Can you get pregnant during your period?

If you're hoping to become a mum, your period isn't the most favourable time to conceive. But just because the likelihood of pregnancy is lower during these days doesn't mean the chances are zero. Unlikely, but not impossible!

Yes, after unprotected sex you can get pregnant during your period too. Read our article to find out why!

The risk of pregnancy during your period – myth or reality?

No, it's not a myth. You can get pregnant during your period – that's the reality, even if the chances are slim. If you don't want to become pregnant, we recommend paying attention to a few key factors that can significantly increase or reduce the risk of conception:

• The use of contraception: We only talk about a risk of pregnancy during menstruation when it comes to unprotected sex. If you're using contraception correctly, you needn't worry about becoming pregnant.

• The length of your menstrual cycle: The shorter your cycle, the higher the likelihood of becoming pregnant after unprotected sex, because ovulation may coincide with the final days of your period.

• The duration of your period: As with cycle length, the chances of pregnancy increase for women with longer bleeds, as the last days of bleeding may overlap with the ovulation phase.

• The timing of intercourse: Sperm can survive in the reproductive system for up to 5 days. Even if you had unprotected sex 5 days before ovulation, a sperm cell may still be alive by the time ovulation occurs – and that's how you can become pregnant. This is why pregnancy is possible on the last day of your period (or even earlier).

What are the phases of the menstrual cycle?

The reason your period isn't the most favourable time to conceive is that it doesn't usually coincide with your fertile window. If you want to become a mum, tracking your fertile days can help you pinpoint more accurately those days when your chances of conceiving are highest. To do that, you first need to know and understand the phases of your menstrual cycle:

The follicular phase

The follicular phase is usually the longest phase of the menstrual cycle. It begins on the first day of your period and lasts until ovulation (so it can span 13 to 21 days). Also known as the pre-ovulatory phase, this is when oestrogen levels rise, causing the lining of the womb to thicken and one of the follicles growing on the ovaries to develop into a mature egg.

If you're wondering how many days after your period you can get pregnant (or from which day of your period pregnancy is possible), this depends directly on how long the follicular phase and the maturation of the egg take.

The ovulation phase

The ovulation phase falls right in the middle of the menstrual cycle, between the follicular and luteal phases, usually on day 14. It's considered the time when your body is at its most fertile. Ovulation means the release of the mature egg, ready to be fertilised by a sperm cell and give rise to a pregnancy.

Your chances of conceiving are highest during these days. If you have a very short menstrual cycle, ovulation may occur earlier than day 14 and coincide with the final days of your period. In that case, you could be in your fertile window and become pregnant during your period.

The luteal phase

The luteal phase makes up the second half of the menstrual cycle. It begins immediately after ovulation and lasts until the final day of the cycle, that is, until the first day of your next period. In a 28-day cycle, the luteal phase usually falls between day 15 and day 28.

During the luteal phase, the body prepares for pregnancy: the womb lining continues to thicken and the egg travels into the uterus. If it has been fertilised, it implants and pregnancy begins. If it hasn't been fertilised, it doesn't develop further and the womb lining is shed from the first day of your period.

What is menstruation?

Menstruation is the phase of the menstrual cycle in which the body bleeds and sheds the uterine tissue that thickened during the luteal phase, provided implantation hasn't occurred. Depending on how heavy your monthly bleeding is, use 100% organic period products with an absorbency that suits you.

Menstrual bleeding can last between 2 and 7 days and may be accompanied by abdominal pain, back pain, mood and appetite changes, fatigue and other symptoms. HERE we've told you everything you need to know about menstruation.

What is ovulation?

Ovulation is the period of the menstrual cycle that begins immediately after the follicular phase, when the ovaries release a mature egg. During the ovulation phase, your body is ready to receive a pregnancy, because the egg can be fertilised if it meets a sperm cell.

What does the 'fertile window' mean? 

Ovulation, the time when the likelihood of conceiving is highest, lasts only a day. If the mature egg isn't fertilised during this time, it dies within 12 to 24 hours. This short period is considered your fertile window. HERE we've explained everything you need to know about it – including how to calculate it and why tracking it matters if you want to become pregnant.

Why can you get pregnant during your period?

If you have a short menstrual cycle of 20 to 21 days, the chances of becoming pregnant during your period increase.

The logic behind getting pregnant during your period rests on exactly how a pregnancy comes about: the egg released by your ovaries must meet a sperm cell. Since the egg is only released during ovulation and survives just 12 to 24 hours, pregnancy can result from unprotected sex during the ovulation phase. With a short cycle, the final days of your period can coincide with ovulation – and that's how pregnancy can occur.

What's more, since sperm can survive up to 3–5 days in your reproductive system, they can still be viable by the time you ovulate, even if intercourse took place earlier, outside the ovulation phase.

What is implantation bleeding and how do you recognise it?

When the fertilised egg implants in the wall of the womb, it can cause light bleeding. This is normal, is called implantation bleeding and usually occurs 10 to 14 days after fertilisation. It's an early sign of pregnancy and shouldn't be mistaken for a period – it's considerably lighter and lasts less than 3 days.

Can you get pregnant before your period?

Normally, the chances of becoming pregnant just before your period are lower, since ovulation is assumed to have already taken place and an unfertilised egg doesn't survive in the body for more than a few hours. However, if ovulation occurs later in the cycle, in the days before your period, unprotected sex on those days can also lead to pregnancy.

The reason you can't know exactly how many days before your period pregnancy is ruled out is that you can only estimate your ovulation phase, not determine it with certainty. This is precisely why the calendar method should only be used to estimate your fertile days if you want to become a mum – and not as a method of contraception.

Can you get pregnant after your period?

Yes, you can definitely get pregnant after your period. Because sperm can survive in your body for so long (up to 5 days), the chances of conceiving after your period actually increase the closer you get to your next ovulation.

Can you get pregnant on the last day of your period?

Yes, and the chances of conceiving are in fact higher on the last days of your period than on the first – especially if ovulation occurs early and overlaps with the final days of bleeding. That's why it's important to use contraception every time you have sex if you don't want a baby.

How do you avoid an unwanted pregnancy?

If you're not planning a pregnancy and don't want one, sex during your period doesn't count as a method of contraception. Instead, you can prevent an unwanted pregnancy regardless of the phase of your cycle with the following methods:

• Condoms: This is the only contraceptive method that protects you from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Use a condom every time you have sex, without exception, to avoid any risk (both pregnancy and infection).

• Oral contraceptives: The pill is another reliable way to protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy, as it prevents the release of an egg and therefore makes fertilisation impossible. Bear in mind, however, that contraceptive pills should only be taken on your doctor's recommendation and according to your individual needs, since they act at a hormonal level.

• Emergency contraception: The 'morning-after pill' isn't a method of contraception, merely a 'plan B' if you've had unprotected sex or the contraceptive method you used failed. It should be taken no later than 72 hours after unprotected sex and only prevents the pregnancy that might have resulted from it. For any subsequent sex, you'll still need to use a method of contraception to prevent pregnancy.

How do you know whether you've become pregnant after unprotected sex?

Among the first signs that may point to pregnancy are a missed period, implantation bleeding, frequent urination, nausea and fatigue. We've told you more HERE about how to tell you're pregnant and what the first symptoms are. However, as soon as you suspect you might be pregnant, a pregnancy test is the surest way to confirm whether you have indeed conceived after unprotected sex.

You can take a rapid urine test at home, which detects pregnancy via the level of the hCG hormone in your urine (available from the pharmacy), or have a blood test done at a laboratory. If the results are positive, speak to your doctor to decide on the next steps.

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