Days to have intercourse to conceive calculator

Estimate your fertility window with our easy-to-use ovulation calculator

If you’re trying to fall pregnant, the timing of when you and your partner have intercourse is critical.

IVFAustralia's Ovulation Calculator will help you understand your ‘fertile window’ – or your window of opportunity to fall pregnant during an average menstrual cycle. You should be having sex every couple of days during your fertile window to maximise your chance of getting pregnant.

For our Ovulation Calculator to be the most accurate and useful, you’ll need to keep track of the dates of your recent menstrual periods. 

Your cycle length is the number of days between the first day of bleeding of one period, and the first day of bleeding of the next. A woman's menstrual cycle can vary from 23 to 35 days, with the average cycle length being about 28 days. If you have irregular menstrual cycles, calculating your ovulation date can be more difficult, but we suggest going by your shortest period date to ensure you don’t miss your ovulation date. Ovulation urine tests can give you some idea of your fertility window, or you might find further advice from your GP or fertility specialist useful.

How to use our ovulation calculator

Simply select your usual cycle length from the dropdown box and then choose the date on the calendar when your last period started. With this information, our ovulation calculator estimates your next fertility window (and the next one after that).

Based on your results from our ovulation calculator, you can also sign up for handy email reminders, so you’ll always know your ‘Fertile Window' each month.

How to calculate your fertile window / how to calculate ovulation

To calculate your fertile window, you need to determine what day you ovulate. To do this, you need to know the length of your menstrual cycle (which tends to vary from 23 to 35 days).

The length of your menstrual cycle is the number of days from the first day of bleeding in your last period, to the first day of bleeding in your next. From this figure, subtract 14 days from the end of your current cycle to determine the approximate day you ovulate.

Remember that your best chance of success is from intercourse just before you ovulation - 1-2 days before you ovulate.

What are the common signs of ovulation?

Ovulation differs from woman to woman, but here are a few common symptoms of ovulation to look out for:

  • Your cervical mucus will become more stretchy and clear, like an egg white (this change makes it easier for sperm to swim to the egg).
  • Your basal body temperature will rise slightly and stay elevated during your most fertile days.
  • You might experience nausea and headaches while you ovulate due to changes in your levels of oestrogen and progesterone.
  • Your cervix may become higher, softer, and more open.
  • Light brown spotting or discharge.
  • Mild pain in the pelvis or lower abdominals.
  • Increased sex drive.
  • Increased sensitivity to smell and taste.
  • Sore or tender breasts.

What if I have irregular menstrual cycles?

If you have irregular menstrual cycles, or your cycle length varies from month to month, it can be difficult to calculate your ovulation date. Ovulation urine tests or ovulation tracking may be useful, and you should consider seeking further advice from your GP or a fertility specialist.

Don’t worry if you have recently stopped using oral contraceptive pills, IUDs or implants, even for a long period of time - this will not cause infertility. If your periods are irregular once you stop using contraception you should consult your GP.

A typical menstrual cycle will range between 23 to 35 days. Speak to your GP or a fertility specialist if you are concerned about variations in your menstrual cycle.  

How long should I try to get pregnant before seeking specialist advice?

It is recommended that you consider seeking professional advice after trying to conceive naturally without success for 12 months if you are under 35 years-old or after 6 months if you are over 35.

A fertility specialist can conduct some simple fertility tests to find out what’s happening, explore all your options and help you fall pregnant sooner. 

Ovulation cycle tracking

Ovulation cycle tracking can help you confidently understand your fertile window by tracking your hormone cycle and detecting the hormone surge associated with ovulation. Read more about ovulation cycle tracking...

Days to have intercourse to conceive calculator

Watch our fertility videos

Fertile Minds YouTube Channel

Watch helpful videos on all things fertility, from how to track your cycle and the best time to have sex to conceive, to gaining knowledge about female fertility factors such as endometriosis, fibroids and PCOS. Check out the Fertile Minds playlist here.

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Days to have intercourse to conceive calculator

How many days does it take to conceive after intercourse?

Pregnancy doesn't start the day you have sex — It actually takes up to 2-3 weeks after sex to become officially pregnant. It can take up to 6 days after sex for the sperm and egg to join — if a sperm cell joins with an egg, it's called fertilization. The fertilized egg moves towards your uterus.

How can I calculate my best days to get pregnant?

To calculate this – you should note how many days have passed from the first day of bleeding in your last period, to the first day of bleeding in your next. From this figure, subtract 14 days from the end of your current cycle to determine the day you ovulate.

When should I have intercourse to conceive morning or night?

According to one study in Zurich, the best time to have sex to conceive a baby is before 7:30 a.m. during the months of March, April, and May.

How long after intercourse does sperm reach egg?

Once the sperm enters the reproductive system, it can take about 30-45 minutes to reach the egg. For this, it is important to have a healthy sperm which has the right kind of motility to reach the egg and fertilize it. Once inside the body of a woman, a healthy sperm can live up to 2-5 days.