Ovulation typically occurs about 14 days before the start of your next period. For a woman with a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, this means ovulation happens around day 14 of the cycle. Since the cycle begins on the first day of your period, ovulation usually occurs approximately 11 to 21 days after your period starts, depending on your cycle length. If your cycle is shorter or longer than 28 days, the timing of ovulation shifts accordingly:
- In a shorter 21-day cycle, ovulation may occur around day 7.
- In a longer 35-day cycle, ovulation might happen closer to day 21.
Ovulation happens after the end of your period, usually starting about 7 to 11 days after your period finishes, but it varies by individual. The fertile window includes the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself since sperm can survive up to 5 days in the body, and the egg survives 12 to 24 hours after release. In summary, ovulation generally occurs about two weeks (around day 14) after your period begins, but this timing varies with the length and regularity of your menstrual cycle.
