Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period? Debunking Sex Myths

A couple of key components can play into the probability of getting pregnant in your interval, together with the size of your menstrual cycle (i.e., the time from the primary day of your interval till the primary day of your subsequent interval), the variety of days you bleed, and whenever you had penetrative sex with a companion with a penis, Staci Tanouye, MD, an OB/GYN and sexual well being advocate, tells Nicely+Good.

Need to know extra? Learn on to study why it is potential to get pregnant in your interval, whenever you’re almost certainly to conceive all through your cycle, and the way to stop being pregnant throughout that “time of the month” (in the event you’re not planning to get pregnant any time quickly).

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Why you may nonetheless get pregnant in your interval

Earlier than we dive into why conception throughout your interval is feasible, let’s brush up on a number of fundamentals. First, conception is almost certainly to happen when you ovulate (i.e., when your ovary releases an egg). When an egg is launched, it travels down considered one of your fallopian tubes to your uterus, the place it’ll meet with sperm in the event you’ve had unprotected intercourse. If the egg will get fertilized by the sperm, bam, conception occurs. However there’s solely a small window every menstrual cycle when that is potential—throughout ovulation.

Ovulation sometimes happens within the middle of your cycle (on common, day 14 of a 28-day cycle, although everyone seems to be totally different), and the egg is simply out there to be fertilized for 12 to 24 hours. If it is not fertilized by then, it is reabsorbed by your physique, and then you definately shed your uterine lining¹ (the bleeding throughout your interval). Whereas the egg solely lasts a short while, “sperm can stay inside you for up to five days,” Dr. Tanouye says. Some studies² even recommend they might survive for so long as per week (in your fallopian tubes), she provides.

This implies, in case you have unprotected intercourse in your interval, particularly towards the end of your period, some sperm can stick round lengthy sufficient to fertilize an egg in the event you ovulate about 5 to seven days later. This will particularly apply to those that ovulate earlier or later than common. (For context, solely one-third of individuals ovulate between days 10 and 17³ of their cycle. The remaining, about 70 % of individuals with uteruses, ovulate earlier than or after this window.)

A bit complicated, proper? Don’t fret: Here is a breakdown of among the extra particular eventualities through which intercourse in your interval can lead to being pregnant, in keeping with Dr. Tanouye:

1. You’ve quick cycles

In case you have a shorter menstrual cycle (aka any lower than the typical 28 days), chances are you’ll ovulate just a few days after your interval. This will trigger an overlap between when sperm is in your reproductive tract (from unprotected intercourse) and when your ovary releases an egg, making being pregnant potential.

For instance: “If somebody has a 26-day cycle, then they’re most likely ovulating nearer to day 12,” which is simply 5 days after your interval (in the event you menstruate for seven days), Dr. Tanouye says. So in case you have unprotected intercourse in your interval, your companion’s sperm should still be hanging round your reproductive system for 5 days (and even longer). Which means an individual “may probably get pregnant if penis-in-vagina intercourse occurred as early as day 5 by way of seven [of their cycle], usually when persons are nonetheless on their intervals.”

2. You ovulate earlier in your cycle

Keep in mind: solely 30 % of individuals ovulate in the midst of their cycle. Which means ovulation occurs earlier (or later) for a lot of. So even in case you have the textbook 28-day cycle, you may nonetheless ovulate way before day 14. In different phrases, in case you have unprotected intercourse in your interval, and also you ovulate a number of days after, you may conceive by the sperm that’s nonetheless lingering inside you.

3. Different components led to an irregular cycle

Even when your intervals are sometimes common, some components can throw your cycle out of whack every so often. This will include stress, weight reduction (or acquire), sure medicines, and uterine fibroids, amongst different issues. If these components trigger your cycle to grow to be shorter or longer one month, you might have a better likelihood of being pregnant when you will have intercourse whereas menstruating.

4. You’ve recognizing between intervals

Spotting between periods (aka breakthrough bleeding) is fairly frequent. It will possibly occur for numerous causes—like forgetting to take your birth control pill, having endometriosis, or taking sure medicines, simply to call a number of. However generally, it may be simple to confuse recognizing along with your interval. Take the next state of affairs, for instance: You see blood in your underwear, so that you suppose you bought your interval. You proceed to have unprotected intercourse the identical day (figuring the being pregnant odds are low), nevertheless it seems it was simply recognizing, and some days later, you ovulate when sperm are nonetheless inside you. This will up your odds for conception.

To make issues even trickier, generally ovulation itself can cause light bleeding. In different phrases, chances are you’ll suppose you’re in your interval, however in actuality, you are having intercourse throughout essentially the most fertile time in your cycle.

Are you able to get pregnant in your interval whereas on contraception?

Based on Dr. Tanouye, it is extremely unlikely to get pregnant throughout your interval whereas on contraception. Whether or not you are taking the contraception tablet or use the ring, patch, or injections, all these strategies help prevent ovulation. And with out an egg to be fertilized, you can not get pregnant.

