Can you get pregnant a day before ovulation?

You have a high chance of getting pregnant on or around your predicted day of ovulation. If you have a regular period, your period is likely to come every 26-35 days. Your cycle can change from month to month by a few days.

You are most fertile midway in your cycle when you ovulate. So for most people this is about 2 weeks after the first day of their period if their normal cycle is around 28 days. You can never 100% know when you are going to ovulate but you can roughly predict it if you have regular periods.

You are more at risk of pregnancy on the days leading up to ovulation, and are at a very high risk of pregnancy on and around your predicted day of ovulation. This is called your ‘fertile window’.

Sperm can survive in the body for up to 5 days, so you can still get pregnant if you have sex on a day you do not think you are ovulating or in your ‘fertile window’.


Last updated at: 02 February 2024
Published on: 12 August 2022