If i have a period can i get pregnant

Think you don't need to use protection if you have sex on your period? As it turns out, that's not entirely true. "It's technically possible to get pregnant while on your period, but it's rare for this to happen," says Barbara Stegmann, M.D., a triple board-certified OB-GYN and women's health clinical lead at Organon. Keep reading to learn why it's possible to conceive by having sex during menstruation.

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

For starters, it helps understand your menstrual cycle. "A period is defined as the blood loss that happens at the end of an ovulatory cycle, as the result of an egg not being fertilized by a sperm," explains Michele Hakakha, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist based in Los Angeles and co-author of Expecting 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy.

"Every month, a woman releases an egg on approximately day 14 of her cycle," says Dr. Hakakha—though ovulation date varies for everyone, and it's also possible to have irregular cycles. "Prior to the release of the egg, the hormones in a woman's body increase to prepare (and thicken) the lining of the uterus in case the egg is fertilized and a pregnancy occurs. If there is no fertilization, the lining of the uterus is sloughed off about 14 days later. This is called your period." Most people have periods that last from two days to eight days and take place every 26 to 34 days.

Ovulation typically occurs midway through the cycle, and it's the most fertile time in your menstrual cycle—meaning when you're most likely to conceive. Because sperm can survive for several days in the reproductive tract, a woman can get pregnant by having sex during ovulation or the days leading up to it.

Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period?

Most people have menstrual cycles that last 26 to 34 days, and if someone with this cycle has an average two- to eight-day period, they will probably not get pregnant during their period. An egg that is released during ovulation but remains unfertilized "comes out with all of the menstrual blood," Dr. Hakakha explains.

That said, the chance of pregnancy on your period increases if you have an irregular cycle. "A woman with a shorter menstrual cycle (24 days, for example), could have seven days of bleeding, have intercourse on her final day of bleeding, and ovulate three days later," Dr. Hakakha says. "Since sperm live for three to five days, she could definitely get pregnant" if it fertilizes a released egg, which has a lifespan of about 24 hours.

In addition, some women experience breakthrough spotting or bleeding between periods. This can occur during ovulation and be mistaken for a period, making it difficult to establish the exact place in the menstrual cycle. Having sex during ovulation increases your chances of getting pregnant.

The Bottom Line

"Unprotected intercourse can result in pregnancy if the sperm and egg can get together and you are off in your timing estimates," says Lauren Sundheimer, M.D., MS, FACOG, an OB-GYN practicing in Orange County, California. "If you are able to track your fertile window, then having intercourse outside of when you are considered fertile or when you are nearing ovulation might be safe, but there is never a guarantee that you will not get pregnant."

Being able to bring new life into this world is one of the most wonderful experiences a couple can share together. However, in the process of trying to conceive, it's important to remember that getting pregnant can take time.

This is where understanding your menstrual cycle and keeping track of when you’re the most fertile can improve the chances of getting pregnant.

In this article, we discuss signs of ovulation and the different ways to find out when you're ovulating.

Understanding ovulation and conception

A menstrual cycle starts on the day when a period starts and ends the day before the next period. The length of a menstrual cycle length is usually between 21 and 35 days. However, the length of one’s menstrual cycle can vary between women, and even from one menstrual cycle to the next.

A woman’s chances of getting pregnant are highest at the time of ovulation. Ovulation happens when an egg from either one of a woman’s 2 ovaries is released. It typically occurs 12 – 14 days before the start of her next period.

Once released from the ovaries, the egg gets picked up at the fallopian tube, where it will stay for around 24 hours. Pregnancy happens when a man’s sperm fertilises the egg during this time and the fertilised egg, now called an embryo, moves through the fallopian tube and successfully implants in the uterus.

When is the best time to conceive?

During the average woman's menstrual cycle there are 6 days when intercourse can result in pregnancy. This is known as the “fertile window” and it refers to the 5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. In order to be aware of the fertility window, it is important for a woman to be able to predict the next ovulation date in the course of her menstrual cycles.

