Ovulation normally occurs fourteen days before beginning the next period, regardless of the length of the cycle. So a woman with a 28 day cycle would tend to ovulate on day 14. The woman with a 32 day cycle would tend to ovulate on day 18 (32-14). The life time of the egg is brief -only 24 hours. So to get pregnant the sperm should reach the egg during this fertility period. During day fourteen the ovum is released and it travels down the fallopian tube. If a sperm is waiting for it the ovum is fertilized and implants itself in the uterine lining resulting in pregnancy. The ovum has a life span of only about 12 to 24 hours. Sperm can survive up to 72 hours inside a woman. In the event that it is not fertilized the ovum breaks down and is shed along with the uterine lining ...