how soon after a period do you ovulate

Ovulation typically occurs about 12 to 14 days after the first day of your period if you have a regular 28-day cycle. This means it usually happens around the middle of your cycle, roughly day 14. The timing can vary based on cycle length; shorter cycles can lead to earlier ovulation, and longer cycles lead to later ovulation. Ovulation generally happens between days 11 and 21 of the menstrual cycle. The egg released during ovulation can be fertilized for about 12 to 24 hours, but sperm can live inside the body for up to five days, making the fertile window around six days long, including a few days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.