Can I get pregnant after ovulation?

[muddypuddles12]

Hi all, I'm really sorry if this is a stupid question but hoping someone can help.

We are trying for a baby and I'm currently on day 14 of my cycle which is when I normally ovulate (my cycle is between 28-30 days). We have had our in-laws staying with us for a week so we haven't DTD since they got here (v.creaky bed / zero alone time and DH has a weird thing about doing it while they're in the house....)

Anyway I digress. I'm fairly certain I'm ovulating as I can feel what I think are ovulation pains (dull ache pretty similar to period pains but only on one side??). In laws leave today. If we DTD, is it impossible for us to get pregnant if I've already ovulated, or if possible, what are the chances?

I took a boots OPK and the two lines are the same colour but those things are notoriously useless so I'm not reading too much into it.

What do you all think?

Hello - yes it is possible as the egg lives for 12-24 hours but I believe the stats are at 10%. I looked this up earlier in the week as my OD was on the 11th and I only managed DTD the day after so was intrigued to see the odds.

Actually studies show that most pregnancies happen in the 2 days BEFORE ovulation

Eggs are really only viable for 12 hours not 24.....they say up to 24 buts it's incredibly unlikely (that's why IVF fertilisation happens within 6 hours as that's when the egg is most healthy)

Also sperm has to go through a process called capacitation which can take up to 10 hours before it is even capable of fertilising an egg so you also need to factor this in which is why it's better to have sperm waiting for the egg to appear not the other way around

Unless you are temping or doing ovulation sticks then the cramping isn't a definite sign that you are about to ovulate - could be the follicle just swelling up in size

(I always used to be overly honest with parents and banned visits during ovulation 🤣)

It depends as its hard to pinpoint when it happened exactly. So I'd definitely give it a go. Better to try than not! Just in case.....

Thank you so much @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted that's so informative. Can I ask what you do for a living?!

For reference, this was the OPK about an hour ago. Anyone know whether that means I haven't actually ovulated yet?

@paintfairy lol that's DH's obvious standpoint as well. Practice makes perfect as he says 🤣

To me that looks like a strong positive OPK so it's essentially a 12-24 hour heads up.

Yup! Happened to me, I thought I was too late, did it anyway, 12 weeks tomorrow.

Technically 100% of pregnancies happen after ovulation as you can't get pregnant unless a sperm fertilises an egg and there's no egg to fertilise until it's left the ovary (ovulated).

But I agree, because sperm live longer than the egg does and because of the time they need to get to where they need to be, then having sex before ovulation has a better chance to result in a successful pregnancy than after.

Women vary in how long from a positive OPK it is until ovulation. The OPK is detecting the hormone surge that has to happen to release the egg. If the surge is being detected then ovulation is likely to take place in the next 24 hours but might be quicker or slower. Apparently that can vary with age too.

@muddypuddles12 I'm not a medical professional.....my job might be pretty outing to say what it is but it's definitely
Not medical! but I have been going through infertility for the last 4 years - have one DD but 5 miscarriages and 2 ruptured ectopics as well as on 5th round of IVF - I w spent many sleepless nights on google and probably bored my doctors to death asking them about what I've read 🤣🤣

Yes looks like a peak OPK test so you have 12-36 hours before ovulation. Since your peak is in the afternoon then Sunday will be classed as ovulation day 🤞

Ovulation pains can occur before, at the time of, or after the release of the egg. Both of mine were conceived by having sex when I felt ovulation pains. Worth a go!