It totally depends and if you have ANY questions about it use many, many methods of BC if you're not trying to get pregnant.
In order for conception to happen, there have to be sperm and eggs present, yes? Most women (and here's the problem - only most women) ovulate somewhere around 14 days before the start of their period. But this can vary from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle in the same woman.
But let's assume we're talking about an average woman with a normal cycle. Sperm can survive in the body for something like 3 days. So basically, you're most likely to get pregnant anywhere between 3 days before you ovulate to about 3 days after (the amount of time it takes for an egg to travel down the fallopian tubes - if it's not fertilized by then, no conception is likely). People practicing the rhythm method suggest avoiding sex for the 5 days before and the 5 days after you ovulate.
The tricky part is the "before" - it's a lot harder to tell when you're approaching ovulation than to tell when you've ovlulated - there are a lot of ways advertised - hormone assays, body temperature, etc.
Best to talk to an OB-GYN if you're thinking of using "rhythm method" for either fertility purposes or to avoid getting pregnant. They can help you figure out when you're likely to ovulate.
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