What are the chances of getting pregnant right after period

by Sophie Bell |

It’s not likely, but it is possible. Your chances of getting pregnant just after your period depend on how short your menstrual cycle is, and how long your period lasts.

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One of your ovaries will release an egg (ovulation) about 14 days before your period starts. The first day of your period, when you start bleeding, is counted as the first day of your cycle. If you have a 28-day cycle, you’ll usually ovulate some time between day 10 and day 15 of your cycle.

During your period an egg is usually developing, ready for release mid-cycle. The time it takes for an egg to mature within the ovary can vary. This means that the day you ovulate can also vary from cycle to cycle.

Having a short cycle and a longer period could increase your likelihood of getting pregnant just after your period. If your cycle is short, 22 days for example, then you could ovulate just days after your period, if your period lasted seven days. The longest that sperm can survive in fertile cervical mucus is seven days. So it may just be possible for you to get pregnant if you ovulate a little earlier than usual.

However, it is more likely that sperm will have a life span of two to three days, even less if there is no fertile cervical fluid. Most pregnancies happen after sex within the five days before, and on the day of, ovulation.

To conceive, your egg needs to be fertilised within 12 hours to 24 hours of ovulation.

It’s also possible to mistake breakthrough bleeding, which is spotting between your periods, for a regular period. So you could experience bleeding during your fertile time. If you are experiencing bleeding between your periods, you should tell your GP.

Learn how to identify signs that you’re fertile.

Think you might be pregnant? Take our pregnancy quiz, or see the top 10 signs of pregnancy to look out for.

Sophie Bell is an editor at BabyCentre. She updates and creates health content and is responsible for email newsletters.

Can You Get Pregnant if You Have Sex During Your Period?

Most likely you will not get pregnant having sex while on your period. That’s because your ovulation time is several days away decreasing any chances of getting pregnant during this time. However, there are exceptions. This applies to women who have a typical 28 to 30 day or longer cycle. If you have a shorter cycle, say every 21 to 24 days, that means you are ovulating earlier in the cycle. Because sperm can live inside you for up to 5 days, you could have sex towards the end of your period and then conceive 4 or 5 days later with your early ovulation.

The probabilities of getting pregnant during your period are low, but the possibilities are there. This is not the time to have sex if you are trying to get pregnant.

Can You Get Pregnant Right After Your Period?

You are moving into your fertility window, so yes, you can get pregnant right after your period. On a typical cycle that occurs every 28 to 30 days, the fertility window is usually between Day 11 and Day 21.  Remember, sperm can live up to 5 days. If your period (bleeding time) lasts for 5 to 7 days, and you have sex right after that, you are approaching your fertility window.

Can You Get Pregnant on the Last Day of Your Period?

If you stop bleeding on Day 6, have sex on Day 7 and ovulate on Day 11, it’s possible the sperm from Day 6 will be waiting in your fallopian tubes for conception. Your chances of conceiving right after your period increase each day after your bleeding has stopped. If you are trying to conceive this is a good time to have sex. Increase your chances of conception by having sex every other day for the next 14 days.

What About Right Before Your Period?

The likelihood of getting pregnant right before your period is extremely low. For women with a typical 28- to 30-day cycle or longer and their cycles are regular, it is fairly safe to say your ovulation occurred between Day 11 and Day 21. The egg is only available for 12 to 24 hours for conception.

This means the days right before your period are the safest to have sex without the expectation of getting pregnant. The number of “safe days” right before your period go up with longer cycles and lessen with shorter cycles.

If you wait 36 to 48 hours after ovulation, you should be beyond the possibilities of conception. The further you are from ovulation, the less likely your chance for conceiving. This is not the time to have sex if you are trying to conceive.  It’s still a good time to enjoy intimacy with your partner.

Bottom Line

A woman’s ovulation cycles can vary, so it’s statistically possible you could become pregnant while on your period. While pregnancy is less likely in the earlier days of your period, the chances increase in the later days.

If you’re trying to become pregnant and haven’t conceived after a year or more of having unprotected sex, download our new e-book The Ultimate Fertility Resource Guide. It’s a free download and has the essential information and tips you need to improve your fertility and get pregnant faster.

Want to Know More?

• Track your ovulation cycle with our free Ovulation Calendar
• Tracking Ovulation with Irregular Periods