If you want to learn exactly how to find the fertile days in your cycle join our free course: Find Your Fertile Window where I teach you how to use ovulation tests, basal body temperature and cervical fluid so you can track your cycle without the stress.
If your google search history looks like:
“How often should we have sex when ttc?”
“Should I put my legs up after sex?”
"Do I have to have sex everyday for ttc?"
This article is for you!
Sex timing is one of the most confusing (and stress-inducing) parts of trying to conceive. There’s a lot of advice online (much of it contradictory) and when you’re ttc, every month feels high-stakes.
Here’s what actually matters when it comes to timing sex for pregnancy.
Knowing When You Can Get Pregnant
Despite what many of us were taught growing up, you can’t get pregnant any day of your cycle. You're only fertile for 5-6 days per cycle!!
Conception can only happen during your fertile window, which includes:
- The 5 days leading up to ovulation
- Ovulation day itself
This window exists because sperm can survive in fertile cervical fluid for up to 5 days, but an egg only lives for 12–24 hours after ovulation. (PS I teach you EXACTLY how to find the fertile days in your cycle in our free course: Find Your Fertile Window, sign up here!).
That means:
- Sex before ovulation is just as important (if not more important) than sex on ovulation day.
- Waiting until after ovulation is too late.
If you’re aiming for pregnancy, the goal is to have sperm already waiting when your egg is released.
The Best Days to Have Sex When TTC
If you want to maximize your chances, aim to have sex every 1–2 days during your fertile window
If you’re tracking ovulation with ovulation tests, cervical fluid, or basal body temperature, your highest-probability days are:
- The day you see your first positive LH test
- The day after
- The 1–2 days leading up to that surge
How Often Should You Be Having Sex?
Short answer: every other day is perfect.
Daily sex doesn’t significantly increase pregnancy rates compared to every-other-day sex and for some partners, daily sex can feel exhausting or pressured.
Research shows that having sex every 24–48 hours during your fertile window gives you excellent odds while helping maintain healthy sperm levels.
If daily sex feels good for you both — great.
If every other day feels more sustainable — also great.
Consistency matters more than intensity.
What If You’re Doing “Everything Right” and Still Not Pregnant?
Even with perfect timing, healthy couples have about a 20–25% chance per cycle.
That means it’s normal for conception to take several months. Still, if you want to be proactive about your fertility (which we always recommend!) it's a great idea to get your fertility tested as well as your partner's.
Other factors that can affect timing success include:
- Irregular ovulation
- PCOS or hormonal imbalances
- Sperm health
- Stress and lifestyle factors
- Thyroid issues
Tracking your cycle always gives you valuable data you can bring to those conversations.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to sex timing for TTC:
- Focus on the fertile window, not just ovulation day
- Aim for sex every 1–2 days during that window
- Use ovulation tests + cervical fluid for real-time signals
- Track patterns with BBT for long-term insight
- Be kind to yourself along the way