• 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.

Read Blog
Why Spicy Food Triggers IBS Symptoms

Why Spicy Food Triggers IBS Symptoms

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common digestive disorders affecting people worldwide, including millions in India. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation can be difficult to manage, and food is one of the biggest factors that influence IBS flare-ups. Among all the dietary triggers, spicy food is one of the most commonly reported problems.

But why does spicy food affect people with IBS more severely? Let’s break it down.

1. Capsaicin: The Main Culprit

The compound that gives chili peppers their “heat” is called capsaicin. In healthy individuals, capsaicin simply causes a burning sensation in the mouth and digestive tract, but in IBS patients, the intestines are hypersensitive. This means even small amounts of capsaicin can overstimulate nerves in the gut, leading to cramps, diarrhea, and discomfort.

2. Heightened Gut Sensitivity

People with IBS have something called visceral hypersensitivity. This means their intestines overreact to normal digestive processes. When spicy food is consumed, the already-sensitive gut nerves send stronger pain signals to the brain, making the discomfort feel worse than in people without IBS.

3. Faster Bowel Movements

Capsaicin not only irritates the intestines but also speeds up bowel contractions. This explains why many IBS patients experience sudden diarrhea after eating heavily spiced meals. For those with IBS-D (diarrhea-predominant IBS), this effect can be especially severe.

4. Gut-Brain Axis Stimulation

IBS is not just about the digestive tract; it’s closely linked with the brain through the gut-brain axis. Spicy food overstimulates nerves, which worsens anxiety and stress responses. This cycle can further aggravate IBS flare-ups.

5. Individual Tolerance Levels

It’s important to note that not all IBS patients react the same way to spicy foods. Some may tolerate mild spice, while others may react even to a small amount of chili powder. Keeping a food diary helps identify personal tolerance levels.

 

How to Manage IBS if Spicy Food Is a Trigger

  • Limit chili and pepper – Avoid raw chilies, red chili powder, black pepper, and spicy pickles.
     

  • Choose mild flavors – Use herbs like coriander, cumin, turmeric, and fennel for flavor without triggering symptoms.
     

  • Try smaller portions – If you love spice, eat it in smaller amounts instead of eliminating completely.
     

  • Adopt a low-FODMAP diet – This dietary approach is often recommended for IBS and helps identify other triggers.
     

  • Manage stress – Since stress worsens IBS, relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can help.
     

 

Conclusion

Spicy food triggers IBS symptoms because of compounds like capsaicin that irritate the gut, increase bowel sensitivity, and speed up digestion. While tolerance varies among individuals, most IBS patients find relief by reducing or avoiding high-spice meals.

If you struggle with IBS and food triggers, consult a specialist or get an online second opinion at SecondMedic to personalize your diet and treatment plan.

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