How many days a month are you fertile for?

[sallycinamon]

I'm sure this has been done many times before but roughly how many days a month is a woman fertile for? Is it best to have sex before ovulation or after and for how long after?
Thanks all!

egg survives for around 24 hours, maybe 48, sperm can survive around 5 days, so best from around day 12 - 15 to be on the safe side? helps if you know when you are ovulating, one of the ways you can tell is that your cervical mucus becomes clear and stretchy,like egg white, often referred to as EWCM

i;m sure one of the lovely TTC experts will be along soon with some better advice

Have sex at least every other day throughout your cycle. You are fertile for three to five days just prior to ovulation and about 24 hours afterwards. Sperm lasts for two/three days inside you but can last five days in good conditions.

If your cycle is 28 days, you most likely ovulate on day 14, so have sex every day for the three days before then and the day of OV (and maybe the day after just to be sure!) After that you are no longer fertile.

But even with a 28-day cycle you may not OV at day 14, it could be day 18 or 21. So keep having sex at least every other day just in case you don't Ov on day 14.