How does the probability of conception change during the days near ovulation?
The probability of conception increases as one approaches the day of ovulation, though in general the maximum chance of conceiving is if you have sex during the day or two before ovulation. This is because sperm can live for up to 6 days in the reproductive tract. Therefore timing intercourse appropriately before ovulation maximizes your chance of conception. (See “Probability of Conception” Wilcox NEJM 1995) It is also important to have a high quality of sperm to fertilize the egg. For this reason many doctors and specialist recommend having intercourse every other day starting from the first day the OV- Watch® reads “Fertile Day 1”, so that there is a greater quantity of sperm. There is no doubt that intercourse on multiple days throughout the six-day Fertility Window raises the overall probability of successful conception. This is where the reproductive health of the male plays a significant role in the success of the couple. Measurement criteria include sperm-count, motility, cell
