Many women are under the assumption that they can’t get pregnant while on their period. Can you get pregnant on your period? Yes, but there’s a much lower risk of becoming pregnant. It’s not entirely accurate to say that you can’t get pregnant at any time because there’s always a slight chance of pregnancy occurring.
However, there’s a high probability that you will not get pregnant on your period.
The chances of pregnancy are so low because ovulation has likely not occurred. If ovulation is not occurring, you have a very low chance of getting pregnant. But there are also other factors that can complicate the matter:
- If you have an abnormal cycle, it is possible that you can become pregnant at this time. A woman’s natural cycle is typically 28 – 30 days or longer.
- Sperm can live inside the body up to five days. As a result, it is possible that you can become pregnant.
Shorter cycles will result in ovulation occurring earlier. As a result, a woman that has a 21-day cycle and has sex close to the end of her period, may start ovulating earlier, allowing the sperm that is still inside the body to result in pregnancy.
Can a girl get pregnant on her period? There’s a slight chance of this occurring, and you should never use your period as a form of contraception. It’s much better to practice safe sex, and not take the risk of becoming pregnant by having sex during your time of the month.
Is It Possible to Be Pregnant and Have a Period?
Technically, you should not have your period during pregnancy. And if you do have your period while pregnant, you must contact your doctor immediately because there may be a severe complication with your pregnancy. There’s also the chance that you have miscarried and will need medical attention as a result.
Even bleeding during the first trimester is not normal.
What happens is that your body begins to produce hCG, also known as the pregnancy hormone. This hormone stops your menstrual cycle from occurring, and is always present inside of a woman that’s pregnant.
There are some women that might experience spotting in early pregnancy, and this may be caused by implantation.
Implantation occurs when the egg and sperm meet and attach on the uterine wall. When this occurs, there is a chance that slight bleeding will occur. This happens in 3 out of 10 women, will not be as heavy as your normal period, and will last only a few hours in most cases. You’ll consider this more of a spotting than your normal period, and you may actually feel a slight pain as implantation occurs.
In fact, many women use implantation as the first sign of pregnancy.
Bleeding in early pregnancy may also be caused by breakthrough bleeding during pregnancy. Experts are not even sure why this occurs. It’s hypothesized that breakthrough bleeding may be caused by hormones that are flooding your body being broken through by the hormones that control your menstrual cycle.
Note: Breakthrough bleeding should only occur very early on in your pregnancy.
Dark or watery bleeding is a sign that your pregnancy may be ectopic. If you experience dark or watery bleeding, you must call your doctor immediately because you will need swift treatment for the fetus to survive.
Any form of bleeding during your pregnancy is a cause for concern that should result in an immediate call to your doctor or midwife, or both.
Can you have a period and still be pregnant? The chances are slim if you have a heavy period. Small spotting may be okay, but you do want to discuss this with your doctor immediately. As mentioned earlier, you should only experience bleeding at the very beginning of your pregnancy, and even this is a cause for concern.
Best Time to Get Pregnant
If you’re trying to conceive, you need to understand when the best time to get pregnant is. You now know that you cannot get pregnant on your period in most circumstances, so when is the right time to actually try to get pregnant?
First, it’s important to understand that the egg only lasts 12 to 24 hours, but lasts up to five days.
Despite all of the unforeseen pregnancies, there is a slight chance that you won’t get pregnant even if you’re trying. You need to time everything appropriately to increase your chances of pregnancy, and even then, there is no guarantee that you will become pregnant. There are times when women simply can’t get pregnant because of a low sperm count, or issues with your own reproductive system.
Your only chance of getting pregnant is when you are ovulating.
For most women, they will have a 28-day cycle, and ovulation will occur on the 14th day of their cycle. If a woman has an abnormal cycle, such as a 35-day cycle, ovulation will occur 21 days into her cycle.
Your best bet is to use an ovulation calendar, and try to pinpoint when you ovulate every month. There are calculators online that can help you determine when you should be ovulating, and this would be the best time to try to conceive a child.
If you have been trying with no avail, you may be the perfect candidate for In Vitro Fertilization, or other fertilization options that are available.
