Pregnancy – it’s all about timing

When you’re trying to get pregnant, timing is everything – whether you are doing it the traditional way or having fertility treatment. For some women, pregnancy happens quickly while it takes longer for others. No one can say exactly how long it takes to get pregnant, but of all women trying to conceive, most get pregnant within three months of trying. However, it is quite normal for the waiting period to be longer. 

Pregnancy and "the fertile window"

First, let’s reveal the basic facts about your “fertile window”. This is the best time to try getting pregnant and is different for every woman. The fertile window is, in fact, the only time during a woman’s menstrual cycle when pregnancy is possible. It occurs two days before your ovulation and the day of your ovulation where the egg is released from your ovary.

The lifetime of a woman’s egg is only about 12-24 hours. During this period of time, it needs to be fertilized by the sperm. We recommend taking an ovulation test which can help you to identify your fertile window. Insemination with donor sperm should take place 24-36 hours after a positive ovulation test.

Fertilization – what happens?

Just a quick brush up: Pregnancy occurs when one sperm cell reaches the egg and fertilizes the egg. The sperm cell needs to make its way into the fallopian tube and burrow into the egg for the egg to be fertilized.

When the sperm cell is safe inside the egg, the egg changes so that no other sperm cells can get in. In the moment of the fertilization, the baby’s genes and sex are already set. It is the sperm cell and not the egg that decides the baby's sex. If the sperm cell has an X chromosome you will be expecting a girl, and if the sperm cell has a Y chromosome your baby will be a little boy.

Is it all the same when you are using a sperm donor?

The fertile window: Yes. The fertilization: Yes – But the difference is that timing becomes more than just knowing our ovulation date. You also have to think about when you order the donor sperm for delivery. Whether you ordered delivery of donor sperm right away or if you have reserved sperm from a donor for later use, it is important that you place the order at least 2 days prior to the desired shipping date.

Remember to make sure that the delivery date takes places on the day before you need the sperm for fertility treatment at a clinic at the latest. This is to make sure that you receive the sperm when your fertile window occurs.

Good timing is the key when trying to conceive, and knowing your ovulation date is very important. But a piece of good advice is to try to be patient and never give up hope. Even if your ovulation date comes and goes without conception. One day, the right egg and the right sperm cell will meet and magic will happen.

Get recommendations for books to read about conceiving with donor insemination.