Your period came, so does that mean you can be a little more lax about birth control? After all, you can’t get pregnant while Aunt Flo is around, right? Show
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy Unfortunately, that’s not true. You can get pregnant during your period.
It’s not quite that simple, says Ob/Gyn Amy Stephens, MD. She clears up the confusion about fertility and your monthly cycle. Fertility windowsThe most fertile time of your cycle, when you are most likely to get pregnant, is when you ovulate, or release an egg, Dr. Stephens explains. That typically happens midway between periods. So if you have a regular 28-day cycle, Day 1 would be the first day of your period, and you would ovulate around Day 14. “You have the highest chance of getting pregnant during the few days before and after that day,” she says. But that’s a general guideline and not a rule. “You can definitely get pregnant outside that window,” Dr. Stephens says. Ovulation timingIf you have unprotected sex during or right after your period, there is a lower chance of getting pregnant. “But the chances are not zero,” Dr. Stephens stresses. That’s especially true for women with irregular periods, whose ovulation date is harder to predict. Even women who normally have periods like clockwork can experience an unpredictable cycle as the result of things like stress, hormonal changes, and losing or gaining weight. Having a shorter-than-average cycle also increases your risk of conceiving during period sex. That’s because sperm can live inside you for up to 5 days. They could still be hanging around, looking for love, if you release an egg 4 or 5 days after your period ends. How not to get pregnantIf you want to get pregnant, plan to get frisky halfway between periods for the best chances. But if you’re trying to avoid pregnancy, don’t use your period as a guide. Instead, choose a reliable form of birth control. “That’s the best way to prevent pregnancy,” Dr. Stephens says. Yeah, you probably already knew that. But now you know the whole story. Is it possible to conceive while menstruating? Can sperm survive in blood? Fertility expert and OBGYN Dr. Gleaton gives us the 4-1-1.By OBGYN and fertility expert Dr. Kenosha GleatonWhether you’re trying to conceive or not, it’s helpful to know how to plan around your fertile and not-so-fertile windows. Let’s talk about how menstruating can impact your chances of conceiving. Likelihood of getting pregnant while menstruatingBased on a typical 28 day menstrual cycle, it’s extremely unlikely to get pregnant while menstruating. The period marks the first day of a new cycle, and the fertile period starts around day 9-14. This means that for pregnancy to occur, you’ll need to have sex during the fertile window as sperm can only live inside the reproductive tract for around five days. Of course, there are individuals who may experience irregular periods and determining the fertility window may be a bit challenging. The chances of conceiving on the first few days of your period are when it is the most unlikely to conceive, although the likelihood does increase towards the end of the menstrual period. How does getting pregnant on your period occurIn order for pregnancy to occur, sperm has to fertilize a mature egg. If you only had sex on your period and still got pregnant, this may point to a few things:
Read more about spotting →So while the chances of getting pregnant from period sex are low, there are still some factors that can increase the chances. A shorter cycle, irregular menstruation, and spotting are just a few factors that can play a role. Can sperm survive in menstrual blood?Yes, sperm can survive in menstrual blood. Sperm can survive in the reproductive system during the five days prior to and the day after ovulation, regardless of if menstruation is occuring. What’s ovulation anyway?Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary and occurs typically 14 days prior to the next cycle (menstruation). Ovulation is triggered by a surge of Luteinizing Hormone or LH and typically occurs within 48 hours of this surge. The ovary releases an egg which travels into the fallopian tube and toward the uterus. The lifespan of a released egg is only 24 hours, and if not fertilized during this time, it will die. Ovulation is detectable in the urine using ovulation tests, which measure LH levels and can be useful in timing intercourse when trying to conceive. Although pregnancy can occur during the five days prior to and the day after ovulation, you are most likely to conceive if sperm are swimming in the fallopian tubes prior to ovulation occurring. How to reduce the chances of getting pregnantIf you’re not trying to conceive, there are a lot of ways to reduce your chances. Birth control comes in many forms. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Take-aways
Is it easier to get pregnant on your period?The fertile window usually occurs in the middle of a person's cycle. This window lasts a few days before ovulation and ends a day after ovulation. People are most likely to become pregnant during this time. Due to this, people are less likely to get pregnant in the days leading up to their period.
Can sperm survive in menstrual blood?Can sperm survive in menstrual blood? Yes, sperm can survive in menstrual blood. Sperm can survive in the reproductive system during the five days prior to and the day after ovulation, regardless of if menstruation is occuring.
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