Most women know for sure that they can get pregnant during ovulation. But the ovulatory phase is not limited to one day, and therefore the question arises, is it possible to get pregnant if intercourse took place 4 days before ovulation. This question is not as simple as it seems.
Probability of conception
Conception itself (the process of fusion of male and female germ cells with the exchange of DNA information) is possible only during ovulation and about 24–36 hours after it, since only in this limited period of time the egg cell remains viable. In the absence of fertilization during the specified period, the gamete dies. If it was not possible to conceive a child during this period, then you will have to wait until the next cycle.
Spermatozoa, on the other hand, have a longer life span, and this is what increases the chances of humanity not to die out. It is not necessary for sex to be in the very limited period indicated above. It may well be in advance, and the male sex cells are able to wait for the oocyte to leave the follicle on the day of ovulation, if the expectation falls within the framework of the viability of male cells.
On average, a sperm cell lives in a woman's genital tract, without losing mobility and the ability to fertilize, from 3 to 5 days. Only in a small number of men with high fertility are germ cells able to remain active for up to 6 days.
Unprotected or interrupted intercourse 4 days before ovulation, thus, may well cause pregnancy. In this case, conception itself will take place on the day of ovulation, and 4 days before it, the male reproductive cells (the most hardy of them) will patiently wait for the female reproductive cell to appear.
The younger both sexual partners are, the better their health, the higher the chances of pregnancy occurring. The fact is that with age, both men and women deteriorate the quality of germ cells. Sperm cells become less mobile and hardy, and women's eggs may be immature or overripe, and therefore their ability to merge is markedly reduced.
If a woman has an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge before ovulation, then the chances that sperm will wait for four days is higher, since the cervical secretion tends to partially reduce the acidity of the vagina due to its alkaline environment. This increases the number of sperm that survive.
Statistics
The existing statistics show that the greatest probability of conceiving a child exists precisely during the ovulatory phase (the day of ovulation plus a day after that). As you approach the oocyte exit, the chances gradually increase. This means that having sex in one day is much more likely to get pregnant during ovulation than having sex in 4 days. But don't jump to conclusions.
The likelihood of pregnancy increases if:
- partners are healthy, at the age of 20-30;
- do not have bad habits and chronic diseases.
The baseline probability of conception by reproductive specialists is estimated at 33% on the day of ovulation. That is, every third couple succeeds in getting pregnant the first time, if they "guess" the day of the oocyte release.
If sex was four days before the release of the egg, the probability of conception, according to the most optimistic forecasts, is no more than 10%. It is important to take into account the age: if a woman is already over 35 years old, then the probability of pregnancy is not higher than 5%, and for women over 40 years old - less than 1%. The age of the partner has about the same effect. This means that two partners over the age of 40 have almost no chance of becoming parents if unprotected sex was 4 days before ovulation - it is unlikely that the sperm will wait for the egg, and it is not a fact that it will be capable of fusion.
An older woman and a young partner is an option in which conception is very likely, since sperm quality comes first. But a young girl and an age partner are an option with a reduced chance of pregnancy, again due to the quality of the semen.
The likelihood in all cases increases if full ejaculation has taken place. With interrupted act, masturbation, petting and other forms of intimacy, sperm has every chance of getting into a woman's genital tract, but in much smaller quantities, which reduces the chances that there will be "survivors" after a four-day wait.
Tips
If the plans include the birth of a child, but there is no opportunity to have sexual intercourse on the day of ovulation, and the only available time for this is 4 days before it, then try to create the most comfortable conditions in your body: do not douche before and after intercourse, do not use intimate gels and lubricants during sex. After intercourse, lie down at rest for about an hour, do not immediately run to the shower. There is a chance of pregnancy, so just let the events take their course.
If the birth of a child is not yet included in the family's plans, you should not risk having unprotected or interrupted intercourse 4 days before ovulation. This day in women's calendars is usually marked as "dangerous", the first in her fertile window in the current cycle. And now you know why this is so.
It is important to choose such methods of contraception that will not raise questions and will not harm the female body - these are barrier means and modern oral contraceptives. You can find the right one together with your doctor.
