how long can an egg be fertilized
Every month there is a small window of opportunity for a man and women to conceive, so timing is very important. An egg can be fertilized for a maximum of 24 hours after it is released from the ovary, according to pregnancy and childbirth expert Sheila Kitzinger. Therefore, a woman needs to understand how her menstrual cycle works and make an educated guess about when she will release an egg, also known as ovulating.
Fertilization and Embryo Development. Following ovulation, the egg is capable of fertilization for only 12 to 24 hours. Contact between the egg and sperm is random. Once the egg arrives at a specific portion of the tube, called the ampullar-isthmic junction, it rests for another thirty hours. Fertilization â sperm union with the egg â occurs in this portion of the tube. The fertilized egg then begins a rapid descent to the uterus.