Can you get Pregnant on your period

There are a lot of misconceptions that you cannot become pregnant from the very first time you have sexual relations, that you cannot become pregnant while breastfeeding, or even that you cannot become pregnant while on your period.

This may come as a shock to you, but you can get pregnant while on your period. While it is certainly not the most fertile period; however, it is possible that you can become pregnant if you engage in unprotected sexual activity while on your period. This page discusses can a woman get pregnant during menstruation and more.

How does pregnancy happen?

A female can conceive at any time during her entire menstrual cycle. However, it will most likely be around ovulation time.

An average period cycle is of about 28 days, measured from the start of one period to the first day of the next. Ovulation normally takes place about 12–14 days following an individual's period stops.

When ovulation occurs, the egg exits the ovary and passes through the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by the sperm. The egg can remain viable for about 24 hours following ovulation. As a result, it must come into contact with sperm at this time to result in pregnancy. After this period, the egg moves to the uterus.

How can a woman get pregnant during menstruation?

Vaginal bleeding is sometimes mistaken for the start of menstruation. It is possible that you will bleed during ovulation when you are at your most fertile. This might easily be confused with having a period. Having sexual contact without a barrier at this time significantly increases your likelihood of becoming pregnant.

The average ovulation cycle is 28 to 30 days long. For an average menstrual cycle:

• Days 1–5: Menstruation occurs
• Day 14: Ovulation occurs
• Days 12–16: You are at your maximum fertile point.
• Day 28: The next cycle is expected.

If you have intercourse during your period, you will probably not ovulate for several days. This is because the ovulation and period do not always line up.

However, it is not a standard rule that you will get a period every 28–30 days. Some women may have shorter cycles. Those having a shorter cycle will not have the same amount of time between the end of their periods and the onset of ovulation. For instance:

• Day 1: You begin your period
• Day 5: You engage in unprotected intercourse
• Day 6: End of period
• Day 9: Ovulation occurs
• Day 18: The next period is expected

Sperm can survive in the reproductive system for as long as five days. So, even after you have had intercourse on day 5, they can stay around and wait for the egg to fertilize.

In this situation, a small number of sperm may still be present when you ovulate, despite having sex during your menstrual cycle. If a sperm finds the egg and fertilizes it, then there are chances of conception.

But you may think I'm safe. Your periods are never this short. That may be. However, this doesn't rule out the possibility that you might have a short cycle that occurs unexpectedly.

The average period continues for two to seven days. But, again, that is only an average. A lot of individuals have periods that are longer than that.

This is especially true if you are under a lot of stress, use certain drugs, or suffer from endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or uterine polyps.

The longer your menstruation lasts and the later you engage in sexual activity, the greater the chance you are to fall within your ovulation window.

For instance:

• Day 1: You get your period
• Day 10: You engage in sexual activity
• Day 11: end of period
• Day 14: Ovulation takes place
• Day 18: The next period is expected

Even if you have sexual contact during your period, you may still get pregnant. Because you are well inside the 5-day window of ovulation and unprotected sex. So, sperm still remains available to fertilize the egg and subsequent conception.

If you want to know about your ovulation pattern, keep track of the days between your menses. This means when you first start your period and when you get your period again.

Over a few months, you can find a pattern that will enable you to roughly estimate your ovulation cycle.

What are the chances that you can get pregnant on your period?

Females are most likely to become pregnant around the eighth and thirteenth days of their menstrual cycle, as per a study. This suggests that a person's chances of getting pregnant while on their period are modest.

But this is not as straightforward as this because of three primary factors:

• The length of a person's menstrual cycle, 
• Monthly variations in ovulation timing, 
• The duration of sperm survival within the body

Length of Cycle

Women's periods are considered ‘normal’ if they occur within 21–35 days; therefore, the length of cycles varies greatly between individuals. People having shorter cycle lengths may ovulate nearer to their scheduled periods than those with longer/extended cycles.

Timing of Ovulation 

The substantial variation in length of the menstrual cycle and ovulation timing makes it tricky to determine when an individual is in the fertile window.

According to research, engaging in sexual activity one day preceding ovulation will have the same probability of pregnancy as having intercourse at any other point during the menstrual cycle.

Sperm role

In addition, sperm can survive in the body for about 3-5 days; therefore, an individual can become pregnant even when they have intercourse 5 days prior to ovulation.

So, while the possibility to get pregnant during your period, it is uncommon.

Is it possible that you become pregnant on the last day of your menstrual cycle?

Suppose your bleeding stops on Day 6, you have intercourse on Day 7, and your ovulation is on Day 11. The sperm from Day 6 may still be in your fallopian tubes, waiting to fertilize the egg. Each day after your period ends increases your chances of conceiving. If you are attempting to conceive, this is an ideal time to have intercourse. Increase your chances of getting pregnant by having sex every other day for the following 14 days.

Birth Control Precautions

If you are trying to conceive, having sexual contact on your period will not help, even if your menstrual cycle spans less than 28 days. But it is likely that you will become pregnant.

If you are not trying to conceive, you should always use contraception, such as condoms or birth control medication.

Birth control medications do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as herpes, gonorrhoea, or chlamydia. In order to shield yourself from STIs, use a barrier technique such as a condom.

Conclusion

Since ovulation cycles vary, it is possible that you can get pregnant on your period. While conception is more unlikely in the first few days of your menstrual cycle, it rises in the later days.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year or longer and haven't conceived, visit your doctor. They can recommend ways of tracking when you ovulate.

A doctor can also recommend tests and therapies to improve your likelihood of conception.