When is the best time to have sex if you want a baby?

• A. During menses
• B. After ovulation
• C. Once LH surge detected and for the following 2 days
• D. Two weeks after menses ends

Answer: (C)

Timing intercourse to align with ovulation maximizes the chance of fertilization. The egg is released at ovulation and remains viable for about 12–24 hours, while sperm can survive in the female tract for up to about 5 days. The strongest fertile period is around the LH surge that triggers ovulation and the next day or two, because this is when ovulation occurs and sperm are present in the tract to meet the egg. Detecting an LH surge in urine is a common way to predict this window, then having sex during the following two days captures the peak fertility. Intercourse during menses is not a reliable time for conception, and two weeks after menses ends is not as precise a predictor of ovulation. Having sex after ovulation is already past the egg’s viability window.