your provider,” Dr. Newlin urges.
• You have irregular ovulation. If your menstrual cycles are irregular or unpredictable, or your ovulation strips never tell you you’re ovulating, don’t wait a full year to talk to your Ob/Gyn about trying to get pregnant.
• You have a history of pregnancy loss. If you’ve had more than one pregnancy that resulted in miscarriage or stillbirth, your provider will want to discuss tests, evaluations and possible treatments to give you the best chance of achieving your pregnancy goals.
• Your health history may affect your fertility. Talk to your provider sooner if you’ve had radiation or chemotherapy in the past or have had surgery on your ovaries or reproductive organs.

“You can also always talk to your provider about pregnancy when you see them at your routine gynecological visits, like your annual well-woman exam,” Dr. Newlin points out. “This is a great time to tell them what you’re experiencing so that they can weigh in on your timeline, any concerns you have and whether they recommend specific testing.”