The ovulation test is one of the best ways to dramatically increase your chances of getting pregnant. Thanks to it, you can easily, completely painlessly, and affordably find out when you are ovulating and plan intercourse so that the sperm meets the egg at the right time.

I have a positive ovulation test, when should I have intercourse? This is something that concerns most women who want to conceive. The short answer is that the two most fertile days are the day before and the day of ovulation.

Let’s look at this in more detail below.

What is the fertile window?

The fertile window is the 2–3 days before and during ovulation, when conception is possible, based on the union of the sperm and the egg at the right moment. The main advantage of using ovulation tests is that they help you detect your fertile window by identifying ovulation, so you can plan intercourse accordingly.

When does ovulation occur?

Ovulation does not happen on the exact same day for every woman or every cycle. The general rule says it occurs about 14 days before the next period. Therefore, a woman cannot know exactly when she is ovulating unless she uses an ovulation test.

In general, ovulation happens around the middle of the cycle, but women’s cycles are rarely perfectly regular at 28 days. So, simply counting the days is not a completely accurate way to calculate ovulation.

The problem, however, is that the egg survives only 24 hours inside the female reproductive system, so it’s very important not to miss this fertile window if you want to become pregnant.

Read more about how many days ovulation lasts, what its symptoms are, and how to prepare properly.

Positive ovulation test and intercourse: When should it happen?

Strong sperm can survive in the female reproductive system for up to 5 days after intercourse and can wait for ovulation. Although the egg lives for about 12–24 hours after being released from the follicle, intercourse before ovulation can lead to successful conception.

Researchers say that most pregnancies occur from intercourse that happens before and on the day of ovulation, while fewer result from intercourse after ovulation (when the egg is waiting).

Therefore, unprotected intercourse one day before ovulation has the highest chance of leading to pregnancy, and it is also good to have intercourse on the day of ovulation. In this way, you will greatly increase your chances of conception and won’t miss this valuable 2-day fertile window.

But, how do ovulation tests work? When should you take them and what should you pay attention to?

Let’s look at this in more detail below.

How and when to take an ovulation test

It’s important to know that the LH surge detected by ovulation tests occurs about 24 hours before ovulation begins. Therefore, you should start testing a few days before the midpoint of your cycle, when ovulation usually happens.

If you have irregular cycles, it’s best to begin testing from the 8th day of your cycle or from the end of your period. The test is done with morning urine, and when it turns positive, it means it has detected the LH surge. Thus, with a positive ovulation test, you know that you will ovulate in 26–36 hours, so you can schedule intercourse before ovulation.

See more about when to take an ovulation test.

 

Since the fertile window is short—just 2–3 days—you should have frequent intercourse during this time if you want to conceive. Once ovulation is over, you are no longer fertile, and pregnancy is not possible.

 

Finding your ovulation is the number one factor if you want to get pregnant. However, many women don’t know exactly when they are ovulating, don’t use ovulation tests, and end up having intercourse on the wrong days.

See ovulation tests

You should know that each woman’s ovulation pattern is unique, so it requires personal monitoring, organization, and planning. Mark on your calendar the first positive ovulation test and start intercourse that day. Continue for 2 more days and then stop. At the same time, observe the other symptoms of ovulation (lower abdominal pain, egg-white-like cervical mucus).

Positive Ovulation Test and Days of Intercourse

 

The above will dramatically improve your chances of conception!