How many days after ovulation do you get your period?

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Ever wondered how many days after ovulation do you get your period? Here’s what to know, plus helpful first pregnancy tips and tricks.

Whether you’re a first time mom looking to become pregnant or just curious about the way your body works, it’s important to understand your monthly cycle.

If it’s been a while since high school biology class, some of the details may be fuzzy. And, important information may have been left out, to begin with.

So, here’s a breakdown of how your monthly cycle works, including how many days after ovulation your period should start.

You’ll also find some helpful information for those looking to become pregnant.

When it comes to pregnancy, it’s so important to get the timing right. And, that’s difficult to do if you don’t know enough about ovulation and your body’s most fertile days.

But, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered!

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know to start your pregnancy journey off on the right foot.

Table Of Contents

What is ovulation?
How many days after ovulation do you get your period?
Tips for Getting Pregnant
When should I be concerned about ovulation and my period?
The Bottom Line
Want More?
Your Turn

What is ovulation?

Woman holds blue pen and uses chart to track her menstrual cycle and ovulation.

It’s important to understand the entire menstrual cycle and how ovulation plays a part. And, this is especially true if you’re hoping to become pregnant.

So, before we get into ovulation and how long afterward you’ll get your period, let’s go over some of the basics.

Ovulation Basics

Ovulation is the portion of the menstrual cycle when an egg becomes available for fertilization. If you’re not familiar with the menstrual cycle, here’s a simple explanation:

The average menstrual cycle is between 28-32 days and has four different phases:

Menstruation (your period). This is when your body sheds the uterine lining from your last cycle that didn’t result in pregnancy.
The follicular phase. This phase overlaps with your period for the first couple of days. During this time, follicles grow (follicles are small sacs in which the eggs of the ovaries develop), and one follicle will become more dominant and larger than the rest. This follicle will release a mature egg for ovulation.
Ovulation is when the mature egg is released and made available for fertilization.
The last phase is the luteal phase. This phase begins when the egg starts traveling down one of the fallopian tubes and ends when your next period starts if there’s no pregnancy.

NOTE: You can have a menstrual period even if ovulation has not occurred and vice versa. If you fear you may not be ovulating, read through the tips below for ovulation charting and consider talking to your doctor or a fertility specialist.

How many days after ovulation do you get your period?

Woman in white and black polka dot shirt hunches over and cradles her abdomen in discomfort.

Hopeful mothers typically have a hard time waiting each month to see if they’re pregnant or if their period will start.

But, if you understand the timeline, at least you’ll know what to expect.

So, how long after ovulation do you get your period?

Most women get their period between 12-16 days after ovulation.

If you don’t get pregnant, the luteal phase ends when your period starts. The unfertilized or un-implanted egg and the lining of the uterus are shed and the normal menstrual period begins.

But, let’s focus on the positive!

Below, are some helpful tips for getting pregnant so you don’t have to worry about a visit from aunt flow!

Tips for Getting Pregnant

There are only a few fertile days each month before your period when the chances of pregnancy are most high. So, if you’re looking to become pregnant, you should plan intercourse around your fertile window and the time of ovulation.

A woman’s fertility window is generally from day one of ovulation and the five days before.

But without some help, it can be tricky to determine when that first day of ovulation happens each month or to be sure you’re ovulating at all. Luckily, there are few signs you can look out for and detection methods.

Signs of ovulation:

Change in cervical mucus: vaginal discharge may change to a more slippery consistency, making it easier for sperm to pass through).
Elevated body temperature: basal body temperature increases slightly during ovulation and drops off again just before the first day of your period).
Change in bodily hormones (the luteinizing hormone (LH) increases a couple of days before ovulation and can be measured in the urine. This may help determine the occurrence and start of ovulation).

You can measure basal body temperature using a BBT thermometer and track body temperature changes with a BBT chart. If you have a regular rise and fall of your basal body temperature each month, that’s a good indication that you’re ovulating.

To pinpoint the day of ovulation, it’s best to use an ovulation predictor kit and ovulation calendars. And, one of the easiest ways to track your cycle, predict ovulation days, and record your BBT is with an Ava bracelet. It does all the work for you.

Advice for Male Partners

Pregnancy relies on the viability of the egg AND sperm. So, you should take steps to ensure the male partner has healthy sperm and a good sperm count.

Along with living a healthy lifestyle, men can also introduce foods that increase sperm count into their diets.

Here are some examples:

Eggs
Spinach and leafy greens
Dark chocolate
Walnuts
Beef
Pomegranate
Oysters

And men should avoid:

Fried foods
Processed meats
Alcohol (can lower testosterone levels and affect the health of sperm)
Caffeine
Soy
High-fat dairy products (contains estrogen that can decrease sperm production)

Woman holds basal thermometer and app to record a rise in BBT after ovulation.

What are signs of early pregnancy?

Implantation marks the start of pregnancy. This is when the fertilized egg embeds itself into the uterine wall. At this point, the pregnancy hormone, hCG is released and the embryo begins to grow.

The most immediate sign of early pregnancy is implantation bleeding. This is temporary, light bleeding or spotting that lasts no more than a few days. About 1 in 3 women will have implantation bleeding and the same woman may not experience implantation bleeding with every pregnancy.

You may also experience implantation cramping at this time. These cramps are milder than what most women experience with their monthly period and last 1-3 days.

About seven days after ovulation, you may begin to notice some other mild symptoms. Though, the most notable pregnancy symptoms won’t start until a couple of weeks after your first missed period.

Common 7 DPO symptoms include:

Headaches
More frequent urination
Elevated BBT
Nausea
Nipple sensitivity
Food aversions
Food cravings
Vaginal discharge

When to Test

Now that we’ve established how long after ovulation you should get your period, you’ll now know the best time to take a test!

A missed period is the final, surest sign of early pregnancy, and doctors recommended waiting until then to take a test.

However, it is possible to test earlier, though the results are not as accurate.

Technically, it’s possible to test for pregnancy as early as 7-12 days after implantation or 1-2 weeks after intercourse.

If you do test early and the test strip is negative, be sure to try again after a little bit more time. hCG levels are very low in early pregnancy and it can take a while for levels to be high enough to be detected.

And, if you do receive a positive result, be sure to confirm the pregnancy with a blood test at your doctor’s office so you can establish prenatal care.

When should I be concerned about ovulation and my period?

Woman holds phone with an app for tracking menstrual cycles using a calendar and dots.

If you track your period or ovulation and notice an irregular menstrual cycle, be sure to reach out to your doctor to determine the reason why.

Without a normal menstrual cycle, you may have lower fertility. And, it could also indicate a lack of ovulation even if you experience a menstrual period.

Many different factors can cause irregular cycles and irregular periods. Some are more easily corrected, while others may require medical attention.

Some causes are:

Hormonal changes due to an estrogen and progesterone imbalance or medications
Stress
Medical conditions like thyroid disorders

Your doctor may prescribe medications, supplements, or lifestyle changes to help get things in working order. In some cases, you may need extra help from a fertility specialist.

The Bottom Line

Here’s the bottom line about ovulation and your period:

The menstrual cycle consists of four phases: menstruation (your period), the follicular phase, then ovulation, and finally, the luteal phase (which either ends in pregnancy or with the start of your next period).
After ovulation, the luteal phase lasts between 12-16 days (if your cycle is regular). This means you should get your period 12-16 days after ovulation.
You can use BBT charting, an ovulation predictor kit, and the Ava bracelet to help determine whether or not you’re ovulating and to help pinpoint the start of ovulation.
This information can help hopeful new moms time intercourse around their most fertile days.