How Long Does an Egg Stay in the Fallopian Tube After Ovulation? (Hours, Days & Fertility Explained)

What Happens to the Egg After Ovulation?

Ovulation is the moment in your cycle when an ovary releases a mature egg. The fimbriae, small finger-like structures at the end of the fallopian tube, guide the egg into the tube.

Once inside the fallopian tube, the egg remains briefly, waiting for fertilisation. This is where sperm and egg usually meet. The egg is only viable for a short time, which is why timing around ovulation is crucial for conception.

How Long Does the Egg Stay in the Fallopian Tube?

After ovulation, the egg enters the fallopian tube and remains viable for about 12 to 24 hours. This is the only period during which it can be fertilised.

The egg is most likely to be fertilised in the first few hours. If fertilisation does not occur within a day, the egg naturally breaks down and is cleared by the body during the menstrual cycle.

Because of this short window, timing is crucial. Sperm can survive for several days in the reproductive tract, but the egg cannot wait. For pregnancy to occur, sperm must already be present or arrive very soon after ovulation.

Where Does Fertilisation Usually Take Place?

Fertilisation does not occur in the uterus. It usually happens in the fallopian tube, specifically in a section called the ampulla, where conditions are ideal for the sperm to meet the egg.

After fertilisation, the egg begins dividing while slowly moving toward the uterus. Implantation occurs only once it reaches the uterine lining.

This is why timing matters. Intercourse before ovulation generally increases the chances of fertilisation compared to after the egg has been released.

How Long Do Sperm Remain Alive Inside the Female Reproductive Tract?

Sperm can survive in the female reproductive tract for up to five days. Healthy cervical mucus helps keep them active and viable during this time.

Because sperm live longer than the egg, pregnancy is possible even if intercourse occurs a few days before ovulation. Sperm can wait in the reproductive tract and fertilise the egg as soon as it is released.

How Does Egg Lifespan Affect the Fertile Window?

The egg’s short lifespan limits the fertile window to the days just before ovulation and the day ovulation occurs. Because the egg survives only 12 to 24 hours, conception is most likely when sperm are already present.

The fertile window is shaped by:

• The short lifespan of the egg
• The longer lifespan of sperm

Together, this creates a fertile period of about five to six days, ending on ovulation day. Intercourse after ovulation has a much lower chance of pregnancy because the egg may no longer be viable. Understanding how long the egg stays in the fallopian tube helps make sense of ovulation tracking methods such as basal body temperature and ovulation predictor kits.

What Happens if the Egg is Not Fertilised?

If fertilisation does not occur, the egg breaks down and is reabsorbed by the body. An unfertilised egg does not move to the uterus or implant. Instead, it disintegrates within the fallopian tube.

After this, hormone levels shift and the uterine lining sheds, leading to menstruation about two weeks later. This is a normal part of the menstrual cycle and simply reflects the limited lifespan of the egg, not a problem with fertility.

Does Egg Lifespan Vary From Person to Person?

In most cases, no. An egg does not survive longer because someone is younger or has regular menstrual cycles.

Age can affect egg quality, but once ovulation occurs, the egg’s lifespan remains largely the same for everyone. It stays capable of fertilisation for only a short window of about 12 to 24 hours.

What does vary is the timing of ovulation. Ovulation may occur earlier or later from cycle to cycle, even in people with predictable periods. This shift is often what makes fertility timing feel uncertain, rather than differences in egg lifespan itself.

What Health Conditions Can Affect Egg Survival?

Most health conditions do not change how long an egg survives after ovulation. That part of the process is biologically stable.

Stress, for example, can disrupt the menstrual cycle and delay ovulation by days. However, once the egg is released, stress does not make it live longer or shorter.

Hormonal conditions such as thyroid disorders or PCOS affect ovulation timing or frequency, not the egg’s lifespan itself. After release, the egg still has the same limited window for fertilisation.

Problems involving the fallopian tubes matter for a different reason. Past infections, inflammation or scarring can interfere with egg movement. Fertilisation may not occur because the egg and sperm fail to meet in time, rather than due to a change in egg survival.

How Does This Timing Relate to IVF and Fertility Treatment?

In fertility treatment, timing is carefully controlled. During IVF, doctors retrieve eggs just before natural ovulation because eggs are most viable at that stage. Delaying retrieval can affect egg quality, so the timing is closely monitored.

After retrieval, fertilisation takes place in the laboratory. The fallopian tubes are no longer involved, but the same biological rule applies. Eggs remain viable for only a short period.

This limited lifespan is why IVF treatment follows strict schedules. Each step is planned around the brief window when an egg can successfully be fertilised.

Conclusion

Knowing how long does the egg stay in the fallopian tube helps place fertility into perspective. After ovulation, the egg survives for only 12 to 24 hours, which explains why conception depends so strongly on timing rather than chance. This does not mean pregnancy must happen immediately or that a missed cycle signals a problem.

Fertility is influenced by many factors beyond timing, including hormone balance, egg quality, overall health and fallopian tube function. Missing the fertile window in one cycle is common and biologically normal.

Understanding the short lifespan of the egg allows you to approach cycle tracking with realistic expectations. It can help reduce unnecessary stress, support better fertility planning and guide informed conversations with healthcare providers about reproductive health.