Can one still conceive after the ovulation day?

[Bea09]

Hi, we’ve been trying to conceive for 3 months now. My husband is away for work during the weekdays and comes home in the weekends. So it’s been really challenging trying to find a time when I’m ovulating. My usual cycle is 27/28 days but turns out sometimes it can be 21 days! We didn’t have any problem conceiving my two kids. But this time (3rd) it’s been a challenge. I’m 37. Is it the age factor? We tried from day 10 till 13 after my period thinking day 14 is my ovulation day but it still didn’t work. How do I know when I’m ovulating? Can one still conceive after the ovulation day? Any suggestions? Pls help x

Have you tried using opk to help find your ovulation day?

Hi, yes I did. From day 9 till day 14 and it would only come 1 line so I stopped after that.

Keep testing because you might ovulate later in your cycle than you think. And yes, your fertile window is 5 days before and one day after ovulation as sperm can live up to 5 days and the egg only lasts for 24 hours.

Age could be a factor. Remember though, it is very normal to take up to 12 months to conceive, even if you conceived quickly in the past.

Also, once the egg has been released it usually is fertilised or dissolved within 12 hours, so you are better off having sperm ready and waiting before ovulation.

Keep testing after day 14. I have a 28 day cycle and I get the peak on day 16.

If my dates were correct for DD then she was conceived on CD 21. I don't even know if that's possible!? But this time round we are just going for it every 2 days and hoping for the best

Keep using OPKs for a few more days, you might ovulate later than you realise, I know through tracking everything like a mad woman that I ovulate on day 16/17.
I'm also 37 and not sure if age is our issue, but we took over 18 months to conceive our daughter in 2019. Trying for another now and I find using an app (I use Ovia) really useful to track the fertile week, then use OPKs for actual ovulation. Good luck

Yes, I will keep testing next time. I’ll probably have to buy some cheaper opk next time. Thanks x

@bitheby yes, I’ll keep testing next time. I’ll probably have to get some cheaper opk next time. Thanks x

@Chanel05 It’s funny how when you’re NOT ttc, you end up conceiving and you don’t when you’re actually trying to! So I was blaming the age factor here too x

@zizl oh, I really hope this is case for me too! Thanks x

Also, maybe try testing earlier. I usually always ovulated day 13/14, but the last few months it's been day 7/8. I am a bit older, but it's worth tracking all month until you see the peak, it's not guaranteed to be a certain day even if that's your normal.

@Sleepyquest really? That’s what I was thinking and hoping too. If it’s possible on your cd 20 or 21 because this month my Dh will be away and won’t be back until cd 21/22. Thanks for sharing x

@Teachermummy83 I’m 37 soon to be 38 on Dec! I have 11 yrs old 9 yrs old and this will be my last one. So there’s a very long gap. Didn’t even plan on trying for 3rd. Since I turned 37 I’ve been feeling broody! Lol So my goal is to conceive before I reach 38 and I feel like I’m running out of time. Also my dh being away isn’t helping either. Didn’t know it would be so stressful ttc because my last two were so swift! Good luck on yours x

@JadeandGreen is your period regular? I started tracking my cycle since Jan and it seemed regular 28days until April it was 21(I didn’t used to keep track of my PC before). So I was guessing my OD would be day 14 and we were trying according to that but no positive results so far. This month my PC is back on track again bang on 28days! That’s what I’m finding it hard to figure out my OD. I’ll try going with day 4/5 this time and see if it works x

Good luck. We certainly found it harder than we realised last time, so are trying all the tricks this time around. Its reassuring that lots of folk on here struggle too, trying and not getting the BFP can be a lonely time. Keeping everything crossed for you x

So, a few things that may help:

Even if you manage to do the deed at the perfect time, theres only a 1/3 chance of conceiving, so it doesnt mean you havent done it the right days.

You can still conceive the day after the egg is released, but not after that.

Best to do OPKs over quite a lot of days for a normal cycle to catch ovulation.

If your husband is only home 3 days, your best bet might be sex every one of those days! Would mean not really having to worry about tracking and knowing you are doign the best you can.

Bea09 It's regular as in it always appears 14 days after I've ovulated, so when I ovulated on day 13/14 for years I had a 27/28 day cycle, but recently when I've been ovulating on day 7/8 then it's a 21 day cycle. If you had this in April it would suggest you might have ovulated just after AF.