When you are having sex, pregnancy is always a real possibility. Sex, like other fun activities, comes with certain risks if you are not using protection, with STI’s and unwanted pregnancies being the most obvious ones.
If you want to know what’s the chance of getting pregnant if you had unprotected sex you have come to the right place.
Like others, you will hear many rumors about where and when you could get pregnant. For some women, the thought of getting pregnant is met with great joy and anticipation, while for others it’s a cause of worry.
This is why most women in the reproductive age or the ones who are trying desperately to conceive will have many questions or doubts about their chances of conceiving.
We will look further at this below to help you understand more about unprotected sex and pregnancy.
What’s the Chance of Getting Pregnant If You Had Unprotected Sex
There is a good chance that you could get pregnant nearly any time that you engage in sexual intercourse without using an effective birth control. This scenario is familiar to most women.
Pregnancy usually occurs around the ovulation period, the time when your ovary releases egg in the fallopian tube. If you are having regular periods, ovulation will take place midway between your menstrual periods.
Ovulation usually happens midway between the first-day of 2 consecutive periods, but this can vary from the eight day to the twentieth day of a 28-day cycle.
Researchers calculate the average risk at varying times in a monthly cycle of a woman, but you should know that your risk can be lower or higher.
You cannot know the definite time of your ovulation, which is why the researchers use the monthly cycle of a woman when calculating the average risk for pregnancy.
Figuring Out the Chances of Getting Pregnant If You Had Unprotected Sex
You are more likely to conceive if you have unprotected sex during the middle 2 weeks of your cycle. The time varies, but many women ovulate about day 14.
You will have the highest risk of pregnancy by having unprotected sex one or two days before your ovulation starts; when the ovary releases the egg.
This is a 30% chance. The risk of having unprotected sex and getting pregnant three days prior to ovulation is 15%. You will have a 12% chance on the ovulation day. [1]
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In the real world, large studies show that women who engage in unprotected sex during mid-cycle have a much lower chance of getting pregnant as the risk is around 5.8%.
This is because you will have a much lower risk of getting pregnant if you engage in any sexual relations on the ovulation day and any day besides the three days prior to.
Not Getting Pregnant After Having Unprotected Sex for Months
There are times when having unprotected sex is not enough for you to get pregnant. You could be doing this for months with no luck.
Thankfully, there are certain things that you could do to increase your chances if it’s taking longer than expected for you to conceive.
This includes doing thinks like monitoring your ovulation, using an ovulation predictor kit, charting your basal body temperature, as well as checking and observing your cervical mucus.
When you have an idea of your ovulating time, you can start to time your sexual activities around that period. If you are using this method, you must ensure that you are having sex 2 days before your ovulation day or every other day during the week of your expected ovulation. This will boost your chances of conceiving.
If it’s a case where you have been engaging in unprotected sexual activities for more than six months without success, you could visit your doctor or ob/gyn to know about the alternative treatments that you could use for fertility problems. There are several solutions available and they are very effective.
How to Know When You Get Pregnant
The most common sign of pregnancy after unprotected sex is missed period. However, this missed or late period is not a sure sign as there are many other things that can cause it besides pregnancy.
This includes using birth control that contains hormones, stress, sickness, improper eating habits, or too much exercise.
It is pretty common for teens to have periods which come later than normal or missed periods because it could take several years for them to have a regular cycle.
So, the best way for you to know if you are pregnant is to do a pregnancy test. These are easy to get nowadays because they are available at drugstores or health centers.
It is important to note that the home pregnancy tests are ninety-nine percent accurate if taken after you miss a period.
Hopefully, you will now know what’s the chance of getting pregnant if you had unprotected sex.
Do you have a question about your period, ovulation, pregnancy or other related topic? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Wondering if you’re pregnant? Try our Online Pregnancy Quiz and get a rough estimate of your chance of being pregnant.
Read this post to learn more about when is the right time to take a pregnancy test.
References
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1. http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/womens_health/art3356.html
I had my periods on 1st April and I had sex on 10th of April ..can I be pregnant? Please help. and my monthly menstrual cycle is 26 days.
I had periods on 1st of April, and I had sex on 10th of April. Can I be pregnant?? Please help me. My monthly menstrual cycle is 26 days.
You were most fertile from April 11 to 15, 2016. It is possible that you conceived. Your next menstrual period is expected to start on April 27, 2016. Wait to see if it will come.
I had unprotected sex with my hubby on the 6-8th of April. My last period was 21st March. My worry is I took an emergency contraceptive today. Can it interfere with the pregnancy if at all fertilisation took place?
The pill is most effective if it is taken within the first 72 hours. It will not have an effect if fertilisation has already occurred.
I had my period April 10-13 my cycle is 24 days! I had sex on the 18th then again on the 21st. Can I be pregnant?
It is possible that you conceived. You were fertile from April 18 to 22, 2016.
I had sex for the first time on the 8th of april and my period was suppose to start on the 9th of April, but it started in the evening of that 8th April and stopped 11th April, could it be my period or just bleeding from breaking my virginity?
also we didn’t use any form of protection but he released outside of me, can it lead to pregnancy since ovulation does not occur a Day before menstruation?
Hi Tina, Blood from menstruation will be heavier and the flow will last longer than blood resulting from initial penetration of the hymen. Additionally, blood from your period normally coincides with other symptoms such as cramps and mood swings, whereas blood from the loss of your virginity is not accompanied by these symptoms.
