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There is a widespread problem that exists among many couples who are sexually active. It is that they are relying on what is considered the safe period of the month to engage in sexual activities without taking any precaution.
The odds of a woman getting pregnant after having sex right after her period is low, but it could actually happen to anyone. If you need to know more, then read on as this article seeks to answer the question of can you get pregnant just after your period ends?
It is possible for you to conceive right after your period ends as this time you are just starting to enter your fertility window. However, your chances will be very low in reality.
If you are having sex without using any birth control method, you can get pregnant or conceive at any time in your menstrual cycle, including during or immediately after your period. It will all come down to how long your menstruation lasts and the actual length of your menstrual cycle.
Understanding the Menstrual Cycle
In case you are not aware of this, your menstrual cycle will start on day one of your period and last up to day one of your next period.
Your most fertile time will be at ovulation – happens when your ovaries release an egg – which normally takes place twelve to fourteen days before the start of the next period.
This period is called the fertile window, and it’s the time when you’re more likely to conceive.
For a typical cycle that takes place every twenty-eight to thirty days, this fertility window is normally between day eleven and twenty-one.
It is important to point out that the sperm can survive inside the body sometimes for as much as seven days after a woman has sex.
You will be approaching your fertile window if your period last for five to seven days and you engage in sex immediately after.
This means you could get pregnant very soon after your period ends if you ovulate early, particularly if your menstrual cycle is naturally short.
If you have a short cycle and long periods, it is still possible for your ovaries to release an egg very quickly after your period ends. This egg can get fertilized as normal, and pregnancy occurs if and when that happens.
Of course, you should also remember that your chances of getting pregnant immediately after your period will increase each day after the bleeding stops.
If you have been trying to conceive desperately, then this will be a good time to have sex to increase your chances.
More Information about Your Chances of Conceiving
In addition to the above, you can get pregnant or conceive if your period has never come before, throughout your first period, or immediately after having sex for the first time.
It is also quite possible for you to become pregnant throughout the alleged safe period of the month even when your partner withdraws his penis before ejaculating.
Semen is normally released during sex, including the precum one, so any form of sex without protection could result in pregnancy.
There are also rare instances when women end up pregnant even though they did not have penetrative sex with their partner.
The sperm can be very resilient, lasting up to several days following ejaculation. This means that pregnancy is a definite possibility if either one of you has sperm on your hands or any other part of your body, and it comes in contact with your vagina.
If you are looking to conceive or get pregnant, one of the best ways to increase your chances is to invest in an ovulation testing kit.
There are many different types available today, ranging from the simple strips which test the urine to the digital computers which monitor things monthly.
It is often more difficult for women to detect ovulation without these tests.
Another, less accurate method of detecting ovulation is to measure basal body temperature (BBT). It is a widely used way to detect ovulation due to ease of the test.
In this method, women need to measure body temperature each day in the morning before starting any kind of activity. Ovulation is marked by 0.5-1.0° F rise in the BBT.
It is worth knowing that BBT test is less accurate than ovulation testing kits, and may fail to detect ovulation in some cases.
Bottom Line
There is really no safe period of the month to engage in sexual activities without using contraception and avoid getting pregnant. You could even conceive if you have sex during your period.
However, you will be more fertile at certain times during your menstrual cycle, and this is the period when you are more likely to conceive. At times, ovulation can occur within a few days after your period ends.
In addition, sperm could fertilize an egg three days or seventy-two hours after ejaculation. Aside from the chances of becoming pregnant, you also have the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease, such as genital warts, chlamydia, or HIV/AIDs, so you should use contraception at all times when having sex.
If not, abstinence is the only sure way to avoid unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. You can talk to your medical doctor about the different contraception methods available to you.
Hello, my name is hafutesi and I’m a guy. I had unprotected sex with my girlfriend on the 10th of feb (which was last week Saturday from today) after she finished her period 2-3 days back. I didn’t cum inside her though, but she hit me up today telling me to get her pregnancy strips. I’m so shook! And she said her reproductive organs hurt. She’s down with malaria and typhoid and a slight cough too. I don’t know if she’s panicking because her next period will start on the first week of march. Is she pregnant? Your reply will be appreciated.
