Is it possible to conceive while menstruating? Can sperm survive in blood? Fertility expert and OBGYN Dr. Gleaton gives us the 4-1-1.By OBGYN and fertility expert Dr. Kenosha GleatonWhether you’re trying to conceive or not, it’s helpful to know how to plan around your fertile and not-so-fertile windows. Let’s talk about how menstruating can impact your chances of conceiving. Show
Likelihood of getting pregnant while menstruatingBased on a typical 28 day menstrual cycle, it’s extremely unlikely to get pregnant while menstruating. The period marks the first day of a new cycle, and the fertile period starts around day 9-14. This means that for pregnancy to occur, you’ll need to have sex during the fertile window as sperm can only live inside the reproductive tract for around five days. Of course, there are individuals who may experience irregular periods and determining the fertility window may be a bit challenging. The chances of conceiving on the first few days of your period are when it is the most unlikely to conceive, although the likelihood does increase towards the end of the menstrual period. How does getting pregnant on your period occurIn order for pregnancy to occur, sperm has to fertilize a mature egg. If you only had sex on your period and still got pregnant, this may point to a few things:
Read more about spotting →So while the chances of getting pregnant from period sex are low, there are still some factors that can increase the chances. A shorter cycle, irregular menstruation, and spotting are just a few factors that can play a role. Can sperm survive in menstrual blood?Yes, sperm can survive in menstrual blood. Sperm can survive in the reproductive system during the five days prior to and the day after ovulation, regardless of if menstruation is occuring. What’s ovulation anyway?Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary and occurs typically 14 days prior to the next cycle (menstruation). Ovulation is triggered by a surge of Luteinizing Hormone or LH and typically occurs within 48 hours of this surge. The ovary releases an egg which travels into the fallopian tube and toward the uterus. The lifespan of a released egg is only 24 hours, and if not fertilized during this time, it will die. Ovulation is detectable in the urine using ovulation tests, which measure LH levels and can be useful in timing intercourse when trying to conceive. Although pregnancy can occur during the five days prior to and the day after ovulation, you are most likely to conceive if sperm are swimming in the fallopian tubes prior to ovulation occurring. How to reduce the chances of getting pregnantIf you’re not trying to conceive, there are a lot of ways to reduce your chances. Birth control comes in many forms. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Take-aways
Can I get pregnant on my period without protection?Yes — it's possible to get pregnant if you have unprotected sex during your period.
Is it very unlikely to get pregnant on 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.
What is safe days and unsafe days?For a woman with 28 to 30 days menstrual cycle, ovulation takes place during the 10th to the 14th day. But there are still chances to of getting pregnant till the 21st day. So days 1 to 7 and 14 days before your periods are considered to be safe days.
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