How long does the egg live after ovulation?

How long the egg lives after ovulation is very important for achieving pregnancy, especially in combination with how long sperm can survive. Unfortunately, the egg doesn’t live long—its lifespan is measured in hours, not days. So, how many hours does an egg live? An egg typically survives for about 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. The highest conception rates are seen when sperm meets the egg within 4 to 6 hours after ovulation. That’s why intercourse that occurs before ovulation is especially important.

However, as mentioned earlier, the lifespan of sperm also plays a key role. Let’s take a closer look at how long sperm can live both outside the man’s body and inside the woman’s reproductive system.

How long do sperm live?

Sperm, on the other hand, can live for days, not hours. So, how many days can sperm survive? Under ideal conditions, sperm can live for five to seven days inside the female reproductive system. Some sperm cells live for a shorter period, and overall sperm survival depends on several factors, such as the conditions they encounter in the vagina, fallopian tubes, and uterus (for example, the composition of vaginal fluids).

Ideally, once you get a positive result on an ovulation test, you should have frequent intercourse (for three consecutive days), so that plenty of sperm are waiting to “meet” the egg as soon as it’s released.

See ovulation tests

A woman releases just one egg, but a man releases millions of sperm in a single ejaculation—so with frequent intercourse, a very good “supply” of sperm is created!

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