Can u get pregnant 3 days before you ovulate

Can u get pregnant 3 days before you ovulate

Pregnancy

If you and your partner are planning to have a baby, tracking your ovulation day can make getting pregnant a lot easier.

Did you know that it's only possible to get pregnant within a short fertility window?

You can only get pregnant on or around your ovulation day, as you most often release a single egg per cycle, granting a brief opportunity for fertilization.

Your fertile window can begin 5 days before ovulation, as sperm can live for up to 5 days in the uterus. After you have ovulated, you will remain fertile for between 12 and 48 hours, making your total fertile window 6-7 days long each month.

What is ovulation?

Ovulation happens when an egg is released from the ovaries, travels down the fallopian tubes and into the uterus where it is able to be fertilized.

Signs of ovulation

When you ovulate, changes in your hormones can lead to other signals from your body which boost your chances of conceiving! These signals are:

  • Slightly basal higher body temperature
  • Heavier, clearer or more slippery discharge (resembling egg whites) to aid sperm in reaching the egg
  • Increased sex drive
  • Breast tenderness and mild bloating
  • Some women notice a heightened sense of smell
  • Changes in the cervix, making it feel softer and more open

Why should I track my cycle?

One of the easiest ways to predict your ovulation day is by using a menstrual cycle tracking app like Cycles. Period tracking can help you figure out your ovulation date by logging your periods and logs such as discharge and basal body temperature.

Fun fact: your ovulation date is actually calculated by counting backwards from your next period, and usually happens 12-16 days before your next period starts.

To get the most accurate ovulation predictions with Cycles, be sure to log your basal body temperature and cervical mucus quality every day.

Download Cycles today and be notified when it's the best time to conceive!

Getting the timing right

Sperm can only survive in the uterus for approximately 5 days, so in order for them to be able to fertilize the egg on the day you ovulate you must be sure to have sex close to the day of ovulation. Having unprotected sex 2 to 3 days before you ovulate, and on the day of ovulation is the best time if you want to get pregnant.

Follow us on Instagram @cycles.app for more reproductive health tips!

Yes, although it's not very likely. If you have sex without using contraception, you can conceive (get pregnant) at any time during your menstrual cycle, even during or just after your period.

You can also get pregnant if you have never had a period before, during your first period, or after the first time you have sex.

There's no "safe" time of the month when you can have sex without contraception and not risk becoming pregnant.

But there are times in your menstrual cycle when you're at your most fertile, and this is when you're most likely to conceive.

Understanding your menstrual cycle

Your menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and continues up to the first day of your next period.

You're most fertile at the time of ovulation (when an egg is released from your ovaries), which usually occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. This is the time of the month when you're most likely to get pregnant.

It's unlikely that you'll get pregnant just after your period, although it can happen. It's important to remember that sperm can sometimes survive in the body for up to 7 days after you have sex.

This means it may be possible to get pregnant soon after your period finishes if you ovulate early, especially if you have a naturally short menstrual cycle.

You should always use contraception when you have sex if you don't want to become pregnant.

Further information:

  • Can I get pregnant if I have sex without penetration?
  • Contraception
  • Periods
  • Emergency contraception
  • Natural family planning
  • Pregnancy guide
  • Baby guide

Page last reviewed: 8 July 2021
Next review due: 8 July 2024

What's the chances of getting pregnant 3 days before ovulation?

Then, the probability of pregnancy rises steadily and is 27-33% in the three days leading up to and including ovulation. From that point, the probability of pregnancy declines rapidly. Twelve to 24 hours after ovulation, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant during that cycle.

Is 3 days before ovulation possible?

Since sperm can live in your reproductive tract for up to 72 hours, doctors say having sex beginning at least three days before ovulation dramatically increases your chance of conception.

What is happening 3 days before ovulation?

This is also the time when you may start to feel bloated. By 3 DPO, you will probably still feel this way. Just before you ovulate, there is an increase in estrogen and luteinizing hormone. Some studies have shown that the variations in these female hormones can also control fluid regulation within the body.

Can you get pregnant 3 days before ovulation test?

This means your best shot at getting pregnant actually happens when you start having sex a few days before a positive ovulation test! Here are some day-specific pregnancy probabilities based on the day you have intercourse: 3 days before ovulation: 27% 2 days before ovulation: 33%