Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period?
The most common question among women is whether they can get pregnant during period. Typically, women who have shorter menstrual cycles and longer days of bleeding have greater chance of getting pregnant during this time. If your cycles is every 21 to 24 days, that clearly means you are ovulating early. Normally sperm stays alive in your womb up to 5 days. If you have sex at the end of your period, you can actually conceive 4 to 5 days later. Conceiving is all the more obvious if you have unprotected sex or you are off birth control pills. So, it is a big no-no.
Sex during your periods might prove to be fatal in terms of getting pregnant. So, you should buckle up and take all the precautions.
When does ovulation happen?
Ovulation generally happens in the middle of the menstrual cycle. It takes place between the ninth and twenty-first days, mostly if you have a 28 day cycle. The first day of period is the day one of the menstrual cycle.
If you are a woman with regular periods, you must ovulate on the 14th or 15th day of your cycle. In that case you can conceive five days before or one day after your ovulation stops .This is because the sperm can live in your uterus for maximum 5 days. After the egg reaches maturity, it is released in the abdomen. From there it is sucked by the fallopian tube.
Read More: 11 Signs and Symptoms of Ovulation
When can I actually conceive?
You conceive when your egg meets the sperm in the fallopian tube. The egg can survive up to 24 hours after being released. If you happen to have sex during that time, your chances of pregnancy go up a notch. But worry not! It is not always the case.
Sometimes the eggs do not get fertilized. The less likely you are going to get pregnant is during the first two- three days of your period. But this also depends on the regularity of your menstruation. If your dates change every month, it will be very tough to predict the first day of your ovulation. That is kind of tricky because it will keep on giving you a headache.
How does it happen?
Sometimes you can bleed when you are most fertile during ovulation. Many women mistake this bleeding as the starting of their period. Now if you have unprotected sex during this time, your chances of conceiving are very high!
Generally women have a menstruation cycle of 28 to 32 days. Some have even longer cycle of almost 35 days. These women are less likely to ovulate till several days after their period stops. If you fall in this group, go ahead and have sex on your periods. However, if you have shorter cycle of 21 days, then you might be in trouble. You won’t have enough time between your period and the starting of your ovulation.
The fact is that a sperm can live inside a womb for 3 days after ejaculation. It is definitely a thing to consider. At the end of your period, pregnancy chances increases.
So, what are the odds?
The chances of pregnancy alter throughout the cycle of ovulation. Some women may have a cycle of 29 days, while in case of others it may vary from 20 to 40 days. The odds of you becoming pregnant one or two days after you start bleeding is zero. But the chances increase every day. After almost 12-13 days, your estimated chance is 9 percent. While the odds are low, there is never complete guarantee that you will not get pregnant on your periods.
Read More: Can You Get Pregnant Right After Your Period?
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How to be sure you are not pregnant
Pregnancy symptoms include:
- You might have mild cramps in the lower abdomen. This is not a good sign. You must visit your doctor if the pain persists.
- Spotting i.e., sudden vaginal bleeding, can also raise certain alarm. After your period is over if you still experience spotting, then visit your physician immediately.
- Whilst mood swings are common during period, but if it continues even after your period ends, it can be a cause of worry. Consult your doctor at the earliest.
- Your breasts can feel tender if you become pregnant. Look out for this sign if you had sex without any protection.
These symptoms occur two weeks after ovulation. If you had unprotected sex during periods and feel any of these symptoms, bring a pregnancy kit home. You might be pregnant!
Precautions
If your cycle is more than 28 days, having sex during your period is free of risk. But it is not guaranteed. It is always likely that you can end up getting pregnant. In case you want to avoid pregnancy, you must have protected sex every time. Using contraception like condoms and birth control pills come in handy at this time. Although, birth control pills do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms are the best bet for you. So if you are planning on getting adventurous in bed whilst you are on period then make sure that your partner is wearing rubber.
Conclusion
It is always better to be safe than sorry. Sex during pregnancy is always a high risk one. Irrespective of the duration of your ovulation cycle, there is always a chance that you can end up getting pregnant. The ovulation might happen during the middle of your menstrual cycle. Your chances of conceiving dramatically increase if you have sex immediately before or after ovulation. The least likely you are going to be pregnant is in the first three days of your period. Finally it all depends on the regularity of your cycle. Unprotected sex during periods is another contributing factor. There is always a high chance of your egg getting fertilized by your partner’s sperm. Precautions are a must if you want to avoid pregnancy on your period. Go for the pills or make sure your partner wears a condom. Otherwise you will be in grave trouble ladies! If you experience any symptoms indicating a pregnancy, consult a doctor and get checked.
Reference
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/sex-on-period#4
https://www.self.com/story/can-you-get-pregnant-on-your-period
