How Long Does Ovulation Last and When Are You Most Fertile?

You may already know that your fertility is largely linked to ovulation, but you may be unsure of how long ovulation lasts and when exactly you are at your most fertile. Whether you’re hoping to conceive (TTC), or trying to avoid pregnancy (TTA), learning to identify your fertile window and day of ovulation is key to being able to predict when you are most fertile.

In this article, we will discuss the basics of the ovulation process, key signs to look out for, and provide practical advice on monitoring and predicting your fertile window each cycle, aiming to support you on your fertility journey.

What Is Ovulation?

To define ovulation in simple terms – or to clarify the “ovulating” meaning – it is the moment where an egg is released from your ovaries, which typically happens midway through your menstrual cycle, after your brain releases a special hormonal trigger, known as an LH surge. A man’s sperm is then able to fertilize this released egg, leading to conception.

You typically release only one egg in each cycle. However, in some cases, you may release more than one egg, which can lead to twins if both eggs are fertilized.

While you may be at your most fertile for several days, ovulation is in fact one specific moment, and part of a broader fertile window in your cycle. But how long does ovulation last, and when are you most fertile, exactly?

How Long Does Ovulation Last?

While you can define ovulation to a single moment, your fertile window can span up to 6 days. These 6 days are the days in your cycle when you are most likely to get pregnant if you have unprotected sex. 

With this in mind, it’s important to consider that the lifespan of the egg is only 12-24 hours after release, whereas sperm can live as long as 5 days after sex. Depending on whether you wish to conceive or avoid pregnancy, factor these timings into when you have sex in your cycle.

Ovulation timing at a glance:

• Ovulation lasts: a moment

• Egg viability: up to 24 hours

• Sperm lifespan: up to 5 days

• Fertile window: approx. 6 days (5 days before ovulation + ovulation day)

If you’re looking to conceive and your partner wishes to look into his own fertility health, you could consider our Mira Male Fertility Kit, which can provide insights into sperm count, motility, and the shape of a man’s sperm - all important factors in achieving pregnancy. 

Our sperm test is FDA-cleared, doctor-recommended, and can be carried out in the privacy and comfort of your own home, making it easier than ever to assess sperm health.

Signs That You're Ovulating

With ovulation being such a key part of your cycle, it can be handy to know some of the signs to look out for to help identify when you are ovulating. Here are some common symptoms:

• Cervical Mucus Changes

• Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Shift

• LH Surge 

• Cervix Position

• Increased Libido or Cramping After Period

Some of these signs can be predictive, meaning that they may present in the days before you ovulate, while others may be retrospective, meaning that they will signal that ovulation may have just happened. Learning to recognize both kinds of signs can be helpful in identifying your fertile window.

When Ovulation Starts and Ends

Let’s discuss some of these predictive and retrospective signs of ovulation in further detail, and how you can use them to figure out when ovulation is due to begin, and when it has happened.

We have mentioned a couple of times in this article how an LH surge plays a role in your fertile window. Officially known as the luteinizing hormone, or LH for short, it is a hormone your brain releases that triggers ovulation. Your LH levels begin to increase between 24-36 hours before ovulation, and can be a telltale predictive sign that ovulation is about to happen.

Ovulation ends once your ovary has released an egg. You can then use retrospective symptoms, such as your BBT shift, to confirm that ovulation has occurred.

How to Track Ovulation (With Pros and Cons)

Calendar Method

There are many methods you can use to track ovulation, all offering their own advantages as well as some potential drawbacks. You may find yourself trying various options before landing on a method that is right for you and your cycle.

The calendar method, for example, involves learning the patterns and timings of your menstrual symptoms over time and using them to identify and predict your fertile window. This method can be useful for women with regular cycles, but it is not always the most accurate, and it requires strict tracking of your own symptoms each month.

BBT Tracking

Another option is to track your basal body temperature, or BBT, which rises after ovulation. This also requires consistent tracking each morning. The Mira BBT Tracker can be a useful, easy-to-use tool, helping you take these daily readings and record your data accurately and identify your fertile window with ease.

Cervical Mucus Tracking

Your vaginal discharge changes throughout the various stages of your cycle, with its most distinct change occurring at ovulation, when it takes on an egg-white consistency. You may have noticed this change, but you may not be aware that it’s not actually your normal vaginal discharge, but your cervical mucus being released, and is one of the most telltale signs that ovulation has occurred.

Tracking your cervical mucus to help identify your fertile window can be handy, but works best when combined with other methods, particularly in combination with monitoring more predictive symptoms, such as your hormone levels.

Hormone Monitoring 

Hormone monitoring is another effective option for tracking your cycle and identifying your fertile window, as it is triggered by the significant LH surge that occurs in the days leading up to ovulation, for example.

That being said, real-time hormone tracking offers you the best results. If this is an option you’d like to consider, you could try our Mira Hormone Monitor and Mira Wands. With data syncing automatically to your Mira App, it offers a quick, stress-free way to track your daily readings, while also tracking other key fertility hormones and their metabolites such as FSH, LH, E3G, and PdG for real-time fertility insights, something traditional OPKs can’t do.

