How Many Days After a Menstrual Period Does a Woman Become Fertile?

A woman is considered fertile during ovulation, the time when the ovary releases an egg to become fertilized. To determine when you're fertile, track your menstrual cycle for a few months to pinpoint ovulation.

Misconceptions

• It's a persistent myth that ovulation occurs on the 14th day after the beginning of a menstrual period. However, ovulation is different in every woman.

Time Frame

• According to the American Pregnancy Association, women's cycle lengths average between 28 and 32 days and ovulation usually occurs anywhere between the 11th and 21st day of the cycle.

Day of Ovulation

• If your periods are regular you can expect that ovulation will probably occur between 12 and 16 days before the next expected period, according to the BabyCenter.

Detecting Ovulation

• To precisely identify the day of ovulation, look for cervical mucus to be at its thickest and stickiest, much like raw egg whites. If you track your waking body temperature every morning you'll also notice that temperature rises about 0.4 to 1.0 degrees immediately following ovulation, according to BabyCenter.

Timing Intercourse

• Intercourse is most likely to result in pregnancy if it occurs between two days before ovulation and 24 hours after because sperm survive about two to three days in the vagina while the egg survives only one day, according to BabyCenter experts.