Hi Hafutesi. Well if her period isn’t due until the first week of March then she wouldn’t even know until she is at least late with her period. Being sick can affect the body in numerous ways honestly. Symptoms of both malaria and typhoid include pain in the abdomen and bloating, both of which some feel when pregnant. If she has a 28 day cycle, you’re looking at ovulation of around February 15th through the 19th. She could be feeling ovulation pains honestly. I wouldn’t be too worried, however keep it in the back of your mind and in the future if you aren’t looking to have a baby you should use some protection for sure.
Hi, I’m pretty confused how all this works. I just finished my period on the 10th Feb. It was just ending and I had intercourse same day right after that I did not see that fading blood I saw when I wiped before sex. Is it possible for me to fall pregnant? Period was February 10th till 13th Feb.
Hi Lelo, I’m a bit confused. You stated that you finished your period on the 10th and then that your period was the 10th through the 13th. Can you clarify? Generally though, on a regular 28 day cycle and having a period for 5 days on average, you wouln’t be in your fertile period the day your period ended. Hope that helps.
Hi..how about me my last period started Feb.05 and ends Feb.07 and i had sex on Feb.11(Sunday)is there a possibility that i can get pregnant?
Hello Lovely, yes there is a possibility that you might have gotten pregnant.
Hi I need some assistance. I had my period on January 27-31 2018. I then had unprotected penetrated sex with my fiancé two days later and he came inside me. I am not on any birth control and we obviously did not use any condoms. I have mostly regular periods and I Believe I ovulated on the 9th or 10th of February but I’m not sure. What are the chances of me actually being pregnant? Are they high or low? I’m supposed to be getting my period in 12 days but I would like to just know my chances.
Hi Alexis, according to the handy calculator found here you were most fertile from the 2nd through the 6th of February. While when you believe that you ovulated is outside of our calculator, based on what ours say you were most fertile when you has sex. However these are guidelines based on a 28 day cycle. So it’s possible that you are based on the information you provided.
Hi my names bree, I’m 19 and I had my period on the 4th and finished on the 7th I usually have it for 5 days but hasn’t been acute lately.
I had sex with my partner the day I finish so the 4th at night as my period stop during the day.
He finished inside me and I want to know my chances of getting pregnant?
I’m not on any protection at all!
Hi Brielle, According to the calculator found Here your fertile period is from the 14th to the 18th. That’s based on a 28 day cycle. So it appears that your are outside of that window. If you are not trying to get pregnant I would recommend some form of birth control and discuss with your partner what you want to do.
I had my period on 3rd of Feb and finish on 7 with 28 day cycle and had protected sex from 8-10. Can that result in pregnancy?
Hi Christiana, Unless your form of birth control failed (whatever method you are using), protected sex generally doesn’t result in pregnancy. That being said, your fertile period is the 13th through the 17th, and you fall outside that window so you might be good. The only way to know is if you miss a period and take a test.
Hi Alison I had my period January 25 and ended Jan 29th and I had sex on the 30th which is the next day, i after 2 weeks I HV not being feeling well and sometimes feel pains arnd my abdomen and I feel no taste for food so pls I want to know if I and pregnant or I am ovulating. Thank you. Pls help me
Hi Sika, with a normal 28 day cycle your fertile days would have been on February 4th through the 8th. The only way to tell for sure if you are pregnant is if you take a test which your period should come around the 22nd of February, so about a week later.
Hello, I’m 39 having heavy flow going to a year and there’s no solution yet. I did pelvic scan which the results showed it’s adenomyosis and again my menses occur less than two weeks. Please advice
Hi Sara, you could be experiencing your body going through peri menopause. I would recommend making an appointment with your doctor especially if you are getting a period less than every three weeks. THat would be considered abnormal. Good luck!
Hello I just finished my period last night and had unprotected sex . He did not cum inside me but I’m scared! and iam also suppose to start my birth control today for the first time ! I don’t know if it’s safe to start it or can I mix plan B with birth control ?