Charting the monthly cycle and taking note of the signs of ovulation can be used to track down the exact day of ovulation each month.

How do you know you're ovulating?

Identifying the signs of ovulation can help determine the exact day of ovulation. Some of the typical signs of ovulation include mild abdominal cramping, wetter, slippery vaginal discharge, a slight rise in basal body temperature and an increased sex drive.

It may be helpful to follow the signs over a few months to get an idea of what is normal for your body. However, keep in mind that there are several variables, and ovulation timings may vary from month to month.

Ways to track ovulation

Ovulation can be tracked with an ovulation calculator, an ovulation predictor kit or through mobile applications that can track one’s menstrual period. Monitoring the changes in vaginal mucus can also be helpful. It is best to use a combination of these methods to get accurate results.

These calculators work by taking the first day of a woman’s last period and the length of her menstrual cycle to give a range of days when she ovulates or releases an egg.

Note changes in vaginal mucus – A few days prior to ovulation, wet and slippery vaginal mucus may be noticed. This is a sign that ovulation is about to begin. It is also the best time to have intercourse, as this kind of mucus helps the sperm to travel more easily.

Use an ovulation predictor kit – Another option to track ovulation is to use an ovulation predictor kit or fertility monitor.

These kits measure the levels of specific hormones in the urine to detect the ovulation day each month. Some devices also identify the fertility window.

Ultrasound scan – Before ovulation happens, a follicle on one of the ovaries will grow larger, usually releasing the egg some time after the follicle has reached an 18mm diameter. A fertility specialist can perform ultrasound scans to measure the diameter of the leading follicle.

How to maximise fertility and chances of conception?

To maximise the chances of getting pregnant, try to time having sexual intercourse during the fertile window. It's also essential to have regular sexual intercourse – pregnancy rates are highest among partners who have intercourse every 2 – 3 days throughout the month.

Avoid smoking and alcohol, and limit caffeine consumption. There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption in pregnancy, therefore it is safest to stop drinking when trying to conceive. In men, tobacco use and alcohol consumption can affect sperm quality and thus reduce fertility.

Maintaining a healthy weight is also important. Being overweight or underweight can negatively affect ovulation.

When to see a doctor

Possible reasons for not conceiving include ovulation irregularities, structural problems in the reproductive system, low sperm count or an underlying medical problem.

In general, women are advised to consult a fertility specialist if you’ve been trying to conceive for 1 year. For those aged 35 years or older, or have any medical conditions, they should see a fertility specialist after 6 months of trying. A fertility specialist can assess one’s condition, detect any possible medical conditions affecting the ability to get pregnant and may be able to identify ways to improve the probability of conception.

Article reviewed by Dr Lim Min Yu, obstetrician and gynaecologist at Gleneagles Hospital

References

Wilcox, A. J., Dunson, D., & Baird, D. D. (2000). The timing of the "fertile window" in the menstrual cycle: day specific estimates from a prospective study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 321(7271), 1259–1262. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.321.7271.1259

Sohda, S., Suzuki, K., & Igari, I. (2017). Relationship Between the Menstrual Cycle and Timing of Ovulation Revealed by New Protocols: Analysis of Data from a Self-Tracking Health App. Journal of medical Internet research, 19(11), e391. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.7468

How to Chart Your Menstrual Cycle. Retrieved on 10 February 2021 from https://www.webmd.com/baby/charting-your-fertility-cycle#1

Reed BG, Carr BR. The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation. [Updated 2018 Aug 5]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279054/

Cervical Mucus and Early Pregnancy. Retrieved on 10 February 2021 from https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/cervical-mucus-4558/

The 10 best period tracking apps. Retrieved on 10 February 2021 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320758

Can you get a full period and still be pregnant?

What are the chances of getting pregnant on your period?