GUIDE
Ovulation typically happens around day 14 — this is the week conception is most likely to occur.
Your body has spent the past week building a fresh uterine lining and maturing a dominant follicle in one of your ovaries. Around the end of this week, a surge in luteinizing hormone will trigger ovulation — the release of a mature egg. If sperm are present in the fallopian tube, fertilization can happen within hours. This is the week everything starts.
Be prepared from day one
This is the week your body reaches the climax of its monthly reproductive cycle: ovulation. Inside one of your ovaries, a dominant follicle has been growing over the past two weeks, nourished by follicle-stimulating hormone. This follicle now contains a mature egg (oocyte) surrounded by fluid and specialized cells.
Around day 14 of a 28-day cycle, a sharp spike in luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers the follicle to rupture and release the egg into the fallopian tube. This is ovulation. The egg is microscopic — smaller than a grain of sand — and it has about 12 to 24 hours to be fertilized before it degenerates.
If sperm are present in the fallopian tube (from intercourse in the past few days), one may penetrate the egg's outer layer and fuse with it. The moment a single sperm enters, the egg's surface chemistry changes instantly, blocking all other sperm. Two half-sets of DNA merge into one complete set — 46 chromosomes that determine everything from eye color to blood type. Conception has occurred. A new, genetically unique cell called a zygote now exists.
For a look at what happened last week, see our week 1 guide.
In the days leading up to ovulation, rising estrogen levels cause your cervical mucus to change dramatically. It becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy — often compared to raw egg whites. This fertile-quality mucus creates channels that help sperm swim through the cervix and into the uterus. It also nourishes and protects sperm, extending their survival from hours to up to five days.
You may notice a slight twinge or cramp on one side of your lower abdomen around ovulation. This is called mittelschmerz (German for "middle pain"), and it is caused by the follicle stretching the ovarian surface as it releases the egg. Not everyone feels it, and it does not always happen on the same side each month.
After ovulation, the ruptured follicle transforms into a structure called the corpus luteum, which begins pumping out progesterone. Progesterone thickens the uterine lining and makes it receptive to a fertilized egg — essentially preparing a soft, blood-rich landing pad for implantation. Your basal body temperature rises slightly and stays elevated, which is why temperature tracking can confirm that ovulation occurred. If you are new to cycle tracking, our trying to conceive guide covers the tools and timing in detail.
Every pregnancy is different. You may experience all, some, or none of these symptoms.
This is your most actionable week if you are trying to conceive. Timing matters, but it does not need to be stressful — the fertile window is several days long, not a single moment.
The most fertile days are the one to two days before ovulation. Having intercourse every day or every other day during your fertile window maximizes your chances. You do not need to time it to the exact hour — sperm survive for days, so having them already present when the egg is released is the goal.
OPKs detect the LH surge that happens 24-36 hours before ovulation. A positive result means ovulation is likely imminent. Test in the afternoon (LH tends to surge in the morning and show up in urine a few hours later). These kits are available over the counter at any pharmacy.
Folic acid is the most critical nutrient in early pregnancy because the neural tube — which becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord — forms in the first few weeks after conception, often before a missed period. Keep taking your prenatal daily.
Good nutrition supports ovulation and early implantation. Focus on whole foods, adequate protein, healthy fats, and foods rich in folate (leafy greens, legumes, fortified grains). Stay well hydrated — your cervical mucus quality, which helps sperm travel, is affected by hydration.
When in doubt, call your provider. No question is too small during pregnancy.
If fertilization occurred this week, the newly formed zygote will begin dividing as it travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. Next week marks the beginning of one of the most remarkable journeys in human biology.
Next up: Week 3. If you want to understand the earliest signs that conception may have occurred, see our early signs of pregnancy guide. And if you have not started one yet, now is the time to pick a prenatal vitamin — folic acid is critical even before a positive test. You can also brush up on how your due date will be calculated once pregnancy is confirmed.
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions about your pregnancy.
