Could it be that a woman would be able to conceive while on her period?
You might or might not have asked that question before, but it’s not uncommon for most people to think that a woman can’t.
The simple truth is that, while a woman is unlikely to get pregnant during her menstruation period, it is still absolutely possible.
So whether you’re trying to get pregnant ( or otherwise, avoid being pregnant), tracking your cycle is crucial, so to at least help you keep track of your fertile window.
What’s A Fertile Window?
Every month, a woman releases an egg from her ovary and starts the preparation for implantation, should fertilization between the released egg and sperm occur. This is known as ovulation.
Ovulation is during which a woman is the most fertile - meaning when you are most likely to conceive.
“When a woman ovulates, the released eggs would only live within the next 24 hours.”
If in the case where there’s no fertilization, the unfertilized egg together with the lining of the uterus will be sloughed off. This is when you will have your period.
The menstrual cycle, which is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next, isn't the same for every woman. It could range from 21 to 35 days, but the typical cycle occurs every 28 days.
On a typical menstrual cycle of 28 days, the fertility window is usually between Day 11 and Day 21.
How Can A Woman Become Pregnant On Her Period?
Ovulation varies based on a woman’s cycle. For women with a shorter cycle of 21 days, she would likely to ovulate around day 7. On the other hand, some women with a longer cycle of around 35 days ovulate around day 21.
While it’s more unlikely for people with longer cycle to conceive on her period, people who have a shorter cycle has a higher chance to get pregnant while having sex during her period.
The likelihood increases when you have unprotected sex towards the end of your period or after your period ends ( Day 6 or Day 7), as you approach your fertility window.
So if your cycle is shorter, this means you are ovulating earlier in the cycle.
And considering the fact that sperm can live inside you for up to 5 days, it is possible that the sperm from Day 7 to still be alive and fertilize the eggs that would be released, for example on Day 11.
What Are The Odds Of Being Pregnant During Period?
The first couple of days when a woman starts bleeding has nearly zero likelihood for pregnancy to occur.
But of course, the chances of conceiving increases with each successive day leading up to her ovulation day.
The wide variation in menstrual cycle length and the timing of ovulation makes it difficult to predict the precise timing and extent of the fertile window.
Regardless of whether a person is more interested in starting or preventing pregnancy, it is helpful for them to know how long their menstrual cycles are and when they typically ovulate.
Download our Doc2Us app from Google App Store or Apple Store and chat with a doctor now.
Refrences:
-
Healthline. (2016). Period Sex: Can You Get Pregnant?. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/sex-on-period.
-
American Pregnancy Association. (2018). Can You Get Pregnant on Your Period?. [online] Available at: https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/can-get-pregnant-period/.
-
Deborah Weatherspoon, C. (2019). Can you get pregnant on or around your period?. [online] Medical News Today. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324829.php.
-
Barton, J. and Eagleson, H. (2019). Can A Woman Become Pregnant On Her Period?. [online] Parents.com. Available at: https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/ovulation/fertile-days/can-a-woman-become-pregnant-during-her-period/.
-
Clearblue.com. (2019). Top fertility myths and facts - Clearblue. [online] Available at: https://www.clearblue.com/am-i-pregnant/myths-and-facts.
Image Credits:
-
https://www.weeksduringpregnancy.com/images/about/fertile-window.png
-
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a6/dd/78/a6dd781d9af80cd818d3bba3e6f60b17.png
-
https://i1.wp.com/metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/501879193.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=644%2C482&ssl=1
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/1960279-checking-cervical-mucus-to-get-pregnant-faster-01-5ae09ac2c06471003916b7cb.png){kind=link}
