ovulation and pregnancy?

Question

This could be stupid, but I keep reading responses on here that say you can only get pregnant while ovulating. Well, is that true? Because if so, how are there so many unexpected pregnancies? Couldnt we all just plan around ovulation? And if you ovulate 2 weeks before you period and get pregnant, you could potentially know at 2 weeks? Im just wondering how all this works.

Answer 1

I'll try to explain as best as I can- keep in mind I am not a doctor! Without ovulation, pregnancy could not occur- you need to release an egg for fertilization to occur, when the egg and the sperm meet. However, most women do not know when they are ovulating- it certainly would be easier to avoid, or to get pregnant, if every woman knew when her egg was being released. This is precisely the reason for so many unplanned pregnancies- if you aren't using any contraception and you have sex, you can potentially become pregnant at any time in the cycle- it solely depends on when you ovulate, and if you've had sex around that time. The "average" woman has a 28 day cycle, but this average can't be relied on!

As for knowing you're pregnant at 2 weeks, well technically you are right! The traditional way of dating a pregnancy relies on knowing when the first day of your last period was- because more women will know that date than the date of ovulation! So technically, when a doctor says you are 5 weeks pregnant, you are really only 3 weeks from the moment of conception(give or take). But it's easier to say 5 weeks and go on the traditional method of the 40 week pregnancy because that is the method used by every hospital and doctor. In reality the pregnancy- from the moment of conception- will be more like 38 weeks.
And remember- at least you are seeking to further your knowledge by asking these questions- there's nothing stupid about that!

Answer 2

That is true. Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary. While in the ovary, the egg cannot become fertilized. That egg is actually only good for 24 hours after it is released. That means that in a month there is only a 24 hour window of opportunity to get pregnant. Your question is valid - with time working against us...how do we get unplanned pregnancies?! It seems nearly impossible.

Here's how:
1) Some women don't track when they ovulate. This means, they don't know when the egg is capable of being fertilized.
2) Sometimes birth control doesn't work. It's not fail safe.
3) Sperm can live in the body for 3-5 days. So...even though you may not have sex during ovulation, if you had it the week before, you coudl be in trouble.

Answer 3

You can only get pregnant when you ovulate. Ovulation is the release of an egg and you need an egg for fertilization. There wouldn't be so many unexpected pregnancies if people would just use birth control. The best time to do a test is after you are a few days late with your period. Even when a woman says she has a certain cycle, that can vary by a few days.

Answer 4

Yes, one must ovulate to become pregnant. As far as unplanned pregnancy goes..... Not everyone has a regular menstral cycle. I have gone 3 or 4 months without ovulation before! So, I went on bith control to become regular with a cycle. Now I am 10.5 weeks pregnant! So, you see it is not always cut and dry. Not only was I irregular but also on birth control and became pregnant.