When you’re trying to get pregnant, scheduling sex can feel like a chore. Using ovulation predictor kits helps you pin down your fertile window, which usually lasts from several days before ovulation to one day after.
However, studies show that sexual activity during the peri-implantation window lowers the likelihood of pregnancy. Orgasms in particular may cause an inflammatory reaction that interferes with embryo implantation.
Fertilization
During fertilization, an egg and sperm unite to form a diploid cell called a zygote. The zygote then implants in the uterus, beginning pregnancy. Fertilization typically takes place in the fallopian tubes, where an egg goes after it leaves the ovary. Fertilization can occur with or without sex, but the odds of conception are highest when the sperm and egg encounter each other shortly after an individual’s ovulation.
Upon ejaculation, hundreds of millions of sperm are released into the vagina. However, most of them are overcome by the acidity of the vaginal fluid (approximately pH 3.8) and many more are blocked from entering the uterus by thick cervical mucus. Of the sperm that do successfully enter, thousands are destroyed by phagocytic uterine leukocytes. This reduces the number of sperm that are actually ready to meet an egg to just a few thousand.
The lifespan of sperm is much longer than that of an egg, which means that it’s possible to get pregnant even if sexual activity takes place after ovulation. However, many studies suggest that the best chance of conception is with sex during the fertile window, which usually spans the days before and after ovulation.
While there are several ways to determine when an individual is most likely to ovulate, the most accurate way is by using a ovulation monitor such as an ovulation predictor kit. These kits test for different hormones that peak around the time of ovulation. Having sex regularly during this period will give you the best chances of getting pregnant. However, some couples may feel uncomfortable or unwilling to be intimate during this time. They could decide to skip this part of the cycle, which will greatly lower their chances of conception. In these cases, it’s advisable to use birth control.
Implantation
Implantation is the earliest stage of pregnancy when an embryo attaches to the uterus. It typically happens a week after you ovulate. But the timing can vary based on when you ovulate and whether or not your conception occurred early or late in the implantation window. Symptoms of implantation may include light bleeding, cramping, bloating, nausea, headaches, mood swings, or an increase in basal body temperature (BBT) (5). However, not everyone experiences these symptoms. And many women do not experience any implantation symptoms at all, even though they are pregnant.
If you’re trying to conceive, it’s important to know that the fertilized egg needs a thick uterine lining to successfully implant. Studies have shown that cycles with a thicker uterine lining result in more successful pregnancies (1).
After ovulation, the sperm enters the fallopian tube and fertilizes the egg within 12 hours. The fertilized egg then travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it implants in the uterus lining. This process is called implantation and usually takes six to ten days, depending on when you ovulate and how early or late your conception was (2).
Some women do notice signs and symptoms of implantation, such as light bleeding, cramping, bloating, and sore breasts. These symptoms are similar to those experienced before a period and can be mistaken for menstrual symptoms. In addition, a rise in basal body temperature is an indicator of ovulation and can be used to time unprotected sex.
Other signs of implantation are changes in cervical mucus. Just before ovulation, you may notice that your cervical mucus is clear, stretchy, and slippery, resembling egg whites. After ovulation, your mucus becomes thicker. It’s also a good idea to track your ovulation cycle using an ovulation kit or online ovulation calculator, and have unprotected sex on the days that indicate the thickest mucus.
Pregnancy
Some people think that lying on your back with your hips elevated after sex will help ensure that every last sperm gets the chance to make it into your fallopian tube. However, this is just a myth with no scientific basis. During ejaculation, millions of sperm cells are set free to swim up through your vagina or fallopian tubes and reach the egg. Once there, they fight to penetrate the outer layer of the egg and break through to fertilize it. If the egg is fertilized, it will then implant into your uterine lining around day 21.
When you want to get pregnant, it is important to have sex during the most fertile time of your menstrual cycle. This is known as the “fertile window”, and it begins four to five days before ovulation and ends 24 hours after. Your chances of getting pregnant are highest during this period, but you can still conceive on other days as well.
To determine when you’re most fertile, you can watch for ovulation signs like changes in cervical mucus and a rise in basal body temperature. You can also buy ovulation predictor kits (OPKs), which test for hormones in your urine that spike at the time of ovulation.
Having sex during the fertile window will significantly increase your chances of becoming pregnant. During this timeframe, the cervix is soft and slippery, making it easier for sperm to slide through. You may also notice a change in your sex drive during this time.
If you’re trying to conceive without using protection, it’s best to have unprotected sex during the fertile window. This will give you the best chance of fertilizing an egg and implantation. You can also use in vitro fertilization (IVF) to get pregnant, which works the same way as natural conception except that an embryo is created in a lab and then implanted into the uterus.
