Ovulation typically occurs about 12 to 16 days after the start of your period, most commonly around day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. This means ovulation generally happens about 4 to 10 days after your period ends, depending on the length of your period and your overall cycle length. For example, if your period lasts 5 days and you have a 28-day cycle, you would usually ovulate around 9 days after your period ends. Ovulation timing can vary if your cycle is shorter or longer than 28 days or if your periods are irregular. The fertile window includes the 5 days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation itself, because sperm can live inside the female reproductive tract for up to 5 days, and the egg lives about 12 to 24 hours after release. In summary:
- For a typical 28-day cycle, ovulation is around day 14, roughly 4 to 10 days after period ends.
- Cycle length and period duration affect ovulation timing.
- The fertile window spans about 6 days, ending with ovulation.
This timing can be tracked using methods such as basal body temperature, cervical mucus changes, and ovulation predictor kits for better accuracy if needed.
