Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period? Debunking Sex Myths

Just a few key elements can play into the chance 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 once you had penetrative sex with a accomplice with a penis, Staci Tanouye, MD, an OB/GYN and sexual well being advocate, tells Nicely+Good.

Wish to know extra? Learn on to study why it is attainable to get pregnant in your interval, once you’re most definitely to conceive all through your cycle, and how one can forestall being pregnant throughout that “time of the month” (for those who’re not planning to get pregnant any time quickly).

Why you possibly can nonetheless get pregnant in your interval

Earlier than we dive into why conception throughout your interval is feasible, let’s brush up on a couple of fundamentals. First, conception is most definitely to happen when you ovulate (i.e., when your ovary releases an egg). When an egg is launched, it travels down one in all your fallopian tubes to your uterus, the place it should meet with sperm for those who’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 attainable—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 barely accessible to be fertilized for 12 to 24 hours. If it isn’t 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 dwell inside you for up to five days,” Dr. Tanouye says. Some studies² even recommend they could survive for so long as every week (in your fallopian tubes), she provides.

This implies, when 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 for those who ovulate about 5 to seven days later. This may 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 remainder, about 70 % of individuals with uteruses, ovulate earlier than or after this window.)

A bit complicated, proper? Don’t fret: This is a breakdown of a number of the extra particular situations through which intercourse in your interval may end up in being pregnant, in keeping with Dr. Tanouye:

1. You’ve quick cycles

You probably have a shorter menstrual cycle (aka any lower than the common 28 days), you might ovulate only some days after your interval. This may trigger an overlap between when sperm is in your reproductive tract (from unprotected intercourse) and when your ovary releases an egg, making being pregnant attainable.

For instance: “If somebody has a 26-day cycle, then they’re in all probability ovulating nearer to day 12,” which is barely 5 days after your interval (for those who menstruate for seven days), Dr. Tanouye says. So when you have unprotected intercourse in your interval, your accomplice’s sperm should be hanging round your reproductive system for 5 days (and even longer). Meaning an individual “might probably get pregnant if penis-in-vagina intercourse occurred as early as day 5 by means of seven [of their cycle], usually when persons are nonetheless on their durations.”

2. You ovulate earlier in your cycle

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

3. Different elements led to an irregular cycle

Even when your durations are sometimes common, some elements can throw your cycle out of whack every now and then. This may include stress, weight reduction (or achieve), sure medicines, and uterine fibroids, amongst different issues. If these elements trigger your cycle to grow to be shorter or longer one month, you might have the next probability of being pregnant when you might have intercourse whereas menstruating.

4. You’ve recognizing between durations

Spotting between periods (aka breakthrough bleeding) is fairly widespread. It could actually occur for numerous causes—like forgetting to take your birth control pill, having endometriosis, or taking sure medicines, simply to call a couple of. However typically, 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), but it surely seems it was simply recognizing, and some days later, you ovulate when sperm are nonetheless inside you. This may up your odds for conception.

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

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

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

That stated, contraception solely works reliably for those who’re taking it as directed. Should you do not use it correctly (say, you forgot to take the capsule or skip a day), “contraception may very well be much less efficient,” Dr. Tanouye provides. Plus, different elements 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 capsule), she says.

And bear in mind: Even once 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 for those who’re not planning to grow to be pregnant, it may be protected to make use of a combo of contraception methods, say, condoms together with the capsule for instance.

What occasions 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 might have increased or decrease odds of changing into pregnant. Right here’s the breakdown of the 4 levels, together with once 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 once you shed your uterine lining¹ (i.e., interval blood) for those who’re not pregnant. As we discovered, you’re not tremendous fertile throughout this time, but it surely’s nonetheless attainable to grow to be pregnant.
2. The follicular phase (overlaps with the menses part and ends once 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, but it surely’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 means of your fallopian tubes to your uterus, the place the liner thickens to organize 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 probabilities of conceiving 24 hours after ovulation are slim, so that you’re in all probability the least fertile throughout this part, Dr. Tanouye says.

To sum up:

• You are most definitely to get pregnant when you might have intercourse proper earlier than and through ovulation.
• You’re least prone to get pregnant 24 hours (and past) after ovulation.
• Whereas your interval isn’t your most fertile time, you possibly can nonetheless conceive.

How you can forestall being pregnant whereas in your interval

Should you do not need to get pregnant, you may want to make use of some type of contraception. Fortunately, there are numerous choices to select from, and you’ll discuss to your healthcare supplier about which is the perfect match for you. This is a breakdown of the most typical sorts:

• Hormonal contraception: Contraception strategies just like the capsule, ring, patch, shot, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) work by stopping ovulation.
• Condoms: “Barrier strategies [like condoms] are the one strategies that forestall STIs,” Dr. Tanouye says. They supply an additional layer of safety particularly for those who use them together with different contraception strategies.
• Abstinence: Should you’re not on contraception and/or don’t have entry to different barrier strategies, you may need to abstain from penis-in-vagina intercourse throughout your interval or different fertile occasions in your cycle.
• Natural family planning (NFP): This methodology entails tracking your menstrual cycle so you possibly can precisely predict once 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 methodology, also referred to as “Plan B,” works by stopping your physique from releasing an egg. It is best for those who take it as quickly as attainable after unprotected intercourse, although you possibly can take it inside a five-day window. Nonetheless, as a result of the morning-after capsule doesn’t work as well as other forms of birth control, it is best to make use of it solely in emergencies—i.e., once you did not use contraception or it failed (suppose: the condom broke).

The ultimate takeaway

You probably have unprotected intercourse with a accomplice who has a penis, it’s completely attainable to get pregnant throughout your interval. Sure elements—like quick, irregular cycles or early ovulation—can improve your probabilities of conceiving throughout menstruation. However, nonetheless, it isn’t very possible, particularly when you have intercourse on the primary few days of your interval. In different phrases, for those who’re actively making an attempt to get pregnant, that is not the perfect time to have intercourse.

That stated, for those who’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 may also help you resolve which is best for you.

And for those who’re not sure whether or not you’re pregnant? Contemplate choosing up an at-home pregnancy test at your native pharmacy or visiting your healthcare supplier for a check in-office.