Can I get pregnant while on my period?

Generally, it is said that pregnancy cannot occur with menstruation and that it is safe to have unprotected sex at that time. However, the possibility of becoming pregnant during menstruation is a cause of concern for many women, as they do not know whether this statement is a myth or not.

The truth is that a woman's chances of becoming pregnant are greatest during her fertile days, which do not usually coincide with the days of menstruation. Thus, the chances of pregnancy during menstruation are not high, but they do exist.

Therefore, it is very important to keep in mind that, if pregnancy is not desired, it is advisable to use a contraceptive method.

When is it most likely to become pregnant?

Generally, one of the ovaries releases an egg in the middle of the menstrual cycle, which is called ovulation. This egg expelled by the ovaries is collected by the fallopian tubes. Thus, fertilization can occur when the sperm fuses with the egg as it moves down the tubes toward the uterus.

Thus, the middle of the menstrual cycle is the time when there is the greatest chance of pregnancy. The reason is that in the periovulatory period it is easier for the encounter between egg and sperm to occur and, therefore, a gestation. This is why the days close to ovulation may be known as the fertile days fertile days.

Regular menstrual cycle and fertile days

Considering that the average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days, ovulation is most likely to occur on day 14. Therefore, most often a woman does not ovulate while she is menstruating, since menstruation only lasts about 5-7 days.

Is it possible to ovulate with my period and get pregnant?

Despite the above, not all women have the same menstrual cycle length. In fact, a menstrual cycle may be shortened or lengthened and may last as long as 21-35 days.

In these cases, generally, what varies is the duration of the first phase of the cycle, the follicular phase, which is prior to ovulation. Therefore, in a short menstrual cycle, ovulation is not expected to occur in the middle of the cycle, but would be brought forward by the shortening of the follicular phase.

Thus, if a woman has a 21-day menstrual cycle, ovulation would occur around day 7. Thus, it would be possible for a woman to ovulate while she is finishing her menstruation.

Possibility of pregnancy with menstrual period and short menstrual cycle

On the other hand, it also comes into play that spermatozoa are able to survive for approximately 4-5 days in the female reproductive tract. This means that pregnancy could occur if unprotected sexual intercourse takes place up to 5 days before ovulation.

As an example, in a short 24-day cycle, a woman might ovulate on day 10. If sexual intercourse takes place during the final days of menstruation (e.g., day 6) or in the days following, when the woman ovulates on day 10 she will still have live sperm capable of resulting in pregnancy.

Sexual intercourse during menstruation and possibility of pregnancy

Finally, it is important to mention that if the menstrual cycle is irregular, it is more complicated to predict which day ovulation will occur. In addition, the timing of ovulation can also be altered by certain situations such as stress or hormonal imbalances, making it difficult to know exactly when a woman is ovulating.

Because of this, if you want to avoid pregnancy, it is advisable to always use a contraceptive method. In addition, if it is a barrier to contraception, it will also prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Pregnancy days before the menstrual period starts

As discussed above, a woman has a certain chance of becoming pregnant if she has sexual intercourse during menstruation or in the days immediately following menstruation, especially if she has short menstrual cycles.

However, the chances of conceiving in the days immediately preceding menstruation are even lower. This is because the egg can only be fertilized within the first 24 hours or so after ovulation.

However, there is no totally safe period within the menstrual cycle to have unprotected sex without contraception to avoid the risk of pregnancy, as it is usually unknown when ovulation has occurred.

FAQs from users

Can pregnancy occur close to my period?

The probability is low, but yes, you can get pregnant being in your days close to your period, just like during menstruation. If the menstrual cycles are short in a woman, the fertile days (close to ovulation) are very close to those of the period, as we have explained in the previous picture. Therefore, if we add to this that the sperm can last up to 4 days alive inside the woman... yes, pregnancy can occur by having intercourse during the period.

How can you know if you are pregnant if you menstruate?

There is no way to know until the woman's new cycle begins. If there has been a pregnancy, she will not have a period the following month and, if she takes a pregnancy test, it will be positive.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy with menstruation?

In case the woman becomes pregnant, she will have the usual symptoms of pregnancy, such as absence of menstruation, tiredness, breast tenderness, etc. To check if she is really pregnant, she will have to take a pregnancy test, as these symptoms are very general and similar to those of premenstrual syndrome.

Can pregnancy occur during a normal period or does it happen when it is less abundant?

The period can be normal, both in duration and abundance of bleeding, that is, the woman does not have to notice anything strange in her menstruation. There is no way to identify if a woman can become pregnant by the type of vaginal bleeding she has during that menstrual cycle, so it is important to use contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

Is it possible to menstruate while pregnant?

No, there is no menstruation during pregnancy, although bleeding may occur. If it is heavy bleeding, such as menstrual bleeding, it is advisable to see a doctor, as it may be due to a miscarriage.

Can I have sex on my period to get pregnant?

If you want to get pregnant, you should not have sexual intercourse at that time. The best time to get pregnant is during the fertile days, which are those close to ovulation, approximately on day 14 of the cycle. Therefore, if pregnancy is desired, it is advisable to have intercourse on ovulation days and not during menstruation.

Is it possible to have sexual intercourse during menstruation?

Yes, it is possible to have sex during the days of menstruation if that is what the woman desires.

However, it is important to remember that there is no safe period to avoid pregnancy during the menstrual cycle and, thus, pregnancy would be possible with menstruation if sexual intercourse takes place without contraceptive protection.

Therefore, it is advisable to use a contraceptive method even if you have sex during your period if you do not want to become pregnant. In addition, if it is barrier contraception (such as a condom), it will prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Recommended readings

For more information on the menstrual cycle, please visit the following link: The menstrual cycle: what happens in each of its phases?

If, on the other hand, you are interested in learning more about contraceptive methods, we recommend you read this article: Contraceptive methods: types, efficacy, risks, and prices.