Stressing over a pregnancy test isn’t fun, but if you know when you’re most likely to get pregnant, you can take some of the guesswork – and anxiety – out of your life.

So first, a few basics about fertility.

Most women have a menstrual cycle every 28 days, but it can range from 21-40 days. We are each unique – some women only have a few cycles a year! Women are most likely to get pregnant 12-14 days before they have their period. The pregnancy window can last seven to ten days. Sperm can live up to 7 days which means the sperm can remain alive days after you’ve had sex. You might not ovulate for a few more days, but that sperm can still fertilize the egg when you do ovulate.

This means you are most likely to get pregnant if you have unprotected sex 3 days before you ovulate and the day you ovulate. However, since each woman is unique, there are always exceptions.

One convenient way to track your menstrual cycles is through a tracker app. Many of them tell you when you are most likely to ovulate. Whether you use an app or not, you will probably need to track your period for about six months to determine if your cycle is regular and to get an accurate idea of when you ovulate. Hopefully, this will be enough information for you to be able to tell when you are most likely to get pregnant.

You are in charge of your reproductive health, so you need to know how your body works and when you are most likely to get pregnant. If you have already gotten a positive pregnancy test and are unsure of your pregnancy decision call us here at Alcove Health. We are a safe space for you to process your options, understand your pregnancy, and receive important pregnancy medical services. All of our services are free and confidential. Call or click here to request your medical appointment today.