‘A woman can’t get pregnant when she’s on her period.’ is a very common fertility myth. Although the chances of getting pregnant while on periods is extremely rare, there are chances you may get pregnant at any time during the menstrual cycle, even during or just after period if you have sex without using contraception.
Let us understand how a woman can get pregnant during her period.
A woman’s likelihood of getting pregnant can rise and fall throughout her ovulation cycle. Chances of pregnancy are higher during ovulation period or the fertile period of the menstrual cycle, which is usually between the 8th and 13th day. However, it is not quite as simple as this, there are three main factors influencing the chances of getting pregnant:
- Cycle length and ovulation.
- The role of sperm.
- Changes in menstrual regularity.
Cycle length and ovulation
It is important to note that the cycle length varies significantly between people, which means there is a wide variation in the timing of ovulation as well, making it difficult to tell when a person is in their fertile period. The ovulation period usually lasts for about 24 hours, and having sexual intercourse during this period has increased chances of pregnancy. Since, people with shorter menstrual cycles may ovulate closer to their period (sometimes just a day prior to their period) than people with longer cycles, there are chances that a woman may get pregnant during her period.
The role of sperm
Sperms can live for 3–5 days inside a body, which means that a person can get pregnant during this time.
Changes in menstrual cycles regularity
Certain physiologic and medical conditions result in changes in menstrual cycles regularity. These factors make it more challenging to accurately determine the fertile period. Factors influencing menstrual regularity include:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Breast-feeding or pregnancy
- Premature ovarian failure
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Eating disorders
- Extreme weight loss or heavy exercises
The Take Home Message - Considering the above discussed factors, a woman can theoretically get pregnant at any time of her menstrual cycle. There's no such thing as ‘safe period of the month’ where you can have sex without contraception and not risk becoming pregnant. Unless a woman is in a same-sex partnership or are trying to conceive, birth control should be used even if a woman is menstruating.
Disclaimer: The content (video/text) presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.