• Published on: Aug 28, 2021
  • 4 minute read
  • By: Dr Rachana Choudhary

Can You Get Pregnant During Your Period? How Likely Is It?

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Can you get pregnant during your period? How likely is it?

In theory, you can get pregnant on your period. The chances of getting pregnant range between 1% to 5%, depending on when you ovulated and when your menstrual cycle starts.

Note: First talk with gynaecologist before trying anything here. They'll help figure out the best time for you to start an experiment (and take pills that will prevent pregnancy) - so any attempts are low-risk due to those precautions!

Lesson One: Doctor What's a Good Time?  If you're not ready for a child right now (or want one now), have follow-ups with the gynaecology doctor about what would be the best time for experimenting without risking it more than necessary (which is what makes following guidelines important).

If a woman is ovulating, it is possible to get pregnant. Ovulation can happen at any point during the menstrual cycle and women have an average of 14-24 eggs maturing in their ovaries at any given time. Sperm are known to remain alive inside the body for 5 days, so there's plenty of opportunity for pregnancy while on your period.

Sperm can survive outside the uterus for about 5 days after sex if deposited into fertile cervical mucus. The female reproductive tract becomes receptive to fertilization only about two days before ovulation takes place (release of an egg from one of the ovaries). But sperm may stay viable inside you or your partner's body anywhere from 3 up to five full days It is possible to become pregnant on your period. Though, it is not that common.

The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, from the day after your last one begins until the first day of the following cycle. That means you can get pregnant about two weeks out of every four—so 12 months out of every year and around 25% of a year. But for many women (10% or more), periods are irregular which makes contraceptive choices tricky when trying to track ovulation cycles and so more difficult to stay safe from pregnancy without risking an unplanned baby or STI exposure to have sex with their partner if they haven’t been using condoms during intercourse was broken hormonal contraceptive pill use so far during this new cycle Answer: This is more likely. The male orgasm happens when semen is sent into the vagina through penile ejaculation. Men usually produce millions of sperm every day and females ovulate only one egg per month, so what do you think?

I am sorry to say that some people conceive this way. But if you want to reduce your risk, it would be better for your partner to use a contraceptive like condoms or not have sex at all during your period. Other ways of getting pregnant on your period are by using in vitro fertilization or even with another man's sperm (heterosexual women can get pregnant from anal sex). The menstrual cycle is not a straight line, though it usually does start and end at the same time each month, so technically you can always get pregnant during your period. As doctors, we often discuss the risk of getting pregnant in terms of days past ovulation- with all other things being equal for two people who have sex on the day they ovulate (i.e., 12 days apart), one's chance of becoming pregnant is 12%. If it has been less than a day since ovulation, however, even if the female partner is bleeding (like right after her period), there is still sperm in her vagina that could potentially make its way up into her uterus and fallopian tubes enough to fertilize an egg from that cycle.

There are four indicators to know if you can get pregnant on your period. One, is the possible pregnancy? The possibility of getting pregnant in a cycle is high unless there was an illness or termination of pregnancy during that time. Two, Can women get their menstrual period while they’re pregnant? A woman's body does not produce enough natural hormones for her to have a monthly menstruation during her pregnancy because it is at its peak around the end of gestation (towards the 36 week mark). Three, Can you be fertile when on your periods?

When we ovulate our estrogen hormone levels rise and keep sperm alive up until halfway through our cycles when egg starts producing less estrogens.

It's possible because of ovulation that can happen mid-cycle. The odds change depending on certain factors like your cycles and whether you have any STDs. For instance, if an egg is just released from the ovary before menstruation starts then it has about 12 hours to fertilize with sperm so as long as there was recent intercourse at least 12 hours prior to a woman's first day of the period then it is definitely possible to get pregnant while on her period!

The best time for getting pregnant without birth control use is 4 days before your next period (the very next day before your yearly birthday). Birth control pills make it difficult for pregnancy so the chances are fairly low that you would become pregnant this

The chance of getting pregnant during your period is highly unlikely.  The probability that you’ll get pregnant during one menstrual cycle has been estimated to be approximately 1%. In order to conceive while menstruating, a sperm would need to make it past the fluids and reach the egg outside the uterus—that's a lot easier said than done. (e.g., about an inch away from impregnating a woman) Sperm does not actually live very long- typically less than 3 days at body temperature (we can't measure this precisely as sperm production is often unknown and fluid can make them last longer). It is possible to conceive a baby if it happens during ovulation, which typically occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle.

In other words, there's reason to believe you can get pregnant while on your period as long as your periods are regular and you're ovulating at the time of conception. If we assume that an average woman has 280 days in her menstrual cycle, then any day from Day 91 through Day 365 would be the day when she could fall pregnant - assuming she had intercourse after the fertile window opened at around 4-6 pm on Day 11. As a rule of thumb, dating apps and sexual health websites recommend waiting until seven or more days after menstruation begins before having sex again.

There are a number of factors that play a role in this, chief among them timing. In general, most women ovulate about two weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP), or cycle day 13. A woman's menstrual cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days, though long cycles are more uncommon than shorter ones. This means a woman could be pregnant if they have sex on around day 14-17 of their cycle after LMP if ovulation happens to fall on either those days or one day previous to any one of those days. If it is not even going to happen in the next 4-5 months but you would like to get pregnant and need some STD testing done.

