Just as no two bodies are the same, no two menstrual cycles are the same either. This can make things difficult when calculating ovulation. Having unprotected sex close to the ovulation period, let alone unprotected sex during ovulation, exposes you to a higher risk of pregnancy.
So when are you fertile and when can you get pregnant?
Calculating ovulation can be tricky. It's generally that ovulation takes place on the 14th day of the cycle for a 28-day menstrual cycle. This is calculated by counting 14 days from the first day of your last menstrual cycle. For example, if the first day of your last period was on the 1st of June, your estimated ovulation day would be on the 14th of June. But not all women have 28-day cycles, and length may also vary from cycle to cycle. This means that predicting which days you're ovulating can be difficult.
The egg cell only live up to 24 hours, but the sperm can live up to five days. They wait patiently in the female genital tract for the right time to fertilize the egg cell if and when it passes through the fallopian tubes. By calculating your ovulation date, you're more in control of preventing unplanned pregnancy.
