How soon after peak ovulation should you have intercourse

When it comes to trying to conceive (TTC), timing is everything. Sure, all it takes is one sperm to get pregnant, but sometimes, there is a lot more to it than just having sex when you want to. There are fertility apps, ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) and other methods to trying to get the timing just right. If you’re currently using an OPK while TTC, you may be wondering, "how long after a positive ovulation test should we have sex?" Because let’s face it, day five in a row during your fertile window just isn’t fun and romantic anymore and sometimes you and your partner need a break. Especially when it gets to the point when he asks if it’s OK to watch a movie tonight instead of having sex again. However, you don’t want to miss your peak fertility and ovulation window.

How long do you ovulate after a positive OPK result?

Dr. Sherry Ross, OB-GYN and women’s health expert, says in an email interview with Romper that you should start having sex as soon as you have a positive test. Well, it doesn’t have to be that very second, unless you want to, but she says to have sex every day for the next three days because a positive test indicates you’re having your luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. (Made in your pituitary gland, luteinizing hormone helps the reproductive system to function, according to WebMD.) Ross adds you could also have sex around days nine and 10 of your cycle (if your cycle is around 28 days), but then stop until you have a positive surge so the sperm is fresh. Sperm tends to live in your body for a couple of days after ejaculation, and some experts believe your egg could drop right into where it needs to go at the right time, and they’ll be waiting.

A woman's LH surge usually occurs about a day or two before ovulation, according to Healthline, though Ross says many women constantly have LH in their bloodstreams and not just when they’re ovulating. This is why you may still have a faint line on your OPK a few days after having a blazing red line. But when you do ovulate, the LH peak should be five times the usual amount you have in your urine.

Using an OPK obviously helps you time intercourse to know exactly when to do the deed. How romantic, right? But if you’re not using a kit, and prefer to have things be a little more spontaneous, Dr. G. Thomas Ruiz, OB-GYN at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells Romper that if your average cycle length is 30 days, you can expect ovulation to be around day 16 of your cycle, but you can adjust calculations to your cycle accordingly by subtracting 14 days from your expected period.

How to read an OPK test

As far as knowing when that test is actually positive, especially if you’re using a test strip OPK, make sure your test line is darker than the control line. An OPK will typically turn negative the day after you ovulate, and a negative test will show that control line being a little bit lighter than the control. But since most women have some level of LH in their systems, it may never be completely white, but just very faint.

Testing for ovulation and trying to make a baby can be a very stressful time. And sometimes it can make you feel like sex is a chore instead of something fun, intimate, and romantic. Thankfully, if you wait to do your marathon run until the day you have a positive test, and the following two days, you won’t be burned out yet and you may be more ready than ever if you’re abstaining. Good luck.

Expert:

Dr. G. Thomas Ruiz, OB-GYN

This article was originally published on Dec. 30, 2017

One way to track ovulation is by using an ovulation kit or fertility monitor. If you have been trying to conceive for a few months without success, you may consider using an ovulation kit or fertility monitor to help identify the best time to have intercourse. This will help maximize your chances of getting pregnant.

Ovulation kits and the luteinizing hormone (LH):

While the luteinizing hormone is always present in your urine, it increases 24-48 hours prior to ovulation. This LH surge triggers ovulation, the release of an egg from one of your ovaries. Ovulation is the most fertile time of your cycle.

When is the best time to use ovulation kits?

For some women, it can be difficult to know when to start using ovulation tests, particularly if their cycles are irregular. Also, some ovulation kits only come with about a week’s worth of tests, which may not be enough to cover the window during which you could ovulate. With this in mind, it is best to wait until you start to notice a build-up of fertile-quality cervical mucus before you begin testing.

Most ovulation tests may be used at any time of the day; some suggest testing first thing in the morning, although this is not required. For greater success, test about the same time each day, and reduce your liquid intake for four hours beforehand.

How accurate are ovulation tests?

When taken correctly, ovulation tests are approximately 99% accurate in detecting the LH surge that precedes ovulation. However, these tests cannot confirm whether ovulation actually occurs a day or two later. Some women may have a surge in the LH hormone without releasing an egg. This condition is known as Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS).

Other women may experience false small peaks in the LH hormone before it fully peaks, commonly seen in women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome. This could mislead you to time intercourse too early.
 

What should I do if I have used all the tests and I do not see a surge?

If you have not ovulated during your testing days, you will not have detected the LH surge. It is probable that ovulation has not occurred. At times, women may experience an anovulatory cycle during which an egg is not released. Unfortunately, the best thing to do is to continue testing. It is recommended to wait until you start to see a build-up in cervical mucus to begin testing. That way you don’t have to buy as many tests.

What do I need to do if I have been monitoring my ovulation for several months and pregnancy has not occurred?

First, it is important to remember that it can take normal, healthy couples twelve months to become pregnant. Even if you have had intercourse during your most fertile time, there are many other factors that affect your ability to become pregnant.

Consult your doctor if you have been trying for several months without success. Let your doctor know if you have been using ovulation tests. This will help your doctor better identify what other factors could be affecting your ability to get pregnant.

When is the best time to have intercourse?

The three days immediately after a positive test represent the best time to have intercourse to increase the probability of getting pregnant. Ovulation generally occurs a day or two after the LH surge.

What conditions, drugs, or medications affect the test?

The following conditions may create an inaccurate result in the tests:

• If you are pregnant
• If you have recently been pregnant
• If you have reached menopause

Some prescription drugs such as menotropins for injection (Pergonal®), danazol (Danocrine®),  and injections containing hCG (e.g., Profasi or A.P.L.) may affect the result. If you are undergoing therapy with Clomiphene citrate (e.g. Clomid® or Serophene®), please consult with your physician for the appropriate time to begin testing. In most cases, you should start testing 3 days after taking the last tablet.

Do hormonal contraceptives affect the results?

It is important to consult your physician about the best time to get pregnant once you have stopped using contraceptive methods. After using hormonal contraceptives, you may experience an irregular cycle. For many women, it takes at least a few months for menstruation to normalize.

Ideally, it is best to wait until your cycle stabilizes, which will also make it easier to monitor your ovulation. You may wish to wait until you have had two normal periods before starting to use an ovulation kit.

Is it okay to use ovulation tests or fertility monitors as a means of contraception?

It is not recommended to use ovulation tests or fertility monitors as a means of tracking your ovulation in order to avoid pregnancy. Ovulation tests only identify the LH surge up to 24 to 48 hours before ovulation, and sperm can survive in the body up to 3 to 5 days. Therefore, if you have intercourse before you discover the LH surge, the egg could still be fertilized.

Our Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide provides the information you need on fertility, tips on how to get pregnant faster, and how to boost fertility through sometimes simple tweaks to your lifestyle and approach. The guide is easy to read and meant for anybody wanting to increase their ability to conceive. It’s a free download and includes coupon codes for essential products. Even free Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream.

How quickly can I determine if I am pregnant?

It is recommended to wait at least until you miss your period before taking a pregnancy test. It takes time for the hCG pregnancy hormone to get high enough to show up on a pregnancy test, so if you test too early, you could get a false negative. Some tests allow you to test up to four days earlier, but the results are less reliable.

Want to Know More?

• Things to Know About Ovulation
• Are You Trying to Get Pregnant
• Preconception for Women
• Signs of Ovulation

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. Weschler, T. (2002). Taking charge of your fertility. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

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