During which days is the 'fertile window' in a female's menstrual cycle?

The 'fertile window' in a female’s menstrual cycle typically refers to the days when conception is most likely to occur. This period usually spans a few days leading up to and including ovulation. Ovulation generally happens around the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, which is approximately 14 days before the start of the next period in a standard 28-day cycle.

In this context, days 11 to 17 are significant because the sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for several days, while the ovum (egg) is viable for around 24 hours after ovulation. Therefore, the days surrounding ovulation, which encompasses days 11 through 17, provide the highest chance for fertilization to happen.

The other ranges do not align with the timing of ovulation and the fertility of the egg. For instance, the days before ovulation, particularly days 1 to 7 or 8 to 10, are either too early in the cycle or too far from ovulation. Similarly, the days following ovulation, like days 18 to 26, fall beyond the fertile window as the likelihood of conception decreases significantly once ovulation has passed.