Also, although there is a very low chance, the chance of pregnancy is not zero. Pull out methods are not safe. Until you are trying for a baby, always use protection. And there is ALWAYS a chance of pregnancy, even on period days in rare times. All the best!
It’s been 13 days now after the sexual intercourse, and I just took a home pregnancy test right now, and the result is negative, though I used my second morning urine. Could it actually be negative or false negative?
I had unprotected sex on the 18th day of my normal cycle, will I get pregnant? I’m worried.
This depends on the number of days in your cycle. With a regular 28 to 30 days cycle, ovulation typically occurs on the 12th – 17th day. During your window of ovulation, your most fertile time is considered to be about 5-7 days long. Though you had sex on the 18th day, one day after you ovulated, you could still be at risk.
Hi staffy, I have a question which am very confused. Had sex on the 11th and was suppose to ovulate on the 12th of April but I didn’t feel any changes but on Friday which is far out from the day stated for ovulation. Can I still get pregnant?
Hi Kim,
There is always a chance of pregnancy if you have unprotected sex. Ovulation window just denote the most fertile days, but it doesn’t mean that other days are not fertile. So there is a chance of pregnancy, yes. All the best!
My last period was April 1 end on the 6 and me and boyfriend are trying again we have two boys but we had sex on the 7 th 9th 10 th and 11 th what the chances of me becoming pregnant
Yes there are some chances of pregnancy. The best time to try is in your most fertile days. It increases the chance of conceiving by a great extent. Your ovulation date will be 14 days before your first day of next period. Most fertile days will be ovulation day and 2 days before. (If you are confused, please give me the average length of your period cycle and I will let you know.) All the best!
I’m very worried. I have been looking up to God for the fruit of the womb. I really don’t know how to calculate my ovulation period so, I don’t know if you can be of help. Here is a rough sketch of my menstrual cycle. For the year 2016…Jan 12-16th, Feb 8-12th, March 5-9th, March 31st- April 4th. Thanks.
The menstrual cycle starts on day one of the bleeding, so Jan 12 would be counted as day 1. Continue counting each day until you get to February 7 – you should get 27 days. Your cycle in Jan was 27 days. February 8 would now be counted as day 1 for this month’s period. Continue counting until you get to March 5 – you should get 26 days. This means that your cycle was 26 days in February. Your monthly menstrual cycle is 26 to 27 days.
I had unprotected sex on the 18th of March and my period was suppose come on the 27/28 but still is not coming. I did a test and it shows positive but I’m not having any signs showing that I’m pregnant. Can I be pregnant?
Yes, it’s possible that you’re truly pregnant. Taker another pregnancy test for confirmation.
But it’s weird because now it looks like spotting but I’m not for sure I have some blood but only if I wipe the bleeding is very light feels nothing like a period I don’t have any cramps or anything no clotting or anything !!
You’re pregnant.
I had my period on the 4th of march, I had unprotected sex 2 days before my period was due. now I’m 2 days late can I be pregnant. Please help me.
Don’t stress too much. Just wait a week and if it doesn’t show up then take a HPT.
I 40 years old & have had 4 positive urine test & 1 positive blood draw test.
I had unprotected sex on Feb. 13 th &Feb.14th, then Feb. 23, & 3times between Feb. 27th & Feb. 28th.
The 1st day of my last cycle was Feb.10th.
On which day or days was I most likely 2 get pregnant?
Hello, it depends on the number of days in your period cycle. Usually ovulation day is 14 days before the start of next cycle. If you have a normal 28 day cycle, 23rd Feb is the most likely day.
Hey I had my period on the 17th of March and it only lasted 6-7 days I had sex on the day when my period stopped and on the tenth day that was the start of my fertile window and the from the 27th 29th 30th and 31st and I ovulated on the 31st would I possibly be pregnant?
Hi Nicola, with unprotected sex, there is always a possibility. Don’t overthink about it though and wait until your next period time. All the best.
Hi im 22 and my bf an i had unprotected sex the 8th 9th 10th 12th 14th 16th 19th and 25th and did it on my ovulation days and several times within the dates and no period.
Hi Jegs, if you had unprotected sex so many times then yes there is a high chance of pregnancy. Please take a test. And never have unprotected sex until you are trying.
My daughter had unprotected sex on March 11th and 12th. Her period was supposed to start on the 1st of April but it started on the 29th Of March. Could she still be pregnant even though she is having her period?
It is okay to have a period start earlier than expected. It is possible to have a period and be pregnant but this may not be so in your daughter’s case.
I had unprotected sex on the 12 th & 19th of March During my fertile days. He did pull out both times. My period started on the 7th of March. I never pay attention to how long my cycle is. I just get my period when it comes. I’ve gained some weight but I’ve felt like I haven’t been eating that much to gain what I’ve gained. I’ve had a lot of headaches the past couple days. & when I go #2 not a lot comes out like normal. Am I just overthinking it or should I take a test? I shouldn’t get my period for at least a week if not less.
Hi Dani, the symptoms may be because of many other reasons too, so wait a few days more and if you think your period are too late, then take a test. If you take a test too early, it won’t give the correct results.
Also, pull outs do not work all the time. So until you are trying, always use protection. Good luck!
Hello. My periods usually come around the 25th of each month and I’m off by the first/beginning of the next month. It’s now the 29th and I’m not on my period. I know if I haven’t had my period by April 1st, then I’m pregnant as my body usually has normal periods. Should I be concerned at this point that I’m pregnant or just wait until the month ends to take a test and be sure?
You can take a pregnancy test by April 3 to confirm if you’re pregnant.