Since we've decided to go for a baby I've looked at so many pregnancy, TTC, and charting websites that I dream about them. The only problem is...they all say different things.
I was taught (way too many years ago) that there were only about 3 or 4 days a month that a woman can concieve. I've always gone by how I feel inside and it seems to always work. I get cramps where my ovaries are starting about 5 days after O and they last about 4 days. They start out light, get bad the second day, then fade away. I also always have an increased sex drive these days so always we either don't have interourse, or use a condom during this time.
So here's my question.
One website says your possibly fertile 10 days a month, one says 6 days, and one says 4 days. If I had unprotected sex two days after I think I ovulated, could I be in the 2WW?

It's so tricky...You could be in the 2ww, unless you KNOW you O'ed when you think you did. If you O'ed when you think you did then it is not possible to be pg. The reason is the egg only last for 12-24 hours after it is released.

The reason some say you can be fertile for so long is that sperm can live upto 5 days in fertile cervical mucus. So if you have sex 5 days before you O the spermies can be there waiting for the egg.

The bible of fertility is a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. This would help you get to know your body and what is going on when.

HTH

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Patty 37
DW Julie 40
"domestically partnered" since 1994

Yes, TCOYF is a great book. You can only be sure that you've ovulated by seeing your temperature rise. Once that's happened, you've ovulated, and it's too late to conceive from sex on the day of, or the days after, the temperature increase.

The websites that give long timespans for the number of fertile days may be aimed at preventing pregnancy, so they're being extra cautious. You're most fertile in the three days leading up to and including ovulation. Sperm can live for five days, but it's usually more like 2 or 3. So, to have your best chance at pregnancy, you should have sex just before you ovulate.

You can use OPKs and can chart your temps and your cervical fluid to try to guess when you will ovulate. Cramping can give you a hint, but it isn't the best clue, because it could be caused by other things. Before you ovulate, you'll see that eggwhite cervical fluid -- that's a great sign, and it means you're probably at your most fertile. The eggwhite cervical fluid will dry up within hours of you ovulating. The next day, your temperature will rise, and will stay high, and you'll know you've ovulated.

Hope that wasn't too confusing!

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Missy

Missy- you did a much better job of explaining!

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Patty 37
DW Julie 40
"domestically partnered" since 1994