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Yellowing

Yellow Eyes and Skin Symptoms: Causes, Warning Signs and When to Seek Care

Yellowing of the eyes and skin is one of the most noticeable physical changes a person can experience. Often referred to as jaundice, this symptom is not a disease by itself but a sign of underlying health conditions. Understanding yellow eyes and skin symptoms is essential because they frequently indicate problems involving the liver, blood or bile ducts and may require urgent medical attention.

In India, jaundice is a common presentation across age groups due to infections, liver disease and metabolic disorders.

 

What Does Yellowing of Eyes and Skin Mean?

The yellow colour appears due to excess bilirubin in the blood.

Bilirubin is:

  • a yellow pigment

  • produced from the breakdown of red blood cells

  • processed and removed by the liver

When bilirubin builds up, it deposits in tissues, causing yellow discoloration.

 

Why the Eyes Turn Yellow First

The sclera, or white part of the eyes, contains elastic tissue that binds bilirubin easily.

This makes yellowing:

  • more visible in eyes

  • detectable before skin changes

Yellow eyes are often the earliest sign of jaundice.

 

Common Causes of Yellow Eyes and Skin

Liver-Related Causes

The liver plays a central role in bilirubin metabolism.

Common liver causes include:

  • viral hepatitis (A, B, C, E)

  • fatty liver disease

  • alcoholic liver disease

  • liver cirrhosis

  • drug-induced liver injury

ICMR reports viral hepatitis as a major cause of jaundice in India.

 

Bile Duct Obstruction

Blocked bile flow prevents bilirubin excretion.

Causes include:

  • gallstones

  • bile duct strictures

  • pancreatic or bile duct tumours

This type of jaundice is often associated with itching and pale stools.

 

Blood Disorders

Excess breakdown of red blood cells increases bilirubin production.

Conditions include:

  • hemolytic anemia

  • malaria

  • inherited blood disorders

The liver may be overwhelmed despite being healthy.

 

Infections

Certain infections directly affect liver function.

Examples include:

  • hepatitis viruses

  • leptospirosis

  • severe sepsis

WHO data highlights hepatitis as a leading infectious cause of jaundice globally.

 

Newborn and Pregnancy-Related Causes

While common in newborns, jaundice in adults always needs evaluation.

Pregnancy-related liver disorders can also cause yellowing.

 

Associated Symptoms That Provide Clues

Yellow eyes and skin are often accompanied by:

  • dark yellow or tea-coloured urine

  • pale or clay-coloured stools

  • itching

  • fatigue

  • abdominal pain

  • loss of appetite

These symptoms help identify the underlying cause.

 

When Yellowing Becomes Dangerous

Seek urgent medical care if yellowing is accompanied by:

  • high fever

  • severe abdominal pain

  • confusion or drowsiness

  • vomiting

  • rapid worsening of colour

These signs suggest severe liver or systemic disease.

 

Jaundice and Liver Function

The liver normally:

  • conjugates bilirubin

  • excretes it into bile

When liver cells are damaged, bilirubin accumulates.

Lancet studies confirm jaundice as a key marker of liver dysfunction.

 

Diagnostic Evaluation

Doctors evaluate jaundice using:

  • blood tests for bilirubin levels

  • liver function tests

  • viral markers

  • ultrasound or CT scans

  • additional tests based on findings

Early testing identifies reversible causes.

 

Impact on Daily Life

Persistent jaundice can affect:

  • energy levels

  • digestion

  • mental clarity

  • work performance

Untreated liver disease can progress silently.

 

Treatment Depends on the Cause

There is no single treatment for jaundice.

Management focuses on:

  • treating infection

  • relieving bile obstruction

  • stopping harmful medications

  • managing chronic liver disease

Self-medication can worsen liver injury.

 

Role of Preventive Healthcare

Preventive measures include:

  • hepatitis vaccination

  • safe drinking water

  • limiting alcohol intake

  • regular health checkups

NITI Aayog emphasises liver health in preventive care strategies.

 

Lifestyle Factors That Affect Liver Health

Risk factors include:

  • excessive alcohol

  • obesity

  • high-fat diets

  • unsafe injections

Addressing these reduces jaundice risk.

 

Importance of Early Detection

Early diagnosis:

  • prevents complications

  • improves recovery

  • reduces hospitalisation

Delays increase the risk of liver failure.

 

Jaundice Is a Symptom, Not a Diagnosis

Understanding this distinction is crucial.

Treating the symptom alone:

  • does not resolve the disease

  • may mask serious conditions

Medical evaluation is essential.

 

Conclusion

Yellow eyes and skin symptoms are visible warning signs that should never be ignored. Most often linked to jaundice, they reflect underlying problems involving the liver, bile ducts or blood. Early medical evaluation, accurate diagnosis and timely treatment are critical to prevent serious complications. Recognising these symptoms and seeking care promptly can protect liver health and save lives.

 

References

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Hepatitis and Liver Disease Reports

  • World Health Organization (WHO) – Jaundice and Hepatitis Guidelines

  • National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) – Liver and Metabolic Health Indicators

  • Lancet – Liver Function and Bilirubin Research

  • NITI Aayog – Non-Communicable Diseases and Liver Health

  • Statista – Liver Disease and Hepatitis Trends

See all

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