That mentioned, contraception solely works reliably in the event you’re taking it as directed. If you happen to do not use it correctly (say, you forgot to take the tablet or skip a day), “contraception might be much less efficient,” Dr. Tanouye provides. Plus, different components can mess with contraception’s effectiveness, too, together with taking sure antibiotic medications or having a stomach virus (which can intrude with the absorption of the tablet), she says.

And have in mind: Even whenever you use contraception accurately, there’s nonetheless a slight margin for error. “These strategies are around 91 percent effective at stopping being pregnant,” Dr. Tanouye says. So in the event you’re not planning to grow to be pregnant, it is perhaps secure to make use of a combo of contraception methods, say, condoms together with the tablet for instance.

What instances of your cycle are you least (and most) fertile?

Whereas cycle size varies from individual to individual, everybody’s menstrual cycle is made up of four phases. Relying on what part you’re in, you will have larger or decrease odds of turning into pregnant. Right here’s the breakdown of the 4 levels, together with whenever you’re most and least fertile, in keeping with Dr. Tanouye:

1. The menses part (begins on the primary day of your interval): That is whenever you shed your uterine lining¹ (i.e., interval blood) in the event you’re not pregnant. As we realized, you’re not tremendous fertile throughout this time, nevertheless it’s nonetheless potential to grow to be pregnant.
2. The follicular phase (overlaps with the menses part and ends whenever you ovulate): Throughout this time, the liner of your uterus (the endometrium) grows and thickens and follicles in your ovaries start to develop. Between days 10 and 14, a totally mature egg (ovum) will type. The second half of the follicular part (i.e., proper earlier than ovulation) is a really fertile time, Dr. Tanouye says.
3. Ovulation (sometimes occurs across the midpoint of your cycle, i.e., about day 14 in a 28-day menstrual cycle): Your ovary releases an egg that may be fertilized by sperm, nevertheless it’s solely viable for 12 to 24 hours. This quick window is your peak of furtiveness.
4. Luteal phase (lasts from about day 15 to day 28 in a 28-day cycle): This part is when an egg leaves your ovary and begins to journey by way of your fallopian tubes to your uterus, the place the liner thickens to arrange for a possible being pregnant. If the egg is fertilized by sperm and attaches itself to your uterine wall (implantation), you grow to be pregnant. If not, the thick uterine lining sheds throughout your subsequent interval. Your possibilities of conceiving 24 hours after ovulation are slim, so that you’re most likely the least fertile throughout this part, Dr. Tanouye says.

To sum up:

• You are almost certainly to get pregnant when you will have intercourse proper earlier than and through ovulation.
• You’re least more likely to get pregnant 24 hours (and past) after ovulation.
• Whereas your interval isn’t your most fertile time, you may nonetheless conceive.

Methods to stop being pregnant whereas in your interval

If you happen to do not wish to get pregnant, you may want to make use of some type of contraception. Fortunately, there are various choices to select from, and you’ll speak to your healthcare supplier about which is the most effective match for you. Here is a breakdown of the commonest sorts:

• Hormonal contraception: Contraception strategies just like the tablet, ring, patch, shot, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) work by stopping ovulation.
• Condoms: “Barrier strategies [like condoms] are the one strategies that stop STIs,” Dr. Tanouye says. They supply an additional layer of safety particularly in the event you use them together with different contraception strategies.
• Abstinence: If you happen to’re not on contraception and/or don’t have entry to different barrier strategies, you may wish to abstain from penis-in-vagina intercourse throughout your interval or different fertile instances in your cycle.
• Natural family planning (NFP): This technique includes tracking your menstrual cycle so you may precisely predict whenever you’re ovulating. For instance, you’ll should pay very shut consideration to your signs, together with adjustments in your cervical mucus and your basal body temperature (which rises barely after ovulation), Dr. Tanouye says.
• The morning-after pill: This technique, often known as “Plan B,” works by stopping your physique from releasing an egg. It is handiest in the event you take it as quickly as potential after unprotected intercourse, although you may take it inside a five-day window. Nonetheless, as a result of the morning-after tablet doesn’t work as well as other forms of birth control, it is best to make use of it solely in emergencies—i.e., whenever you did not use contraception or it failed (suppose: the condom broke).

The ultimate takeaway

In case you have unprotected intercourse with a companion who has a penis, it’s solely potential to get pregnant throughout your interval. Sure components—like quick, irregular cycles or early ovulation—can improve your possibilities of conceiving throughout menstruation. However, nonetheless, it is not very possible, particularly in case you have intercourse on the primary few days of your interval. In different phrases, in the event you’re actively making an attempt to get pregnant, that is not the most effective time to have intercourse.

That mentioned, in the event you’re making an attempt to keep away from being pregnant, at all times use some type of safety throughout intercourse (or a mix of strategies). Your healthcare supplier might help you resolve which is best for you.

And in the event you’re uncertain whether or not you might be pregnant? Contemplate choosing up an at-home pregnancy test at your native pharmacy or visiting your healthcare supplier for a take a look at in-office.