Here’s a quick summary on the different options we have discussed:

TTC? How to Maximize Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

Are you looking to conceive with your partner? Let’s discuss some advice on how you can improve your chances of getting pregnant. 

Once you’ve learnt how to identify and predict your fertile window, try having sex every 1-2 days during this window of your cycle, where sperm has the best chance of fertilizing a released egg. Based on research, your chances of conceiving during this time are as follows:

• Day 5 before ovulation: 0.4-7% chance of conception

• Day 4 before ovulation: 8-17%

• Day 3 before ovulation: 8-23%

• Day 2 before ovulation: 13-29%

• Day 1 before ovulation: 21-34%

• Day of ovulation: 8-33%

• Day 1 after ovulation: 0.8-11%

Here are some other tips you could try incorporating into your daily routine and lifestyle to help you conceive:

• Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and extreme stress.

• Maintain a healthy weight and sleep routine.

• Consider fertility supplements for additional support, such as our Mira Fertility Tea, Prenatals, for example.

If your cycles are irregular or confusing, you could also consider trying our Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility. This clinic is a personalized session with our fertility experts, which can provide you with professional, trusted advice and insights into your fertility health, tailored specifically to you and your cycle.

When Should You Talk to a Doctor?

If you’ve been following the above tips and have been trying to conceive for 6-12 months but with no success, it could be helpful to speak to your doctor. You may also want to consult professional advice if you have irregular or absent periods, or perhaps a history of PCOS, thyroid issues, or endometriosis, which can affect your fertility and cycle significantly.

If you’d like to get an insight into hormones affecting fertility from home before speaking to your medical professional, our Panorama Lab Test may be a helpful option for you, allowing you to test your fertility in the comfort of your own home and receive some guidance on your next steps.

TTA? When to Avoid Sex to Prevent Pregnancy

If you’re looking to avoid pregnancy, you can try abstaining from unprotected sex, or sex altogether, during and around your fertile window. This is often known as ‘natural family planning’ or the ‘fertility awareness method’.

When consistently used correctly, alongside an accurate understanding of the timings of your fertile window, it can offer 91-99% effectiveness at preventing conception. However, it can be challenging to apply this method perfectly to achieve such a high protection rate, especially when cycles are irregular or signs are missed.

 With this in mind, the more realistic figure for this method of birth control sits at around 76% effective.

Disclaimer: The Mira Hormone Monitor, Wands, Mira App, and BBT tracking tools are intended for fertility awareness and cycle tracking purposes only. These products are not designed or approved for use as a contraceptive method and should not be relied upon to prevent pregnancy. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided through these tools should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual results and cycle patterns may vary. Users who are trying to avoid pregnancy (TTA) should consult with qualified healthcare providers to discuss reliable contraceptive options and reproductive health.

Summary: Ovulation Is Short – But Timing Is Everything

Ovulation is a single event lasting 12 to 24 hours in a woman’s cycle, but it’s one of the most crucial moments. How you time and practice sex during the five days leading up to ovulation – and on the day itself – is key to either achieving or avoiding pregnancy, depending on your goals.

Identifying the signs and consistently tracking them are key for both trying to conceive and trying to avoid pregnancy. Ovulation symptoms may vary from woman to woman, and even from one cycle to the next. However, with the right knowledge and tools at your disposal, you will be able to navigate your cycle and sex life and achieve your goals with confidence and clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can you ovulate more than once?

Generally, a woman will only ovulate once in a cycle. However, multiple ovulation can occur and, in some cases, lead to fraternal twins; however, this is relatively rare.

What is ovulation week?

Ovulation week is a term used to describe your fertile window, approximately 5-7 days in your cycle, where you are at your most fertile. This window includes the days running up to, as well as the day of ovulation.

How soon after your period are you fertile?

The timing of your fertile window can vary greatly for each woman and even each cycle. However, if we take a 28-32 day cycle as an example, you would be fertile between days 11-21, counting the first day of your period as day 1.

Can you get pregnant on your period?

The moment of conception cannot occur during your period. However, if you have sex during your period, it is possible for the sperm to still be alive in your body when an egg is released, making pregnancy possible.

How long after ovulation are you fertile?

You are considered “fertile” for up to one day after ovulation. This is because after an egg is released through ovulation, it can only survive for up to 12-24 hours.

How soon after ovulation can you take a pregnancy test?

On average, the earliest you can take a pregnancy test after ovulation is two weeks. Another way to put this is to wait until the first day of your missed period.

Even though it can feel frustrating to wait, it’s important to stay patient during this time and only take a pregnancy test when your body produces enough hCG to be detected with a pregnancy test. This will help to avoid disappointment and emotional turmoil due to receiving a false negative or a false positive.

How long is an egg viable after ovulation?

After ovulation, an egg is only viable for up to 24 hours. However, sperm can survive inside of the body for up to five days, so if you are TTC, try to have sex with your partner regularly in the five days leading up to ovulation. This will maximize your chances of becoming pregnant.