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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>When's the Best Time to Have Sex and Avoid Pregnancy?</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p><em>Based on your menstrual cycle, when's the best time to have sex so you have the lowest chance of pregnancy?<br /></em>– <em>Maura*</em></p><p>The time a girl is most likely to get pregnant is about halfway between periods, when <script type="text/javascript" id="splatJS_ovulation_T" name="splat" src="/content/kidshealth/us/en/teens/splats/ovulation.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" id="splatDW_ovulation_T">document.write(def_ovulation_T);</script><noscript class="rs_skip"> ovulation </noscript>happens. Ovulation is when an egg is released from the <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/female-repro.html">ovaries</a>.</p><p>But trying to time things to a "safe" time can lead to an accidental pregnancy. That's because it's very hard to predict exactly when the egg will be released. And girls can be fertile for several days before and after they ovulate.</p><p>Couples having sex should use a more reliable <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/bc-chart.html">birth control method</a> to prevent pregnancy, like <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-birth.html">birth control pills</a> or the <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-patch.html">patch</a>. And always use <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-condom.html">condoms</a> to help prevent <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html">STDs</a>.</p><p><em>*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.</em></p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: October 2018</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/bc-chart.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Birth Control Methods: How Well Do They Work?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception.html?WT.ac=t-ra">About Birth Control</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html?WT.ac=t-ra">STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/pelvic-exam-bc.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Do You Need a Pelvic Exam to Get Birth Control?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-emergency.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Emergency Contraception</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-rhythm.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Fertility Awareness</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/talk-about-condoms.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Talking to Your Partner About Condoms</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/avoid-pregnancy.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=t-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.kidshealth.org/CookChildrens/en/teens/avoid-pregnancy.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-teens-avoid-pregnancy.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,7,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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