If you have been trying to conceive for a while now, you may have asked yourself this question a few times, “am I having sex when I should?” You may have even timed sex on the 14th day of your cycle because every article and video you have come across seem to mention the 14th day of the cycle, as the day of ovulation yet you still experience a bit of delay with getting pregnant.
In this article, I’ll be teaching you the right time to have sex when trying to conceive which is the fertile window.
If you'd prefer to watch a video, kindly click the play button in the video below or scroll past it to continue reading
The fertile window is made up of 6 days. 5 days before ovulation and the day of the ovulation. This is when you should be having sex if you want to get pregnant, simple. You are only fertile for 6 days in your cycle. And why is this so? This is because the sperm can survive in the uterus for up to 5 days.
Most women are very anxious to know the day of ovulation and have sex in that day but do you know the best time is actually before ovulation so there’s a sperm there waiting as soon as the egg drops because your chances drop significantly after ovulation.
Your chances increase as you go along the fertile window. So if you’ve been tracking your cycle before now you should know when you ovulate.
When I say tracking I don't mean the regular period apps that ask for just the day of your last period to track ovulation. I mean tracking with your cervical mucus (what we call vagina discharge), ovulation kits and temperature. If you know this, then it's easier to count 5 days backwards to have an idea of your fertile window.
Maybe you have no idea when your fertile window is, I’ll be explaining how you can determine yours shortly.
Before we start, you should know that it’s important to have sex every other day in your cycle when you can, not just waiting for when you ovulate. This will help with bonding in your relationship. Bonding is important so baby making sex doesn’t feel like work, another thing to check off your to-do list. It also helps the quality of sperm when a man has sex more often.
Before we start, you should know that it’s important to have sex every other day in your cycle when you can, not just waiting for when you ovulate. This will help with bonding in your relationship. Bonding is important so baby making sex doesn’t feel like work, another thing to check off your to-do list. It also helps the quality of sperm when a man has sex more often.
1. Cervical Mucus
To get pregnant, you need to have sex more frequently as you begin to see the fertile quality cervical mucus.
When you begin to see wet cervical mucus it means your fertile window is opening. At this stage, you can begin to see the cervical mucus like lotion. My advice is to begin to have sex every other day which is like you have sex today take a break tomorrow and have sex the next day.
The most fertile quality cervical mucus is usually very wet and clear like eggwhite or just watery. It tells you ovulation is really close. You should have sex everyday as you begin to see this quality of cervical mucus.
2. Ovulation test kits
These are at home tests that tell when you are about to ovulate. Unlike many people think, having a positive ovulation test does not mean you are ovulating on that day. It simply means you will be ovulating soon in the next 12 to 36 hours.
As you begin to have fertile quality cervical mucus you will see that you begin to see two lines on the strip, a faint line, beside the test line. it means LH is rising. You should have sex every other day.
As soon as you get a positive test, which two very dark lines, you want to increase lovemaking to at least once a day until you get a negative test.
Whichever of these two signs you decide to use, they can only tell you ovulation is approaching, not that it has happened. Many times there are cases of failed ovulation. Almost happens but never happens. It is very common in the case of women with PCOS. How do you then confirm that indeed ovulation has happened? With your temperature! It also helps you know when to take a break from lovemaking.
It’s best to continue daily sex from when you have the most fertile quality cervical mucus and positive ovulation test until you have had three raised temperatures. That tells you for sure that you have ovulated. Other signs tell you, you are about to ovulate but three raised temperature tells you you have ovulated and maximized the fertile window.
Using a cycle chart like this to track your fertility signs and time sex right is key and very important when trying to conceive especially if you want to get pregnant fast.
Are you confused on how to tell the difference between fertile and infertile cervical mucus or can't figure out your fertile window? Get my short E-book 'How to get pregnant faster'
I am also the founder of Women's Health Platforms Foundation, an NGO clinic in Abuja providing women with low-cost preventive healthcare services.
Did you find this article helpful? Drop a comment and share with a friend!