How the ovulation calculator works
Ovulation happens on average 14 days before your next period. The ovulation calculator therefore adds your cycle length to the first day of your last period, which gives the expected start of your next cycle. Fourteen days before that is your expected ovulation. Your fertile days are the five days before it plus the day itself: six days per cycle in which you can get pregnant.
With a 28-day cycle, ovulation falls around day 14. With a 32-day cycle, around day 18. That's why the calculator asks for your average cycle length: it shapes your result more than most people think.
When are you most fertile?
Your fertile window falls in the days before and on ovulation. Sperm survives for up to a few days in your body, while an egg can only be fertilised for around a day after ovulation. Sex before ovulation therefore gives just as much chance as on the day itself. Trying for a baby? The two to three days before ovulation, together with the day itself, are your best moment.
Ovulation calculator for irregular cycles
Does your cycle length vary a lot, or is it shorter than 21 or longer than 35 days? Then a calendar calculation isn't reliable enough to plan on, because your ovulation shifts with every cycle. What works best then: sex every 2 to 3 days throughout your cycle, or an ovulation test. It measures the hormone that surges just before ovulation, which makes it more precise than any calculation.
Signs of ovulation
Many women notice ovulation in their body: clear, stretchy discharge that looks like raw egg white, a mild stabbing pain low in the belly, tender breasts or a little more desire. Your basal body temperature rises slightly after ovulation. These signs differ per woman and per cycle. Treat them as extra clues alongside the calculation.