Hi Mary, You can take a plan B for the first five days after unprotected sex and you can start your birth control thereafter. You do want to ensure that you still use another form of protection for the first few weeks on birth control. I would recommend having a conversation with one of the nurses at your office and discuss options with them.
Im 14 and really scared! I asked my boyfriend if he did anything inside of me he told me no. I know he has precum and i know that it can still give a very slight possibility of pregnancy. (as far as i have read anyways) im really nervous and scared and i feel like a horrible person. I guess what im trying to get to is. Could i get pregnant if we had sex the day i got off my period with just precum?
Hi there,
Well, getting pregnant can happen with just precum,however it is dependent on when you are ovulating which usually happens around 10-19 days from the first day of your period. About two weeks before you would expect your next period. However, at 14, your cycle might still be getting itself regulated and not regular (depending on how long you have had your period and your body itself).
You shouldn’t feel like a horrible person, that’s a fact. Older women still are curious as to when they can get pregnant and accidents happen. However, consider the future and maybe discuss with your parents about getting on birth control and if you don’t want to do that discuss condoms with your boyfriend, especially if you want to remain free from children at this point in your life considering you have a lot of time ahead of you.
I had period dec 23 to dec 27. I had unprotected sex from jan 1 to jan 13. Had period jan 18 to 23. But have been feeling lightheaded. Cramps. Sore breasts. Can I be pregnant even if i had period.
Hello Kate, yes some women still bleed when they are pregnant and they think it is a period. Take a pregnancy test to confirm.
Hi i had my periods 22 to 26 DEC and had sex with hubby from the 1st of Jan. Had my period that was very short and week on 15 to 17 Jan. A week later started feeling sore breast, nausea and tired and took a home pregnancy test and its positive but now I’m struggling to determine how far I am.
Hi Shlo, They calculate periods from the first day of your last period. I would consider that the period you had on the 15th of January was most likely implantation bleeding. You could be about a month and a half at this point. The best way to determine would be to make an appointment with your doctor and get your prenatal care started. Congratulations!
Thank you
Hi am Alicia ma period was on the 27th which end on the 2nd and had unprotected sex on the 8th …would i get pregnant
Hello Alicia, yes there is a risk that you might have gotten pregnant within this time.
Hi. I had my period on 26th Jan and ended 30th Jan. On 1st Feb I had unprotected sex with my bf and I took emergency pills the same day. Then today 8th Feb 2018 I woke up with cramps and slight bleeding . I thought it was my period and am panicking now. Plz tell me could I be pregnant or maybe its the emergency pill side effect?
Hello Tree, this could be as a result of the morning after pill taken.
Hi alison,thanks for the reply. Im confused as im due on the 17th of june and count back 40 weeks from then id have fell the week i was with guy#1. (After my period ended on the 12th)
Guy#2 did not cum in me and it was only one of sex. where as guy #1 did many of times that week of my period ending and the day my period ended. The calculator confuses me?
Hello, my last period was 29.1.2018, this lasted till 2.2.2018. I had unprotected intercourse with my partner 2 days after my period finishing. Am I at risk of being pregnant? I am 42 years old. Thank you
Hello Jo, you are not at a high risk of being pregnant, however there’s a chance still involved for pregnancy.
I feel so down right now. So im 20+6 (21 weeks tomorrow) i had a period 8/09/17 come off 13th. Had unprptected sex that day with guy #1. Had sex with him all that week and the sunday 17th. Also The 25th of sep. All unprotected and each time he cummed in me more than once.
Slept with guy #2 (ex) on the 21st but never cum in me should i be worried who the dad is? I made a big mistake and slept with my ex on that one day and now im constantly thinking who is the dad?
My dd is 17.06.18
Looked on google its saying I fell pregnant between the 19th & 24th. Please help I’m so stuck guy no#1 has no idea about my ex what should I do?
Hi Shann, for precise calculation of who your baby’s father is, use the below conception calculator:
https://womanjunction.com/conception-calculator-find-your-conception-date/
I got my period on the 25 th of Jan finished them on the 29 had unprotected sex on d 30 th since then I’ve had pink discharge on paper when I pee now its brown could I be pregnant?
Hello Misty Moon, if you were pregnant you would not be having symptoms 2 days later.