When is a woman more susceptible to getting pregnant, before or after her period?

It's a cycle, so you can become pregnant before and after a period.

For many women, your fertile window is typically 5 days after the end of your period, or 12 days before the next period. So between cycle days 12 - 16 (cycle day 1 is the first day of your period)

Every woman is different though.

Right, right, thanks

My "fertile days", when I'm building up to ovulation and then ovulating, are from day 5 to day 16.

I know some women who are fertile ON their periods.

Best way to figure it out is to track your OWN ovulation over several months time.

Oh wow, I need to start working on that I hear its usually days 7-14 on most women is that true?

Generally... roughly 12-16 days before your next period would be due... but plenty of women ovulate sooner or later than the norm, so for some, going by those days in their cycle would cause them to miss their ovulation altogether.

This is why is it important to use that as a starting place, but then also learn how your own cycle works so that you can best determine whey you are most likely to be the most fertile. Doing so often takes a few months of paying attention.

Ovulation itself only happens one day (in most cases) but the few days leading up to ovulation are when your body prepares for ovulation. This is where the "fertile" days, days 7-14 for example, come in... for another women it may be days 12-18 as it is not exact for everyone... although it usually will stay the same for each individual. It is at this time that sperm can survive for a number of days waiting for an egg to be released. Other than this time they will die off fairly quickly.

A helpful book is Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

Right right, well usually I nearly get my period around the same time each month so I think my cycle is every 30 days

Unless YOU are charting your ovulation, no one is going to be able to tell you when you ovulate.

We're trying to get pregnant. I take fertility pills days 5-10---and then have sex every 12 hours days 13-17. BUT! I happen to know that I ovulate on day 16 because I've been charting it for nearly a year.

Hehehe . So has it worked for you?

No.

I've recently been diagnosed with PCOS though, and my husband's sperm count is low.

What we're doing right now is trying EVERYTHING we can before resorting to IVF.

But--a year ago, I wouldn't have been able to tell you when I ovulated-----because I wasn't ovulating.

If you've been trying to get pregnant for over a year, you need to see a doctor. There are so many things that could be wrong that might be fixable, but you won't know until you see a doctor. The flip side of that is that you have about a 20% chance to get pregnant any given month, which is why it takes an average of a year for most couples to get pregnant.

You should discuss this with your ygynecologist or family doctor for the best effect.

MarMar27... start keeping track of your cycle. The first day of your period is day one and it ends on the day before the next period begins. You can try the temping and charting as well, or ovulation predictor kits. Also, watching for changes in your cervical mucus and checking the feel of your cervix at different stages of your cycle will give you a better idea of the time frame when you are most likely ovulating.
Unless you are monitored by a doctor, you won't know for sure if you are indeed ovulating, only that your body may be preparing for it to occur.

As Synnen said, it would be a good idea to speak to your doctor since you are trying to become pregnant. Many couples find having a preconception visit helpful.

Oh wow, no actually I am not trying to, what is PCOS? I'm sorry to hear that, something shall work for you

PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

I have cysts on my ovaries.

If you're trying NOT to get pregnant, use another form of birth control besides the rhythm method. Unless you're charting your BBT (basal body temperature) every single day, and over several months figuring out what YOUR cycle is like, you're more likely to mix it up.

Oh I'm sorry to hear that, my cousin has that it took her a while to get pregnant but she is now blessed with two twins and another on the way! Everything will work out. Im not sure about that temperature thing, how does that work, when you ovulate do you get cramps as well? Ive been cramping today and yesterday but I got off my period about a week ago

Really, you should talk to your doctor about this.

BBT is taking your temperature every single day, usually before you even get out of bed. You chart that temperature, and changes in your temperature tell you when you've ovulated.

I don't generally get cramps when I ovulate, but that varies from woman to woman.

Oh wow, so does the temperature rise or decrease or it just depends on the woman?

I know you're not trying to conceive, but this website has a good explanation of BBT

The ABCs of Basal Body Temperature Charting at the Preconception (Trying to Conceive, TTC, Fertility, Pregnancy Planner) Cubby at StorkNet (http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/preconception/bbt.htm)