Yes, although it's not very likely. If you have sex without using contraception, you can conceive (get pregnant) at any time during your menstrual cycle, even during or just after your period. You can also get pregnant if you have never had a period before, during your first period, or after the first time you have sex. There's no "safe" time of the
month when you can have sex without contraception and not risk becoming pregnant. But there are times in your menstrual cycle when you're at your most fertile, and this is when you're most likely to conceive. Your menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and continues up to the first day of your next period. You're
most fertile at the time of ovulation (when an egg is released from your ovaries), which usually occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. This is the time of the month when you're most likely to get pregnant. It's unlikely that you'll get pregnant just after your period, although it can happen. It's important to remember that sperm can sometimes survive in the body for up to 7 days after you have sex. This means it may be
possible to get pregnant soon after your period finishes if you ovulate early, especially if you have a naturally short menstrual cycle. You should always use contraception when you have sex if you don't want to become pregnant. Page last reviewed: 8 July 2021Understanding your menstrual cycle
Further information:
Next review due: 8 July 2024
By Lindsay Meisel | Published Jan 12, 2017 | Last updated Dec 31, 2019 ✓ Fact checked
You’ve probably heard that an average menstrual cycle is 28 days. Of course, “average” isn’t the same as healthy or normal. Some women have 27 day cycles, other women have 33 day cycles, and other women have cycles that vary every month. All of these can be perfectly healthy even though they don’t match the clinical average.
That said, the length of your cycle can provide some clues about your fertility, if you know the relative length of the different phases of your cycle. If you notice that the length of your cycle is changing compared to what is normal for you, it’s a good reason to do some deeper digging about why.
28 Day Cycle
Let’s start by looking at the textbook cycle, which is 28 days long. In the average cycle, day 1 is the first day of your period. The follicular phase—when your ovaries are getting ready to release an egg—lasts from day 1 until day 14. Ovulation occurs on day 14, and marks the transition to the luteal phase. The luteal phase lasts another 14 days, and when it’s over, the next cycle begins.
But an average-length menstrual cycle can conceal abnormal length follicular and luteal phases. Here’s what those should look like in a healthy cycle:
Follicular phase: 12 – 25 days
Luteal phase: 10 – 16 days (but usually more like 12-14)
Short Follicular Phase
If your follicular phase is less than 10 days long (in other words, if you ovulate on day 10 of your cycle or earlier), it could indicate that you released an immature egg. Immature eggs are either unable to be fertilized, or can be fertilized and have chromosomal issues.
Long Follicular Phase
If your follicular phase is longer than 25 days, it’s a sign that your body is making multiple attempts to ovulate. If your body loses steam before ovulation actually occurs, you may notice multiple patches of fertile cervical mucus about two weeks apart as your estrogen and LH levels rise again.
What is the reason for multiple estrogen/LH surges and no ovulation? This often happens in PCOS. But it can also happen when you’re stressed. Keep in mind that even stress you don’t feel has the potential to impact your cycle. Things like intense exercise, travel, and jet lag all have the potential to delay ovulation and lengthen your follicular phase.
The good news is that a late ovulation does not seem to impact your chances of conception or viability. As long as you eventually ovulate, you have just as good of a chance of having a good egg as you would if you ovulated on time.
Short Luteal Phase
If your luteal phase is less than 10 days long (in other words, you get your period 10 days or fewer after ovulation), it’s a sign that your progesterone levels are too low. Progesterone helps maintain the uterine lining for the egg to implant. A short luteal phase can make it difficult to conceive.
Long Luteal Phase
If your luteal phase is longer than 16 days, you may want to take a pregnancy test. If you’re getting negative pregnancy test results more than 16 days after confirmed ovulation, ask your doctor for a blood test. In rare cases, urine tests will not indicate pregnancy for several weeks.
By Lindsay Meisel | Jan 12, 2017