What are the best days to get pregnant?

Bottom lineThe best days to get pregnant are the 2 to 3 days before ovulation and ovulation day, because sperm survive up to 5 days while the egg lives only 12 to 24 hours, making the lead-up to ovulation the most fertile time; find them via cycle-length estimates, egg-white cervical mucus, or a positive ovulation predictor kit, and have sex every 1 to 2 days through the window rather than aiming for a single day.

The best days to conceive are the 2 to 3 days before ovulation and ovulation day itself. That's when sex is most likely to result in pregnancy.

Why those days

• Sperm survive up to 5 days, so having sperm already present when the egg is released maximizes the chance
• The egg lives only 12 to 24 hours, so the days after ovulation are not fertile
• This makes the lead-up to ovulation the highest-yield time

How to find your best days

• Estimate from cycle length with the Ovulation Calculator and Fertile Window Calculator
• Watch cervical mucus: clear, slippery, egg-white texture means peak fertility
• Use OPKs: a positive test means ovulation is likely in 24 to 36 hours - prime time
• Track BBT: confirms ovulation (useful for learning your pattern)

Practical tips

• Have sex every 1 to 2 days through your fertile window rather than trying to pinpoint one day
• Don't wait for a temperature rise - by then the window is closing
• Most couples conceive within a year of regular, well-timed sex

See the fertile window and our 2026 fertility guide.

Femora predicts your fertile window from your own cycles so you know exactly which days to focus on.