If you are asking yourself these questions, you are not alone. These are popular questions for young women looking to enjoy an intimate life with a partner without the risk of getting pregnant.
The thing is, there is no defined answer for each woman out there; each woman, her cycle and her likelihood of getting pregnant is a little different.
That being said, we’re here to outline the main concepts so that understanding the risks become easier. Here is everything you need to know about pregnancy and your menstrual cycle.
First of all, you have to face the fact that the only true contraceptive is simply not having sex. This is probably something you’ve heard before from various high school health classes and by lecturing parents.
At the end of the day, there is no such thing as a sure preventative to pregnancy unless you stop having sex altogether.
What should I know about my body and my period?
The general rule of thumb, however, is that getting pregnant while menstruating is difficult because you are at the end of your cycle and the egg is being flushed from your system while a new one has not been released yet.
There is also the fact that most women are not as interested in sex while on their period. This could be because of PMS crankiness, a physical discomfort with your body and the blood discharge, or it could simply be that your partner is not looking to be intimate while you are on your period.
These are all factors to look at when determining if getting pregnant while menstruating is possible. The short answer is that, yes, it is physically possible but very unlikely. There are, however, a few things to note about potential pregnancy occurring.
If you have a short cycle (24 days or below), you have an increased likelihood of getting pregnant. This is because you are going to be ovulating closer to your period, so if you have sex immediately after your period, you could get pregnant a couple of days later when your ovulation starts again.
Sperms can live up to five days in your body after sex. If the ovulation occurs within this time frame, your chances of getting pregnant increase significantly.
In fact, having sex right after your period is the recommendation for those couples looking to get pregnant.
So, when is the best time?
If you are looking to have sex during your period, the safest time is to do it while the bleeding itself is happening.
This is when the egg is getting flushed out and there is no new one in place yet, meaning that any sperm left will not fertilize with anything.
Having sex in a day or two before your period starts is also great if you’re looking to keep from getting pregnant. It is relatively safe due to the fact that the egg is no longer in the right position and is preparing to be expelled out of the body.
This time is a good option the same as the early days of the bleeding. If you are looking to be intimate with your partner, without a high risk of pregnancy, this would be the best chance for that.
As mentioned, there is a higher risk if you are someone who has a short cycle, so it’s important to know what your cycle is and where you are in it if you are considering having sex.
How can I track my cycle?
You can use our menstrual cycle calculator to help you determine where you are in your cycle and when is your fertile period.
Tracking your periods will keep you better prepared if you are looking to avoid pregnancy or even encourage it in the future. This keeps you aware of your menstrual cycle and helps you better plan your activities.
Pulling it all together
So, let’s review. Firstly, having sex on your period is relatively safe as long as you are doing it during the bleeding or directly before.
The highest risk of pregnancy occurs when having sex right after your period. If you have a short cycle, you’re more inclined to get pregnant during your period. If your cycle is longer than average, it is less likely.
The thing to remember here is that there is no sure thing, but you are going to find that having sex during a period is sure to give you a way to be intimate with the smallest chance of resulting in a pregnancy.
