Can you get pregnant during your period?

While the chances of getting pregnant during your period are low, it’s still possible. This depends on several factors, like the length of your menstrual cycle and when you ovulate. If you have a shorter cycle (e.g., 21 to 24 days), you may ovulate soon after your period. Since sperm can survive in the body for up to five days, having unprotected sex towards the end of your period could result in pregnancy. Understanding your menstrual cycle is key to knowing your fertile window and making informed decisions about your reproductive health. Read on to learn about your chances of getting pregnant and how your menstrual cycle affects your fertility window.

What are the chances I can get pregnant on my period?

The chances of getting pregnant if you have sex during your period are very low. However, if you’ve had unprotected sex, it is still possible to get pregnant during your period.

To understand how this can happen, you need to know how your menstrual cycle works. 

• Your cycle starts on the first day of your period and lasts until the day before your next period
• Before ovulation, the production of key hormones like estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH) rise, which helps prepare for the release of an egg
• The lining on your uterus thickens in preparation for a fertilized egg to implant
• About 10 to 16 days before the start of your next period, you will ovulate, which is when one of your ovaries releases an egg
• Once you’ve ovulated, you enter the Luteal phase, when the now empty follicle develops the corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone
• If you have not conceived, then the egg passes into the uterus, hormone levels drop, and the womb lining sheds as you begin your next period

You can read more about your menstrual cycle and ovulation here. 

You are at your most fertile around the time you ovulate. Although the egg lives only for 12 to 24 hours after being released, you can get pregnant even if you have sex days before you ovulate as sperm can live up to five days in your body.

So how likely are you to get pregnant during your period? Well, it depends on a few factors like: 

• whether you used contraception or not
• the length of your menstrual cycle
• the length of your period
• when you had sex 

Typically menstrual cycle length is between 21 and 35 days, so you are usually fertile between days 11 and 21, although this can vary between cycles and from woman to woman. If your period lasts 5-7 days and you have sex towards the end, you may be able to conceive on day 11, as sperm can survive up to 5 days after intercourse. 

You can also conceive after having sex during your period if you have short menstrual cycles, as this means you ovulate a few days earlier, and closer to the end of your period.

Getting pregnant when you are on your period is very unlikely. However, there is a small chance you can conceive this time during your cycle.

Can I get pregnant a couple of days after my period has ended?

It’s possible, but also unlikely. Though there is always risk of pregnancy if you have sex without contraception. If you ovulate early – when you have short menstrual cycles – you may be able to get pregnant this time of the month. After your period ends, your body begins preparing for ovulation. While you're not yet in your fertile window, you're getting closer to the days when you're most likely to conceive—the fertile window typically spans the five days sperm can survive in the female body in a sperm friendly environment and the day of ovulation itself.

Can I get pregnant just before my period?

The probability of conceiving if you have sex two or three days before your period is extremely low. Since your egg lives for around 12 to 24 hours after it is released, this means your fertility window closes soon after you ovulate. However, there is always a risk of pregnancy. 

What can I do to get pregnant?

If you want to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. Many doctors will advise a few lifestyle changes if you’re trying for a baby, such as taking a folic acid or prenatal vitamin supplements, avoiding alcohol, quitting smoking, and trying to maintain a healthy weight. You may also want to use an ovulation test to help you identify when your most fertile days are. You can see our range of ovulation tests and fertility monitors here to help you maximize your chances of conceiving. 

Also, see our tips on how to get pregnant faster. 

I don’t want a baby right now, what should I do?

If you don’t want to get pregnant, there is no safe time to have sex without contraception. Talk to your doctor about your options for contraception to find the right one for you.